Achieve your skin care goals with retinol

Proven ingredients can help you achieve your skin care goals. One of these tried and tested technologies is retinol (vitamin A). It is one of the most effective ingredients on the market with a long-list of scientifically validated benefits.

Retinol is proven to reduce hyperpigmentation, assist with even skin tone, restore photo-damaged skin and to improve the appearance of dark spots and sun damage. It also promotes cellular rejuvenation and significantly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This powerful active stimulates collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production, revitalising cells from within for the optimal prevention of skin ageing. Retinol stimulates protein synthesis, encouraging the skin to improve its structure and durability for improved elasticity. It also normalises sebum production and improves barrier function.

In order to utilise topical vitamin A, skin needs to undergo ‘retinisation’. This is the process of gradually getting used to the application of retinoid-containing products. Retinoids may cause dry and flaking skin and possibly irritation, so it is important to gradually introduce skin to a retinol-based product and to slowly increase the dose. For anyone who is prone to irritation, we recommend you start in summer.

Local retinol expert

Optiphi, a scientifically driven skin care brand, is an expert on retinol and offers a variety of skin care products and treatments formulated with retinol as a key ingredient. The most popular version of vitamin A found in skin care products is called retinol. According to optiphi, it’s important to know the different forms of retinol:

• retinol, the purest form of vitamin A, is about 20% more potent than retinyl palmitate
• to use any form of topical vitamin A, the skin must first convert vitamin A into retinoic acid
• retinyl palmitate must be broken down into retinol, then retin aldehyde and finally retinoic acid.

There are also various types of esters, which are derivatives of vitamin A, which are often described as retinol. These include:

• retinyl acetate
• retinyl linoleate
• retinyl palmitate
• retinyl proprionate.

All vitamin A derivatives must be converted to retinoic acid to be beneficial to the skin. Their efficacy depends on how many times the derivatives need to be broken down in order for the skin to use them.

For example, vitamin A esters like retinyl palmitate have a three-step process, while it takes two steps for retinol to be converted to retinoic acid. According to optiphi, when the conversion process is drawn-out, the efficacy of the ingredient is reduced.

Time-controlled diffusion retinol

To avoid this challenge, optiphi applies an innovative technology to its retinol, known as time-controlled diffusion retinol. This technology safely delivers pure retinol to the skin in a controlled and slow-release process. In this way the retinol is protected and remains stable within the formulation. The retinisation effect is also reduced and the benefits are prolonged, offering enhanced results.

The optiphi time-controlled diffusion retinol offers the following proven benefits:

• a controlled slow release of retinol allows the skin to absorb the retinol slowly and reduces the irritation often associated with introducing retinol to the skin.
• once the retinol has been delivered to the skin, the delivery system offers an additional barrier, assisting in protecting skin from external factors like free radicals and pollution.

Optiphi products containing retinol

Active range:

• Protecting Revitalizer
• Rejuvenating Revitalizer
• Intense Retinol Serum
• Complexion Control

Classic range:

• Complete Therapy SPF20
• Restore Therapy

Body Curve range:

• Body Curve Sculpting Repair

DELTA range:

• Brightening Therapy
• Retinol 1 Serum
• Retinol 2 Serum