March 30, 2021

WHO WHAT WEAR: A Dermatologist Told Me the Ultimate Youthful-Skin Hack

I’ve been using retinol since I was in high school. It was originally prescribed to me to combat teen acne, and it’s been an essential part of my skincare routine ever since. Only after I started using retinol to treat breakouts, I learned about its anti-aging effects and noticed significantly fewer wrinkles, better texture, and overall bouncier skin. With so many products on the market, though, I wanted to speak with an expert to get down to some questions I have about retinol versus retinoid and why it’s such a common ingredient recommended for youthful, glowy skin.
To find out more, I consulted Nancy Samolitis, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist who I frequently turn to with questions about all things skin. Ahead, she’s diving into exactly why retinoid is the ultimate youthful-skin hack, demystifying some of the questions I’ve had about it, and recommending her top picks to add to your skincare routine at every price point.
Why are retinoids the ultimate youthful-skin hack?
"Retinoids bind to a receptor inside the skin cells, leading to normalization of skin cell turnover, production of collagen, and reduction of inflammation. Skin cell turnover naturally slows down with age, which allows the buildup of damaged DNA. Normalizing that cell production helps the repair process be more effective, leading to fewer signs of aging."
What age do you recommend starting them?
As early as possible! We use a lot of retinoids in the teen years to treat acne, so they are known to be safe at an early age and for long-term use. I personally have been using Rx-strength tretinoin for over 20 years."  
What is the difference between retinol and retinoid?
"The term 'retinoid' is inclusive of the entire family of topical vitamin A derivatives. This family includes the over-the-counter retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, and retinol (in order of lowest to highest potency). Adapalene, formerly only available by Rx, is now also available OTC at 0.1% (the stronger 0.3% still requires an Rx). The other Rx-strength retinoids include tretinoin (aka retinoic acid), trifarotene, and tazarotene." 
 

The Route The Night Night Eyes Nighttime Retinoid Eye Multitasker ($65)

If you're specifically looking to target your under eyes, this is the eye cream to add to your routine.

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THE GIRLFRIEND™ - SKINCARE + MAKEUP PRIMERTHE GIRLFRIEND™ - SKINCARE + MAKEUP PRIMER
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THE EVERYTHING DAY® & THE EVERYTHING NIGHT® EDEN BUNDLETHE EVERYTHING DAY® & THE EVERYTHING NIGHT® EDEN BUNDLE

By gleaning insight from her decades of experience working with patients to improve their skin, Nancy has created the exclusive Nurse Nancy™ Complex, a proprietary cocktail of her tried and true ingredients your skin needs in abundance to promote daily skin health.

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