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Category Archives: Skin Care

Retinol vs. Hyaluronic Acid…How to Choose?

   Skin Care  Jan 10, 2022  Comments Off on Retinol vs. Hyaluronic Acid…How to Choose?
Retinol vs. Hyaluronic Acid…How to Choose?

More than likely, you’ve heard a lot about the importance of retinol and hyaluronic acid in combatting skincare issues.

All the discussion about these two skincare products leads to the question of which one to use. Is one product better than the other? How do you choose?

Retinol vs. Hyaluronic Acid – The Differences

The main difference between retinol (a form of vitamin A) and hyaluronic acid is that one is increases cell turnover and the other hydrates. But it goes deeper than that.

Retinol

Retinol is an antioxidant, or a molecule that slows down free radical damage to your skin cells. Free radicals are unstable molecules produced by your body that attack healthy cells, causing collagen breakdown, fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and age spots.

Retinol is scientifically and clinically proven to change your skin on a cellular level. It increases the rate of new skin cell turnover, shedding dull, dead skin cells from skin’s surface layer while replacing with fresh, healthy skin cells.

Retinol works to:

  • Improve collagen production to tighten and smooth saggy, wrinkled skin
  • Increase cell turnover
  • Improve skin tone while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Decrease melanin production to reduce skin pigmentation
  • Reduce inflammation
  • Unclog pores
  • Treat acne-prone skin while improving and preventing acne scarring

Because a strong dose of retinol, especially at first, can make existing skin conditions worse or irritate skin, it’s important to use a gentle formula, use sparingly or and build up frequency of use over time.

Hyaluronic Acid

Scientifically speaking, Hyaluronic acid is classified as a glycosaminoglycan capable of retaining skin’s moisture and holding up to 1000 times its weight in water, which makes it an excellent choice for hydrating and moisturizing.

It is found naturally in your skin, but with age comes a decrease in the production of natural hyaluronic acid. As you age, skin is prone to dehydration and dryness, which increases the odds of enlarged pores, fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Hyaluronic acid is both hydrating and nourishing to your skin but does little for exfoliation or skin cell turnover.

The hydrating benefits of Hyaluronic acid include:

  • Improved skin elasticity
  • Reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles (dry, dehydrated skin is prone is more wrinkles and sagging)
  • Reduction in inflammation
  • Prohibits growth of bacteria

How to Choose

The good news is that you don’t have to choose one over the other. In fact, research suggests that they not only work well together, but compliment the benefits of each other after only 4-8 weeks of consistent, continued use.

Used together, the benefits multiply:

  • Retinol induced skin inflammation is reduced by the use of calming hyaluronic acid
  • Increased skin cell turnover due to improved levels of hydration
  • Long-term use of retinol boosts production of natural hyaluronic acid, while daily use of

hyaluronic acid produces instant hydration benefits

How to Use Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid Together

Because retinol may cause skin irritation, it’s best to use once a day, preferably at night. Hyaluronic acid should be used twice a day to take advantage of its skin-drenching hydration qualities.

Build up a tolerance to retinol by starting use once per week, then twice a week and so on until your skin adjusts and to prevent damage to your skin. It’s still effective and working even if you only use once or twice a week.

You can dive right in with hyaluronic acid because it doesn’t cause skin irritation and provides immediate hydration benefits. It’s recommended to use hyaluronic acid twice a day, after cleansing the skin. Follow up with a moisturizing cream after applying hyaluronic acid to lock in the moisture.

Hyaluronic acid should be applied to damp skin as it’s easier for it to bind to and penetrate into damp vs. dry skin.

Retinol should be applied to skin after patting dry with a clean towel.

If using together, apply retinol first, let dry, then apply hyaluronic acid and seal with a heavier moisturizing or night cream.

Wrap Up

Whether you want to slow down and improve the effects of aging with retinol or take skin hydration to new levels with hyaluronic acid, know that you can use both together to maximize healthy skin effects.

For more information on retinol, hyaluronic acid or the benefits of professional skin exfoliation and peels, contact the experts at Laura Skincare in Petaluma, CA.

Skin Care for a Fresh Fall Look

   Skin Care  Nov 08, 2021  Comments Off on Skin Care for a Fresh Fall Look
Skin Care for a Fresh Fall Look

As summer turns to fall, there are definite signals marking the transition.

As temperatures cool down and warmer clothes come out of storage, your skin care routine needs to transition, too.

With a bit of extra care, it’s easy to breeze through the season with beautiful skin.

Sunscreen

Just because temperatures dip doesn’t mean UV sun rays are any less damaging to your skin. The most effective beauty treatment is to use sunscreen every day.

Before foundation, apply a coat of sunscreen, sunscreen-infused day cream or tinted sunscreen. This ensures you get the protection you need for great-looking skin.

Rich, Gentle Creams

Switching to richer creams or serums at night re-hydrates your skin to prevent the chafing, redness and dryness that tends to show up in fall.

Avoid using alcohol-based astringents or toners that strip too much oil from the skin. Switch to a gentle, vitamin-rich toner to clean, tone and combat the effects of wind and indoor heat on your skin.

Hydration

Along with sunscreen, the best defense to fight back against dry indoor environments and cool outdoor winds is to keep your skin hydrated. Hydrated skin not only looks fresh and healthy, but also keeps those fine lines and wrinkles at bay.

Hyaluronic Acid: Using a night-time cream with hyaluronic acid seals tons of moisture into your skin. It makes skin plumper and super soft on the face, neck, chest and hands.

Retinol: If you use retinol for a smoother, line-free complexion, switch to a gentle cream which soaks into the skin without stripping natural oils. A gentle retinol cream will still work on those fine lines without over-drying or damaging skin.

Hydrating Serum: It only takes a little serum to provide skin with a deep moisturizing experience at night when cell turnover is at its peak.

Gel-based Creams: Gel formulas use natural ingredients that penetrate deeply into skin, supplying deep hydration without clogging pores or causing breakouts.

Vitamin-rich Moisturizers: Choose organic moisturizers containing vitamins B-3, E and C for brightening.

Peels: Start autumn out right with a professional chemical peel for a fresh seasonal look. Fall is a perfect time to clear away what’s left of a faded tan, remove damaged surface skin layers and promote faster, healthy cell turnover.

Consult with your local Petaluma, CA esthetician  to get just the right peel for your skin type.

The key to looking fresh and fabulous throughout the entire fall season is to adjust your skin care routine now.

For great advice on jumpstarting the season with a peel or organic skin care solutions to bring out the best in your skin, visit Laura Skin Care in downtown Petaluma for a consultation with our skin care experts.

What You Need to Know About Retinol

   Skin Care  Oct 19, 2021  Comments Off on What You Need to Know About Retinol
What You Need to Know About Retinol

As more and more people become aware of the importance of skin care in Petaluma, one item you’ll often find included in their routine is retinol. While popular, not many fully understand what it does. This post will explore more about this intriguing skin care item and how it benefits your skin.

What’s Retinol?

This serum is part of the vitamin A family. While it’s used to help boost the body’s intake of this vitamin, it has lately been one of the most critical aspects of a skin care routine. By applying it to your skin (particularly your face) its components will seep into it encouraging your skin to produce more collagen.

Is it Safe?

Retinol is generally safe but it can cause sensitivity on some people’s skin. Because of this, it’s important to use small amounts at first to ensure there’s no reaction.

Because this serum removes part of the outer skin layer, it can make your skin more sensitive to environmental aspects, especially sunlight. To prevent these from harming your skin, it’s vital to apply moisturizer and sunscreen after use.

3 Benefits of Retinol

It Reduces Wrinkles: Perhaps one of the best perks of retinol is that it can eliminate and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. It does so by invigorating the areas with fresh blood cells which in return help produce collagen.

It Lightens Dark Spots: Retinol improves skin cell turnover which amps up your body’s production of melanin. By doing so, it keeps your skin tone even and reduces dark blotches.

It Cleans Your Pores: You’ll also find that this serum removes dead skin cells and extra oil from your pores to prevent acne and inflammation. Thanks to this, you’ll notice that it can prevent the formation of discolored pores.

How to Use It

The first step is to wash your face. This will help the serum fully get into your skin. After doing so, take a towel and gently tap it dry. Then, put a small portion of retinol on your index finger and massage it into your face. Give the retinol a few minutes to fully soak into your skin and then apply a moisturizer and sunscreen.

Retinol is a useful tool to add to your skin care collection. If you’d like to learn more about it or would like other skin care procedures done, give Laura Skin Care a call in downtown Petaluma. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and provide you with skin care treatments that will keep your skin healthy and happy.