The 4-1-1 on Retinol + Cica
Retinol has been a hot-button topic in the world of skincare, especially over the past few years. It’s one of the best-known skincare ingredients, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood.
Protect your pockets and push up your glasses, everyone! Gi’s putting on her professor hat today.
“Retinol is very harsh, you should only use it two to three times a week.”
“You can only use retinol at night.”
“When you start using retinol, your skin will purge and get worse before it gets better.”
Alright alright- let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Let’s answer the big question first.
What the hey is retinol?
Retinol is a type of retinoid (a vitamin A derivative) that was discovered and developed originally to treat acne and clear acne scars. Researchers observed that a common side-effect of retinol was that it was increasing skin cell turnover (exfoliation) and boosting collagen production, making skin firmer and less prone to wrinkles. This surprising discovery is why retinol now has a reputation for being for anti-ageing care.
Products with retinol are safe for most skin types - especially that which are available for purchase over the counter (as opposed to a prescription), but as it is quite a potent ingredient, it’s important to incorporate it carefully.
What about Retinol + Cica, then?
innisfree’s first retinol product: RETINOL CICA REPAIR AMPOULE is a far cry from the retinol you may be used to. Formulated in the Green Innovation Lab, this is the first retinol ampoule to utilise the synergy of Retinol and Jeju Cica-Liposomlogy™ (a combination of Ceramide, Centella Asiatica, and Jeju Green Bean Hyaluronic Acid to provide a solution to soothe and treat skin troubles like redness and dryness to leave you with skin clear as a peeled egg.
Who is Retinol + Cica for?
It’s for everybody! Really! And you can start as early as your 20s. It has a retinol concentration of 0.015% (as opposed to the usual 0.25% - 0.3%) which allows it to be plenty effective while offering users the peace of mind of a low-irritant (and fragrance-free!) formula. In addition to soothing Cica, this product also contains adenosine for anti-wrinkle and niacinamide for a skin brightening effect.
The Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule has been through rigorous hypoallergenic and skin-irritation testing, including non-comedogenic testing, to ensure it is safe for daily use and by those with sensitive skin. Of course, if you’d like to be super sure, we always encourage patch testing before purchase.
For my friends who have trouble spots (mine is my chin), you’ll be happy to hear that innisfree has also got a RETINOL CICA AMPOULE FOCUSING PATCH for areas requiring more concentrated, and intensive care.
How do I use the Retinol Cica Repair Ampoule?
You can use it twice a day on a daily basis. When applying it in the daytime, please remember to also apply sunscreen of over SPF30 (some standard retinol rules still apply!). We also discourage combining retinol products with vitamin C or a product containing hydroxy acid (AHA/BHA/PHA) - so if those are part of your current routine, it might be a good idea to alternate between using one in the morning and the other in the evening.
If you’ve been struggling with frequent acne breakouts, rough skin, or hyperpigmentation this could be just the solution you are looking for. Even if you’re fortunate to have naturally clear and unproblematic skin, this ampoule can offer you a brighter complexion and help tighten your pores so you can enjoy it for longer.
Enjoy your egg-venture!
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Gi