Get Lifted with 'Retinal': The latest buzzword in clinical skincare

How it all started

 

Did you know the wonders of Vitamin A and its benefits related to skin aging happened by accident? Doctors began prescribing topical prescription strength retinoic acid for acne patients, and soon noticed smoother and firmer skin with less lines and wrinkles. This discovery revolutionised anti-ageing skin care treatments and is why today Retinoids are now available in different potencies for face, eye and body.

 

Up until now retinol, has long been a recommendation by many dermatologists including Dr Howard Murad who described Retinol as “the gold standard of anti-ageing”. Retinol works in multiple ways to improve skins appearance; it stimulates the production of new cells and regulates cell turnover which can help minimise the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol also helps increase collagen and elastin synthesis for a firmer, plumper skin while improving skin tone for a more radiant complexion.

 

But the next generation of anti-aging skin care has just landed and everyone is talking about retinal!

 

What is Retinal?

 

If you are a skin care pro already or a novice to retinoids then retinal (Retinaldehyde) is the most potent ingredient for wrinkles you can buy without a prescription and it really packs a punch when it comes to anti-ageing, described by skin experts as the “mid life must have” so prepare to be amazed by the outstanding results!

 

Both retinol and retinal belong to the Vitamin A family but they differ in potency and action. To understand better it’s important to know that the ingredient our skin needs to stimulate collagen and elastin is retinoic acid, this is the most potent version of Vitamin A and only available on prescription. Your skin needs to convert retinol to retinoic acid, and this takes two conversions, but Retinal is closer in the chain to retinoic acid so takes only one conversion, which is why it is faster and more effective when it comes to seeing results on even the most advanced signs of aging such as sagging skin and jowls and crepey skin.

 

The other key difference between retinal and retinol is the speed in which each ingredient works on the skin. Retinal works much faster than traditional retinol, which makes it the best choice for mature skin.

 

When to start using Retinal?

 

Everyone’s skin ages differently, so if you are finding that your existing Retinol skincare is not delivering the results it used to, or you’re starting to lose skins resilience and bounce due to other factors such as weight loss and need something more potent to tighten everything up, then Retinal is the next step.

 

With regard specifically to women experiencing perimenopause or menopause there is a significant shift in hormones and a drop in oestrogen that affects collagen synthesis. Symptoms include a loss of elasticity, medium to deep wrinkles, dry and thinning skin with a dull or lacklustre tone. Studies show that women’s skin loses about 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause, after that, the decline is more gradual. At this stage of life including retinal into your skincare regimen is the best choice to correct advanced signs of aging such as loss of volume, deeper wrinkles, jowls and sagging, drooping skin on the face and neck.

 

What’s so different about Murad Retinal Resculpt Overnight Treatment?

One of the challenges for product developers is working with ingredients that are not stable or can cause irritation and are difficult to get into the skin. While it may seem logical to focus on increasing the percentage, this simply leads to irritation and does not assist the delivery. At Murad we prefer to focus on performance, potency and penetration using advanced encapsulation technology to stabilise the Retinal and deliver it exactly where it needs to work without irritation.

 

Murad Retinal Resculpt Overnight Treatment has been described as a FACE LIFT IN A BOTTLE for good reason. Rather than free retinal, the Retinal in this treatment is encapsulated in an exclusive delivery system that not only protects the Retinal from degradation but also enhances stability. This nanovesicle technology targets deep delivery within the skin’s surface, without losing any of its potency on its journey, allowing for 2.5 x more effectiveness (vs free retinal ) – while still being gentle on the skin.

 

Ingredients Plus

 

But there is more! Murad never rely on a single star ingredient but use other ingredients to enhance and amplify results, such as Kangaroo paw flower extract which helps improve the appearance of sagging skin and smooths wrinkles, giving a lifted sculpted appearance to skin. While Olive Leaf extract amplifies the benefits of Retinal by also working on collagen synthesis and supporting the resilience of the skin. While Oat and Alpha Glucan boost moisture and restore skins barrier to buffer potential irritation and dryness, soothing and calming skin.

 

Murad Retinal Resculpt Eye Treatment -An Eye Lift In A Jar

One of the areas we may notice advanced signs of aging first is the eye area. This is because the skin is thinner and more fragile and is more prone to damage. Because of the incredible encapsulation technology this eye treatment is safe to use on the eye lid as well as around the eyes, combining encapsulated Retinal with Gentian root extract which protects elastin fibres from degradation, boosts collagen synthesis and limits oxidative stress involved in premature aging, and improves the appearance of sagging/drooping eyelids and folds, and under-eye bags. The eye cream also gives a satisfying feeling of firmness with an oat firming film that works like an “eye lift in a jar” for the eye to provide a visible lifting effect immediately and over time. 

 

Preventative Care

If you’re not ready for retinal just yet, then for younger skin’s retinol is a great preventative ingredient of choice as it not only smooths texture but also strengthens the skins barrier to defend against future signs of aging. Studies have shown we lose around 1% of collagen every year starting from the age of 25 so it’s no surprise that as we reach our 30s, we start to notice changes such as loss of resilience and expression lines. The Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Collection is a good starting point to keep skin at its optimum best and promote healthy skin in your 20s and 30s until you’re ready for retinal.

 

Start Slowly

Retinal Resculpt Overnight Treatment is super rich and creamy and designed to be gentle even working on the delicate neck area without irritation. But if you're new to retinal or have a more sensitive skin start slowly 2-3 times a week to start with and increase frequency according to skin comfort level.

Since we lose 3 times more water from the skin at night it's vital to protect your moisture barrier with a good night cream, we recommend Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream or Cellular Hydration Repair Cream, both designed to repair and protect moisture barrier.

 

Don’t forget the SPF

For daytime keep skin properly hydrated with your favourite Murad moisturiser and always follow with a broad-spectrum protection SPF 50 the next day to protect skin from the environment. Using SPF will protect skin treated with retinal and prevent premature skin ageing and protect skin from environmental aggressors.

 

What next?

It will come as no surprise that retinal will continue to be the must have for advanced signs of aging, but there is more to come in 2025- so sign up to murad.co.uk to keep up with the latest news and innovations on how to keep your skin healthy, firm and radiant every day.

 

By Tracey Cairns Murad International Education Director