Why Retinol Palmitate is the Fountain of Youth

What does Retinol do? It Stops ageing in its tracks —Guaranteed.

Do you look in the mirror and notice fine lines or wrinkles forming?

Or have you wondered if there is one ingredient that can keep your skin from ageing?

One that will restore that youthful, lit-from-within glow?

Or firm your skin’s texture, and lighten dark spots?

Well, we’re here to tell you there is one that will do all of the above and more.

It can even clear hormonal breakouts, for crying out loud!

So what is the most dermatologically approved ingredient for reversing ageing?

That is vitamin A skin cream in the form of Retinol palmitate ta-dah.

Retinol, the vitamin A derivative

I’m not writing about this ingredient because it’s the next fad ingredient.

As the founder of the Naked Chemist and a clinical esthetician, I approach everything from a science-based standpoint.

The amount of clinical data supporting retinol palmitate’s benefits in reversing signs of ageing is astounding.

And without a doubt, this makes it one of the most sought-after ingredients in treating ageing skin.

Infact, the documentary “the truth about looking good” suggested it was the number one ingredient in reversing signs of ageing.

Its referred to in the industry as the normalising vitamin for its ability to convert abnormal skin cells well back to normalcy.

And because of its incredible normalising properties, this one molecule of Retinol can be used to treat ageing and acne.

That puts it squarely in the arena that the Naked Chemist is always occupied with, getting visible results for our clients.

I love retinol so much that I have written extensively about it, which you can read here and here.

Why it’s the Fountain of Youth

When asked what Retinol is, I always tell my clients you can liken it to a thermostat.

As you age, your skin cells become out of whack, and vitamin A comes along and regulates the cellular processes.

When applied topically, it is converted to retinoic acid or tretinoin, which is the same as the prescription drug known as Retin A.

Anti Ageing Benefits

Independent studies (1) at the Michigan Medical School found that applying retinol topically significantly reverses signs of ageing and dark spots, including wrinkles, thinning of the underlying dermis and loss of skin elasticity.

This study (2) found that retinol palmitate has also been found to stimulate new collagen synthesis and the formation of hyaluronic acid, which is an essential molecule in your skin that keeps it plump and hydrated, and which can deplete by as much as 50% with age.

Lightens Dark Spots and Uneven Skin Tone

Retinol palmitate cream is a potent topical treatment for stimulating cell turnover and renewal, encouraging new cells to reproduce every 30 days.

Several trials (3) have investigated the use of topical retinoids in the treatment of pigmented skin, and it was found that it keeps skin cells in an orderly manner.

It brings about a lovely luminosity to your skin whilst significantly reversing UV damage and the appearance of dark spots.

Treats Pores, Oily Skin and Breakouts

Beyond its benefits for targeting ageing and hyperpigmentation, it is also considered a normalising vitamin.

This study (4) found that those with acne should be treated with topical retinoid because of it’s ability to slow the oil flow through the sebaceous glands, which helps to dial back that daily shine. It also helps to destroy acne bacteria.

Because my company’s philosophy is all about transparency in beauty, I’d like to clarify what I mean when discussing pore size because retinol palmitate is often touted for making pores look smaller with consistent use.

There are, however, a few caveats around this subject because pore size is pretty much fixed;

How retinol reduces your pore size is if your oil glands become enlarged, which is often the case if you are oily because of the excessive oil being pushed through your skin’s pores, or if dead skin cells have become trapped, they become enlarged.

Retinol helps to slow down the oil flow and flush out your pores, which minimises them.

But for the most part, your pore size is fixed.

Will Retinol Sensitise My Skin?

Within my industry, there is a myth that it should not be used on sensitive skin because it can be sensitising.

But this is all to do with the strength of your formula. Yes, if you use a strong retinol product, it will sensitise your skin.

Still, at percentages of 0.5 to 1%, like in our A+ skin shot and Immortelle anti ageing cream, you are still getting all the above benefits but at a lower dose.

The great thing about retinol is that it builds up in your skin’s tissues over time, making your skin much more resilient.

It also helps to rebuild and strengthen the capillary walls making it ideal for a thin, fragile skin.

To Conclude. The naked truth

So if you are concerned about premature ageing and wondering if there is one ingredient that will dial back those fine lines and wrinkles, the good news is there is.

The amount of clinical data supporting retinol palmitate’s benefit in reversing signs of ageing is astounding, making retinol one of the most sought-after ingredients for the treatment of ageing skin.

Dr Voorhees from the University of Michigan has published unbelievable studies with photographs that show that topically applied retinol palmitate used consistently can prevent premature ageing in its tracks.

Why? Because your skin naturally converts topically applied retinol to retinoic acid or tretinoin, the same as the prescription drug Retin A.

There is also an extensive body of scientific data that supports the incredible use of retinol as a normalising vitamin, making it ideal if you are acne prone or have oily skin.

It’s phenomenal what retinol can do to your skin.

So why not take my recommendation and dip into the fountain of youth to not only ward off premature ageing but also balance your skin and bring back that youthful luminosity,

References

1. Topical Vitamin A Versus Vehicle Cream in the Treatment of Aged Skin

2. Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (Retinol)

3. Topical Retinoids for Pigmented Skin

4. Why Topical Retinoids Are Mainstay of Therapy for Acne