What Is Retinoid?

What is retinoid? It’s essentially a group of chemical compounds that are derived from vitamin A.  You might have heard of retinol too—that’s simply a type of retinoid. Vitamin A is the real hero here: it’s the vitamin A that attaches to the skin cells and works hard to improve them. A product with retinoids in it can have so many uses, including fighting against acne, lightening dark spots and simply smoothing out the skin.

Retinoid basically encourages cell turnover, so even if you don’t have a specific skincare concern, it still helps to make your skin glow. It’s definitely an ingredient that you should consider making part of your routine, and thanks to the team of scientists at Olay, it’s now easier than ever to update your beauty cabinet.

Olay has introduced its newest breakthrough range: ProX by Olay. Available in three collections—Intensive, Anti-Ageing and Brightening—there’s a product for all skin concerns. ProX by Olay is backed by more than 20 years of genomics research and is the brainchild of a team of skin scientists at Olay who have combined forces with a group of world-renowned dermatologists to create the line. Trusted by more than 1,000 dermatologists, this range is an expert skincare solution that is designed to effectively target the root causes of ageing, pigmentation, and fine lines.

The Intensive range includes a retinoid as its key ingredient. Excuse us while we get into the science for a minute! It utilises a scientifically-advanced retinoid complex, which is a combination of pro-retinol and niacinamide. This complex is 1.4 times more effective than pro-retinol alone, because it actually converts faster to retinoic acid than other formulas. If you really want to get into the science behind it, Olay uses a liquid micro-capsule technology that has greater stability and prevents deterioration of the retinoid actives.

If you’re new to retinol, a good place to start is the ProX by Olay Dermatological Intensive Retinol Serum—this serum is clinically tested to be less irritating while remaining potent and efficacious (due to that advanced retinoid complex technology!). The best bit? It’s currently on sale at Priceline (in stores and online) for under $50.

Start slow by simply replacing your regular serum with the ProX by Olay Dermatological Intensive Retinol Serum once per week. You can work up to using it twice a week, or even three days per week, depending on your skin. If you’re already using a retinol you can continue with this one at the same pace.

Remember, everyone’s different: some people can use retinoids everyday and the complex retinol used in the ProX by Olay Dermatological Intensive Retinol Serum has been proven to cause less irritation and redness than other types of retinol, so feel free to experiment.

Retinol should always be applied at night because it’s not only sensitive to light but it will result in sun damage to the skin if used in the day (that’s because of the encouragement of cell turnover, which leaves those new cells exposed). Simply smooth it evenly over your face and neck at night and be sure to use an SPF the next morning (which you should be doing anyway!).  

Once you’ve mastered this application, you can expand your use—the ProX by Olay Dermatological Intensive range also offers a Retinol Face Cream, a Retinol Eye Cream and a Retinol Wrinkle-Fading Essence. Trust us, you’ll notice the results. Those with fine lines and wrinkles, acne or dark spots will see these visibly reduced. Dull skin will be visibly brightened and you’ll notice the texture of your skin is softer and firmer.

You can thank us later!

You can find out more about the entire Olay ProX range here and buy the ProX by Olay Dermatological Intensive Retinol Serum here.