Can I Use Retinol With Other Vitamin A Products?

Retinol is one of the main and most widely discussed forms of vitamin A, and vitamin A is bae. Vitamin A can come in lots of forms - with some more suitable to treat certain skin types or conditions than others.

Retinol is something which you might be familiar with, if your GP has prescribed it for you or a near, dear, and nerdily loved one. It’s a form of vitamin A which is used for anti-ageing, and often, to treat acne!

Retinol is less powerful than a prescription-strength retinoid, but it also converts to retinoic acid in the skin - however, since it has to go through more conversions, it can be a bit more progressive.

You can use retinol alongside prescription retinoid products, but it’s always advisable to check in with your doctor if you’ve been prescribed a topical product. In general, you can use both together, but if you suffer from irritated skin, then scale back the number of retinoid products that you’re using, or take a break and slowly reintroduce it into your routine.

When it comes to holy grail ingredients, retinol can really seem like it has it all. It helps to normalise sebum production, prompt skin proliferation (which can slow down dramatically age we age), prompt our skin to continue producing collagen and elastin, reduce inflammation, and speed up healing!

What Are The Benefits of Retinol?

Retinol, when applied topically, is very powerful. Vitamin A, from which retinol is formed, is one of the only ingredients which can change skin on a cellular level.

When it comes to holy grail ingredients, retinol can really seem like it has it all. It helps to normalise sebum production, prompt skin proliferation (which can slow down dramatically age we age), prompt our skin to continue producing collagen and elastin, reduce inflammation, and speed up healing!

Retinyl Palmitate

You might have heard of retinol down the grapevine, but it’s only part of the picture. In skincare, you can also find retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, retinyl palmitate and other forms of vitamin A, including the plant form, betacarotene, in Skingredients Skin Protein.

It’s possible that your skin won’t immediately be able to handle retinol in higher doses, and might have what is called a retinoid response - becoming inflamed or irritated. Retinol can cause skin redness, flaking, and peeling, particularly when you start to use the product. This is why it’s suggested that retinol is only used once a week to begin with, and slowly built up, low and slow!

Retinyl palmitate is a gentler form of topical vitamin A, or retinoids, which is used in many skincare products as an alternative to stronger retinol, to make this product more accessible to a wider range of hoomans!

Skingredients Skin Protein uses retinyl palmitate as its form of vitamin A. This form of vitamin A speeds up skin renewal, re-educates skin, and provides all the benefits of vitamin A, but in a gentler form. It needs to go through a conversion process to be effective.

There are many forms of retinyl palmitate, but we opt for the plant-form ourselves! Others can, however, definitely be sprinkled into your own routine!

Nerdie Retinol Picks

Image MD Retinol Booster - €92.00

This Nerd-Network exclusive product contains a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 oils infused with retinol. It’s a strong formulation to combat signs of premature ageing and environmental damage, and keeping hydration levels in your skin high. It’s ideal for more limited than everyday use.

Skingredients Skin Protein Vitamin A, C + E Serum - €42.00

This anti-ageing serum contains retinyl palmitate to revamp, restore, and re-educate the skin. It is suitable for more sensitive skin, and contains antioxidants as well as a patented pro-collagen peptides to prompt collagen and elastin production in the skin.

Neostrata Skin Active Retinol + NAG Complex - €80.00

This serum contains 0.5% pure, stabilised retinol which can help to improve the appearance of skin firmness, reduce the appearance of pigmentation and smooth lines and wrinkles. It also contains NeoGlucosamine, a patented ingredient from Neostrata, to intensify the effects of the retinol.

Tips for Using Retinol!

Retinol can be a sweet dream or a beautiful nightmare - it all depends on how diligently you apply it!

Here’s some retinol tips for you:

• Make sure you wear SPF if using retinol! It increases the photosensitivity of your skin, so you have to be extra careful!
• Retinol is not suitable for use during pregnancy, but some products with smaller amounts of retinyl palmitate are (Environ AVST 1 & 2, for example).
• Don’t use retinol if you suffer from eczema or rosacea, as it can aggravate skin conditions. Be sure to check in with your GP before changing your skincare if you’re being treated for these!
• If your skin becomes very dry or aggravated on retinol, hold off for a week, and then try again. Often, irritated skin can be a sign that your skin has been lacking vitamin A!
• Don’t mix your prescription retinol with other products - apply it by itself and let it absorb before applying anything else! You can buffer it with something like Skin Good Fats, if you like!
• Take pics! Measure your skin’s response so you know how your skin is responding!

Vitamin A is super important for your skin, so if you’re having trouble deciding which product would be best for you, call up your Nerd or Nerdette, or drop a message to our Nerd Network exclusive NerdsApp line on +353877070936 with any of your questions or queries!