Talking Retinol with Edwige Gandin of Pastels Salon

Retinol has achieved a reputation as the ultimate powerhouse to keep skin looking youthful, but with so many different versions on the market it can be difficult to know which one to choose.

In general, when introducing a retinol-based product into your skincare regime, it should be done slowly and in a gentle way i.e. choosing a product with a low percentage and build up the frequency of use, as this will minimise skin irritation.

Retinol esters (such as retinyl palmitate) are the weakest member of the retinol family. This form is found mostly in over-the-counter brands, and products with them take much longer to achieve the similar results as the stronger forms of retinol. Retinoids (including Retinol and Retinoic Acid AKA Retin-A or Tretinoin) are a large family of retinols which are categorised as second-generation retinols. In higher concentrations, these are typically found in medical grade skincare. Retinoic Acid is the strongest retinoid, and is actually naturally occurring in the body, making it bio available, unlike other retinoids that need to be converted by our skin cells once they hit our skin.

Of course for those who want to achieve results comparable to those yielded by retinol with zero negative impact on the skin, Eminence Organic has developed a natural complex offering instant and lasting results containing chicory root and tara tree, which is found in many of its products including its cult Bamboo Firming Fluid. The natural solution uses oligosaccharides from chicory root that have a beneficial effect on epidermal and dermal metabolism, just like retinol. With the inclusion of tara tree, the complex provides an immediate, superficial tightening effect alongside the long-term benefits of cell regeneration for incredible age correction. Clinical results show an immediate, superficial tightening effect visible in as little as 5 minutes - and after just 6 days collagen levels increased by 25% compared to 17% from conventional retinol. Who said you need to compromise the skin’s health for the sake of youthful beauty?!