Retinol and Retinoid
What is Retinol & what is Cacay oil ?
UV radiation, other environmental stressors and the ageing process strip the skin of precious Vitamin A. At some point, the skin is unable to produce more. As a result, skin loses elasticity, becomes thinner and wrinkles appear. The solution to this problem is retinoid-containing serums and creams. Vitamin A is natural derived Retinol that can be found in Cacay Oil. Not only is it a powerful antioxidant, it also has a cell-communicating effect. It has the ability to order cells to develop like normal, healthy skin cells so that other substances would not prompt the cell to behave in a negative behaviour.
Retinoids
A retinoid is the collective name for Vitamin A derivatives. It’s a chemical class and Retinol, Retin A (Tretinoin), Retinoic Acid, Retinal are some of the common forms used to treat various skin problems. Retinoid is widely used to help minimise the effects of ageing skin, to improve acne, treat skin conditions like psoriasis and keratosis pilaris, fight against sun damage and promote overall skin health. On the downside they are applied in varying strengths and forms which can cause inflammation and irritation to the skin. That is why some skincare products are sold only with prescription while others are readily available over-the-counter. There are also naturally derived and synthetically produced retinoids.
All this talk about Retinoids can be confusing – there are so many forms and they sound similar. Let’s focus on one here: Retinol, as this is the most commonly used term for non-prescription Retinoids and found in many over-the-counter skincare products.
Retinol
Retinol is the purest form of Vitamin A and it is non-active. Retinol stimulates the production of collagen which helps to balance wrinkles and minimise skin ageing. It also prevents skin damage caused by the collagenase enzyme, which degrades skin layers when exposed to ultraviolet rays. When used in skincare products, it will take a longer time to see results as it is less irritating and takes time to convert from retinol to retinoid acid via enzymes that reside in the skin. The process of converting it from a non-active form to an active one, Retinoic Acid, which is then used by the skin can take a few weeks. It is a two-step conversion that retinol has to undergo before the skin can use it, thus retinol is naturally gentler to the skin making Cacay Oil a suitable alternative to use on sensitive skin. The conversion into retinoic acid can take at least a few weeks, which is why you should use retinol products consistently for a few months before expecting to see results. So even with daily use of these products, results are gradually seen over a period.
Retinol is not only good for mature skin with wrinkles and age spots, it is also good for those suffering from acne problems allowing to maintain a youthful glow.
Cacay Oil Retinol
Cacay Oil contains Vitamin A and hence Retinol. Research has shown that the benefits of cacay oil is the ability to reduce wrinkles within 4 weeks of usage. (DermaConsult, 2017). With regular use, this ingredient prevents re-wrinkling, as the body’s ageing process is slowed down significantly.
Once you apply Cacay Oil to your skin, Retinol is slowly converted in the skin by enzymes into retinoid acid which has the anti-ageing effect. This is safer and a non-irritant process as:
- this form of Retinol is naturally occurring in the skin, and
- the process is slower converting Retinol into retinoic acid.
Cacay Oil is therefore a hidden gem when it comes to ageing gracefully and maintaining a youthful glow and a very good oil to use for your skin. As it is also non-comedogenic making it suitable for acne and blemish-prone skin.
Scientifically proven
Not all retinoids are equal and prescription-based products are higher in concentration thus one can only get them over the counter with a prescription from your dermatologist. Natural-derived Retinol is gentle and the purest form of Vitamin A. It doesn’t work immediately or has the same effectiveness in comparison to retinoid acids but still delivers skin benefits such as anti-ageing and anti-acne.
When in doubt, always do a patch test first. And Cacay is one of the few oils that contain Vitamin A naturally.
Conclusion
UV radiation, other environmental stressors and the ageing process strip the skin of precious Vitamin A. At some point, the skin is unable to produce more. As a result, skin loses elasticity, becomes thinner and wrinkles appear. The solution to this problem is retinoid-containing serums and creams. Vitamin A is natural derived Retinol that can be found in Cacay Oil. Not only is it a powerful antioxidant, it also has a cell-communicating effect. It has the ability to order cells to develop like normal, healthy skin cells so that other substances would not prompt the cell to behave in a negative behaviour.
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