Anti-Aging Rating: 4 out of 5 Overall Impression: Very Good
Review
Retin-A and its Rentin-A Micro/Renova counterparts are the gold standard in anti-aging skin care. They are based on one of the first anti-aging breakthroughs a few decades ago: Retinoic Acid (also known as tretinoin). Retinoic Acid is a form of Vitamin A that causes rapid cell division and turnover. It�s a very small molecule that penetrates quickly and induces an almost immediate peeling effect. This is beneficial because older skin replicates itself about half as fast as young skin, so speeding up cell turn over is a critical aspect of anti-aging skin therapy. For instance, the skin of a 60 year old replaces itself about once every 28 days, while as the skin of a 20 year old replaces itself about once every 14 days. By increasing this cell division/exfoliation skin appears more youthful and gets rid of accumulated damage like age spots, scars, etc. at a faster rate.
Studies have also shown that continual use of retinoic acid stimulates the synthesis of new collagen fibers in the skin. This contributes greatly to its anti-wrinkle effect and ability to tighten the skin over time. Because it comes in different strengths (0.025%, 0.05%, and 0.1%) the amount of time it takes to see results will vary, but most people see a fairly good turn around after a month of continual use .
Unfortunately, there are a few down sides to use of retinoic acid products. First, they are only available by prescription from a physician and can only be sold by a pharmacy. If you have insurance that covers prescriptions for cosmetic treatments then this may not be an obstacle, but without an insurance co-pay it can be over $100 for a small tube. Second, Retin-A can be very irritating to the skin, which is why it comes in these different concentration options. There is no way of knowing how sensitive your skin will be without testing it for yourself, though Retin-A Micro and Renova usually are more well-tolerated on the skin because of their delivery formula base. Third, these products only contain retinoic acid as their main active ingredient. That means that if you want products with antioxidants, amino acid peptides, natural extracts, sunscreen, etc you�ll have to look elsewhere.
Fortunately, for those who aren�t willing to go this prescription route there are non-prescription retinoic acid alternatives that function very well. Alpha and beta hydroxy acid products perform many of the same actions as retinoic acid but are available without a prescription. Also, products with other forms of Vitamin A, such as retinyl palmitate or retinol, will convert over to retinoic acid in the skin. So while they are not as potent as pure retinoic acid they are much more gentle and don�t run nearly the same risk of causing irritation. Many reviewers have especially liked the Renew Serum by Xeridian Skincare and the Active Serum by Innovative Skincare as Retin-A alternatives.
Typical Price Range
Only available by prescription, price varies considerably based on retailer and if you have insurance.
Website
www.retinamicro.com
Similar Lines
Xeridian Skincare, Innovative Skincare, ph Advantage, Skinceuticals, Cellex-C, Roc
Top Brand Picks
All Brand Reviews
How We Review
Tips For Selecting A Skin Care Line
Submit A Review
About Us
Contact Us