- Stimulates and hydrates
- Anti-aging
- Firming
- Stimulates and energizes foundational skin cells
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a powerhouse antioxidant that boosts collagen production, increases cell turnover, and regulates oil production. EllieGlow considers it a godsend for anyone looking to address texture, acne, or signs of aging. Retinol is a type of retinoid, which is made from vitamin A. Retinol does not remove dead skin cells, as many other antiaging products are designed to do. Instead, the small molecules that make up retinol penetrate deeply into and beneath the epidermis (outer layer of skin) to your dermis. Stimulate Serum also helps to neutralize free radicals deep within the skin.
Once in this middle layer of skin, retinol helps stimulate the skin cells, annoying and irritating them so that they go into hyper-drive so that they stimulate collagen and elastin. This helps boost the production of elastin and collagen, which creates a “plumping” effect that can reduce the appearance of:
- fine lines
- wrinkles
- enlarged pores
- blackheads
- pimples and outbreaks
Because it does stimulate skin cell growth to uplift and shed off dead skin cells quicker, retinol has an exfoliating effect on the skin’s surface that can help improve texture and tone.
It is important to note that retinol is often recommended to help treat acne as well as related scarring, along with other medications that help target inflammation and bacteria.
Stimulate Serum with Retinol is primarily used to treat the following skin conditions:
- fine lines
- wrinkles and deep lines
- sun spots and other signs of sun damage, sometimes called photoaging
- uneven skin texture
- melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that occurs naturally in the skin and helps bind water to collagen, which in turn traps it in the skin and thus increases hydration. That's important because adequate hydration plumps up the skin making lines and wrinkles appear less significant plus hydration under the skin gives your complexion that dewy, glowy effect we all strive for. It’s generally safe for all skin types and has no known side effects when applied topically.
Why does Stimulate Serum pair retinol with Hyaluronic Acid?
Because of the significant efficacy of hydration that Hyaluronic Acid is renowned for, using retinol with HA can help to lessen the severity of the side effects that often come with retinol usage by itself.
If you want glowing skin, hyaluronic acid and retinol are a match made in heaven! Where retinol is irritating, hyaluronic acid is soothing and hydrating; where hyaluronic acid is calming, retinol is vigorous. Together, they balance each other out without compromising the things that make them powerfully unique. It’s exactly what makes Stimulate Serum's combination one of EllieGlow's most popular formulations.
Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol Together
Like we said, hyaluronic acid and retinol are the ultimate duo. Together, they have a sort of synergistic effect, says Peredo, making it easier to reap the benefits of retinol without suffering any of the usual dryness thanks to the moisture boost from hyaluronic acid.
As Peredo explains, hyaluronic acid helps keep retinol in check, increasing the permeability of the skin. So when combined, the two ingredients can leave your skin clearer, smoother, and more hydrated and moisturized.
Expected Results
To achieve the best results from Stimulate Serum, it is best to build up a tolerance for a potent retinol-based serum over several weeks until you are able to use it at least 3-4 times per week. You might even be one of the lucky people who can tolerate its effects every day! Please note that because it stimulate the deepest skin cells, these need to rise to the surface and this process (called a skin cell cycle) normally takes 45-60 days. Therefore, even though you will see improve in a few days, it may take several weeks until you see significant improvements. After 2 months, you skin should be markedly different!
At EllieGlow, we emphasize the importance of proper application methods when it comes to retinol and hyaluronic acid. Be sure to give your Stimulate Serum with retinol and hyaluronic acid time to dry and seep into the skin before moving on to the next steps. This will enhance the retinol's efficacy and will minimize irritation.
NOTEWORTHY!!!!!
Not only can you use hyaluronic acid and retinol together, but the vast majority of doctors actually encourage you to do so. The bottom line is that few other ingredient combinations are as well-regarded as the combination of a potent concentration of both hyaluronic acid and retinol in the skincare community.
Please understand that by themselves, hyaluronic acid and retinol are both considered two of the most popular (and desirable) ingredients in anti-aging skincare products. If anything, results are only better when you combine the two. Why? Because hyaluronic acid draws water into the skin while retinol speeds cellular turnover, you can counteract some of retinol’s notorious drying properties while still allowing the ingredient to penetrate the outer layer of the skin. So give the Stimulate Serum a try! You can thank us later!
Side Effects: While retinol is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this doesn’t mean it’s free from side effects. In fact, the benefit of using retinol is FOR THE SIDE EFFECTS! Potent retinol is specifically beneficial when it irritates the skin - that's how you know it's working :) because it is designed to stimulate and irritate the skin. Because of its potency, people who use Stimulate Serum and/or other retinols may experience dry and irritated skin, especially after using retinol for the first time. Other side effects that are to be expected may include:
- redness
- itchiness
- peeling skin
To lessen these side effects, try using your retinol every other night or every third night, and work your way up to using it nightly. This is called 'building retinol tolerance'.
Please note: Your risk for side effects may be greater if you use more than one retinol-containing product at the same time. Read product labels carefully — especially if you’re using a combination of products labeled as “anti-aging” or for acne, which are more likely to contain retinol.
Due to the risk of sun sensitivity, retinols are best applied at night.
Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Organic, Vegetable Glycerin, Retinol, Hyaluronic Acid, Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Cellulose Gum.
