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If you struggle with adult acne, sun spots, or fine lines, you know that regular skin care alone isn’t enough to combat the effects of aging skin. While staying hydrated and getting plenty of rest can help, often you need a little more. vitality To make a visible, long-term difference, you need skin care products. The skin care market is flooded with products that claim to give you youthful, radiant skin. But cosmetic surgeons say there’s only one anti-aging ingredient you should really prioritize — and best of all, it’s cheaper than Botox.
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Signs of skin aging vary depending on your skincare routine and lifestyle. However, some of the most common effects include wrinkles, laugh lines, dark spots, rough skin, scars, thinning skin and reduced skin elasticity. Cleansers and creams containing ingredients such as Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide can help reduce unwanted changes.
But retinol is the fairy godmother of anti-aging skin care products, dermatologists say. Christopher CostaMaryland.
“Retinol is a true anti-aging powerhouse,” Costa said. Rice San“It stimulates collagen production, improves skin texture, increases skin firmness, and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage.”
Retinol is a form of vitamin A. According to the Cleveland Clinic, retinol is applied topically and comes in a variety of forms, including creams, gels, lotions, ointments, and serums.
Plus, retinol “increases cell turnover and promotes the removal of dead skin cells for healthier, more radiant, and more youthful looking skin,” Costa adds.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, retinol can help with acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, psoriasis, stretch marks, and wrinkles. “Retinol has many skin-clearing and anti-aging benefits. It increases skin thickness and elasticity, slows melanin production, reduces inflammation, and prevents clogged pores,” the health organization explains.
The anti-aging ingredients are also pretty affordable: The Ordinary sells a high-concentration retinol serum for just $9.30, while Ulta sells CeraVe’s retinol serum for acne-prone skin for $22.99.
Retinol can be irritating to the skin, so new patients are advised to use it only once every few days initially. Common side effects include redness, itching, and a burning sensation, which should subside after the first use. If not, discontinue use of the product and consult a dermatologist.
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Costa suggests adding retinol to your skincare routine, but also recommends avoiding certain TikTok fads that may actually age your skin, like the popular hyaluron pen trend.
“These are essentially off-brand, unregulated injectables administered by unlicensed personnel,” he said, describing the “highly dangerous” needle-free injectors.
According to Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials, the Hyaluron Pen “uses compressed air pressure to push hyaluronic acid through the skin and into deeper tissues to create the appearance of fuller, plumper lips. ” These injections can also cause bruising, scarring, and sometimes infection.
Costa also warned that “if the product enters the bloodstream it can cause vascular damage, which can lead to blindness.”
Another trend Costa says to avoid is contouring sunscreen.
“This is about people applying sunscreen to areas they don’t want to tan, trying to contour and create a sculpted look,” he explained. “This is totally counter to skin protection and anti-aging.”
