Upping the Ante on Your Retinol

This post is sponsored by Olay. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

Retinol is an amazing skincare ingredient. Among the many things it can do for skin, some of my faves include reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, improving skin texture and tone, and improving the look of pores. Retinol also has an endless stream of receipts on its efficacy for the skin, and we stan a skincare ingredient that comes through with the facts.

But because retinol can be irritating for some, if you’ve never tried it before, it’s important to start with a gentle, yet effective formula like Olay Retinol24. Retinol24 delivers retinol deep into the skin where it goes to work on improving the skin’s appearance in a hydrating formula. Last year I started using Olay Retinol24—mostly The Retinol24 moisturizer, but I also enjoyed the Retinol24 serum and eye cream. The Retinol24 moisturizer is suuuuper creamy, hydrating, and lightweight. I like having retinol in my routine because after 25 we lose a bit of collagen (the protein in the skin that keeps it looking snatched) each year as we age (I’m 39) and retinol helps to replenish some of what we lose.

Olay Retinol24 also includes fan favorite vitamin B3 aka niacinamide as well as amino peptide. Now that one we don’t hear of often, but amino peptide helps to keep skin looking smoother and firmer. So that combined with niacinamide’s ability to help skin retain moisture and with cell turnover (aka heyyy new, brighter skin), you’ve got yourself a really dope skincare product.

About a month ago I switched to Olay Retinol24 Max. This new formula utilizes 20% more Retinol 24 Complex and 40% more hydrating ingredients vs base Retinol24. This basically means while you’re getting more retinol power in this formula, you’re also getting very nourishing and hydrating ingredients as well.

So far soooo good with Retinol24 Max. I use the moisturizer on most nights—I do skip retinol any night that I use exfoliating toners just to avoid any irritation. The Retinol24 Max moisturizer is also immensely creamy and lightweight which I really love. I’ve seen some amazing differences in my skin’s texture (my texture was always nice, but now it’s niiiiiiiiice) and I definitely notice that my makeup sits on my skin even more beautifully.

I’ve always been an advocate for wearing sunscreen during the day, but it’s especially important to do so when using retinol. Fun fact: retinol doesn’t make the skin more sensitive to the sun. You actually want to wear sunscreen as to not reverse all the handiwork retinol does at night to help repair your skin. Not to mention that UV and visible light can worsen pigmentation so slather that sunscreen on, y’all. I have a whole series here on the blog and a playlist on Youtube on sunscreens for darker skin tones. No excuses. Olay makes some bomb sunscreens as well that you can check out here. I’ve tried and love the Olay Luminous Whip SPF 25, Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 25, and the Olay Regenerist Whip SPF 40.

Want to know where retinol and other products goes in your skincare routine? Check out this post on The Order to Apply Your Skincare Products.

Buy Retinol24 Max here.

Have questions about retinol? Leave them below!

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2 Comments

  1. Jo Freeman
    February 13, 2021 / 11:18 pm

    As we get older the eyes become darker on eye lids and underneath. Why?
    Secondly, what creams make your skin silky smooth? I have seen women 70’s with skin soft as a babies bottom.
    Thirdly, Alovera plant take care of all the above mentioned?

    • Danielle
      Author
      February 15, 2021 / 6:30 pm

      There could be a number of reasons why the skin around the eyes become darker. Check out this video on how I faded mine with my dermatologist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PGXWLiGfZw&t=1s

      And no, an aloe vera plant cannot replace the type of results you’d get with retinol. You can maintain smooth skin by using retinol regularly and wearing sunscreen daily. If you need a bit more maintenance, regularly seeing an esthetician and/or dermatologist can help immensely.

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