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Style Chicks

Skincare. Haircare. Clean Beauty. Fashion. Style. Lifestyle.

Prescription Retinol or Over the Counter Retinol Products: Deciding Which is Right For You

August 17, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Which is better, over the counter Retinol products or prescription Retinol? It depends. Several factors go into this decision. We’ve tried many prescription and Retinol products at a variety of price points and report on the best features of each so you don’t have to live through Retinol trial and error. To determine the best Retinol product plan for your needs, ask yourself the questions below.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains a prescription strength 2.5% pure Retinol without a prescription or doctor's visit

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains a prescription strength 2.5% pure Retinol without a prescription or doctor’s visit

RETINOL HAS A BACKSTORY

Retinol is an absolute game-changer for many skin conditions ranging from acne to sun damage, scarring, discoloration, as well as wrinkles. Retinol, which in prescription form goes by the name Retin-A, comes in cream and gel forms. In the way, way back, Retinol was only available by prescription for severe acne, and in its’ original form, it wasn’t a pretty process. People tolerated the peeling, itching, irritation, drying and redness for months, waiting for acne-free skin to emerge. And eventually, it did. Meanwhile, many people noticed scars, wrinkles and age spots also disappeared. People wanted Retinol for anti-aging, not just acne.

Now Retinol is readily available, so available that it’s difficult to know what to seek in a Retinol product. Key areas to examine are cost, the percentage of Retinol, ability to tolerate the product and its’ active ingredients, buffering capabilities and ease of use.

Consider the following when selecting a Retinol:

COST

Prescription Retinol brand name and generics are expensive, often $100-150 a tube. Insurance may cover this if you are under 35, but often only for the treatment of acne when prescribed by a dermatologist. If your insurance plan covers Retinol for free or the cost of a co-pay, this could be less expensive than purchasing an over the counter Retinol product.

Prescription Retinols can cost as much as luxury skincare products and often require powerful moisturizers to buffer its’ irritating effects.

HOW MUCH RETINOL IS IN THE PRODUCT?

When purchasing a retinol, a good place to start is 2.5% retinol within the product. More than that can be too irritating without much extra benefit, less than that won’t accomplish much. Many drugstore creams and lotions contain some retinol, but not as much as 2.5%. Some doctors only prescribe Retinol in very low doses, which won’t provide much of a beauty boost. Some prescriptions are too much at 5%, which can irritate all but the hardiest of skin. Prescriptions above the 2.5% range best serve those with severe acne, not those with wrinkles or photodamaged skin.

WHAT ARE THE OTHER ACTIVE INGREDIENTS & DO THEY HELP OR IRRITATE MY SKIN?

Retinol does a great deal for skin, but it can also give a pretty nasty accidentally self-imposed chemical peel, and the results are not pretty. It’s easy to give oneself an accidental Retinol chemical peel, because skin starts looking so good, that it is tempting to apply just a bit more. This works for a few days or weeks, until suddenly it doesn’t, and your face goes from looking dewy and younger to looking like a bad, bad, bad sunburn.

Even if you only use the prescribed amount of Retinol, skin becomes more sensitive to Retinol after about two weeks. The reason is now the old, dead skin layer is sloughed off, but the new skin is more delicate. Yet the same amount of Retinol is being applied to the skin, and that new skin isn’t ready to exfoliate yet. So instead, it becomes red and irritated. Some prescription Retinols come with a creamy base, such as Renova. This creamy base makes the skin surface seem flake-free and dewy, but underneath Retinol is still Retinol, and the skin can suddenly appear red and chapped.

BEST PRACTICES: HOW TO NOT BURN YOUR SKIN WITH RETINOL

The key to avoiding burning yourself with Retinols, prescription or over the counter, is buffering. To buffer either apply moisturizer first (if you’re very sensitive) or after applying Retinol, and don’t skimp. Buffering allows for the maximum frequency of Retinol use per week. If you still can’t tolerate the peeling and dry skin, apply Retinol for twenty minutes to an hour, then wash it off before bed. This way you at least get some Retinol benefits.

But ideally, your Retinol product comes with built-in buffering moisturizers. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it is SO emollient without being greasy. In fact, it’s gentle enough to use twice a day every day without redness, irritation or dry, flaky peeling. You won’t have to take days off Retinol use due to over-doing it, but it still packs a powerful 2.5% Pure Retinol.

EASE OF USE

Even if your insurance covers Retinol, the added ingredients in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer make it an all-in-one product: Retinol plus Vitamin C serum plus moisturizing buffer cream in one easy to apply bottle. No need to wait for the Retinol to dry down before applying moisturizer in the morning or being left sticky by a Vitamin C serum. A product that has everything in one makes skincare much easier.

One pump is all you need for face, neck and decolletage.

One pump of this 3-in-1 product is all you need to meet your Retinol, Vitamin C and moisturizing needs

PRODUCT PICK:  WHY WE LIKE LORDSBURY RETINOL+C CREAM MOISTURIZER

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer combines the power of a prescription 2.5% pure Retinol with Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, and several natural moisturizing agents that make it gentle enough to use twice a day with no irritation, peeling or redness. The Aloe Vera, Jojoba, Green Tea and Shea Butter nourish the skin while buffering. It dries down without being sticky, greasy or leaving a film-like residue, make-up and sunscreen can go directly over the cream. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer also comes at an outstanding price point in a generous 2.8-ounce pump bottle.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains prescription strength Retinol plus Vitamin C to combat KP, along with Jojoba, Vitamin C and Aloe Vera to soothe irritated skin

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains prescription strength Retinol plus Vitamin C along with Jojoba, Vitamin C, and Aloe Vera to soothe irritated skin

WHERE TO FIND IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=lordsbury-20&linkId=80ce0c85b497e19a5480f6b096cc3147

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer for the strength of a prescription Retinol for less than the cost of a Vitamin C serum



Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Anti-Aging, Beauty, Body, Skincare
Tagged: Choosing a Retinol, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, Retinol

Keratosis Pilaris: How to Treat Chicken Bump Skin at Home

August 9, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Keratosis Pilaris is chicken bump skin. If you know what chicken bump skin is, you probably have it or know someone who does. If so, you know how hard it is to treat, because nothing seems to work. And it is unsightly, especially in the warm weather when you want to wear arm-revealing apparel. Learn about an easy, safe remedy for KP: Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer.

WHAT IS KERATOSIS PILARIS?

Keratosis Pilaris is small, dry white bumps that occur in patches. They are an excess build-up of keratin in numerous adjacent hair follicles within an area. They are most common on the back of the upper arms, the back and can appear even on buttocks. And they don’t exfoliate away, they don’t respond to acne medicine or creams, they seemingly respond to nothing, and they can get itchy. Oh, and they get angry looking in the heat, in the cold, from creams, sprays, clothing, and it would seem for no apparent reason at all.

It is sort of a not problem of a problem until it is one. Keratosis Pilaris can’t really hurt you unless you get an infection from scratching it. You also can temporarily tame the KP beast with a gentle exfoliation with mild soap and perhaps a brush device like Clarisonic, but you can also make a mess of your skin trying to treat it if you use the wrong products. And it is easy to mistake for acne or poison ivy if you don’t know better, starting a vicious cycle of KP inflammation and redness.

KP can leave unsightly and embarrassing red, irritated bumps that appear like acne or a rash on upper arms

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT KERATOSIS PILARIS

The dread Chicken bump skin will respond to prescription strength Retinol. Retinol gently exfoliates off the dead skin cells entrapping the hardened keratin and replaces that skin with chicken bump-free skin, for the time being at least. It takes a good four to six weeks, but it clears it up pretty well. Further, with regular long-term use, the retinol helps prevent the hardened keratin bumps from forming in the first place, which reduces KP bump formation.

The caveat is that it that Retinol can also make skin dry, flaky and itchy, which make it more difficult to not scratch, which in turn, makes KP all the worse. So the Retinol needs to be buffered. And therein lies the rub: so many other ingredients can irritate KP that not all creams or lotions can be used as a retinol buffering agent.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains prescription strength Retinol plus Vitamin C to combat KP, along with Jojoba, Vitamin C and Aloe Vera to soothe irritated skin

One product we found that is excellent for treating KP is Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. It combines a prescription strength Retinol of 2.5% with 20% Vitamin C serum. Together they sack chicken bumps, clearing out existing bumps and eliminating the excess keratin from the skin. This prevents new bumps from forming. There is also the bonus of several natural Keratosis Pilaris friendly moisturizers to buffer the active ingredients. These include the super soothing Jojoba Oil, Aloe Vera, and Sunflower Oil. This not only makes Retinol tolerable but eases the itchiness of existing chicken bumps, which makes it much easier not to scratch.

LORDBURY RETINOL+C CREAM MOISTURIZER IS A COST EFFECTIVE KP TREATMENT

If you are in the market for KP products, you will notice they pretty much all have one thing in common: a steep price tag for a not so big bottle. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a large and generous 2.8-ounce size for under $30, which makes it the most cost-effective treatment I’ve found to date for the Keratosis Pilaris on my upper arms.

My chicken bump situation is pretty mild, but I’m self-conscious about the area during the summer, and I’m happy to report the Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer took care of the problem without any irritation to the area. So this summer, I am chicken bump free!

Treat KP on face, decolletage, and arms with Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

Treat KP on face, decolletage, and arms with Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

Looking to try a Retinol with all the prescription strength benefits and none of the irritation? Try Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer, a twice a day 2.5% retinol with 20% Vitamin C and loads of natural moisturizers to keep skin soft and dewy.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSEQX/

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol enhancing ingredients

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other natural ingredients that help skin heal from KP


Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Anti-Aging, Beauty, Body, Health, Skincare
Tagged: Chicken Bump Treatment at Home, Chicken Bumps, How to Treat Chicken Bumps, Keratosis Pilaris, KP TREATMENT, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

Improving Dark Under Eye Circles: Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

August 2, 2018 · 1 Comment

Dark undereye circles have plagued me for life. Even if I am well rested, they still make me look tired. I’ve tried countless concealers and camouflage tactics, creams, and remedies with limited success. But there is one thing that all dark circle suffers have in common: dark circles look better when light reflects off a smooth, hydrated skin surface. Dark undereye circles also can benefit from certain ingredients to naturally fade discoloration. Read why Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer can help *your* dark circles, regardless of their cause.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizing Cream improves the appearance of dark under eye circles

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer improves the appearance of dark under eye circles with safe, effective, natural ingredients

THE PROBLEM WITH DARK CIRCLE TREATMENTS OF YEARS PAST

You probably have tried many things to remedy your dark undereye circles.

You may have even asked a dermatologist if anything stronger was available. For years, dark circles were treated with hydroquinone cream. Hydroquinone stops the production of melanin in the skin. It works, but sometimes a bit too well. Some celebrities and models over forty have very light, almost white undereye areas from using hydroquinone. This looks unhealthy and unnatural. Unpigmented skin is as difficult to conceal as over pigmented skin.

In recent years, in-office laser skin treatments can remove discoloration and often some natural pigment along with it. These devices are still somewhat unpredictable. Laser-based treatments also have a small risk of the discoloration becoming darker instead of lighter. But many people report some success, albeit at a hefty price tag.

Chemical peels remove surface discoloration, but the eye area skin is so fragile and thin that this can be risky.

But that doesn’t mean that nothing will work when it comes to improving dark circles, it just means you need the right product for you.

Just a small dollop of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides the power of Retinol, Vitamin C, and rich moisturizing cream that is gentle enough for the delicate eye area

Just a small dollop of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides the power of Retinol, Vitamin C, and rich moisturizing cream that is gentle enough for the delicate eye area

WHY DARK UNDEREYE CIRCLE TREATMENTS DON’T WORK FOR EVERYONE

Ever hear a rave review about a dark circle product, only to try it for yourself and be disappointed? There are many causes of dark undereye circles, so not every product can work for everyone. Dark under eye circles can be due to allergies, heredity, lack of sleep, and leaking blood capillaries. Different solutions help different problems and do nothing for other types of problems.

For example, is your dark circle actually a shadow from eye puffiness? Ice can help. So can identifying your allergy or dietary triggers. Using a topical product with caffeine can reduce the bloat.

But, what if you don’t know the cause of your undereye circles?

Many of us don’t know what factor or factors cause our dark circles. The only solution that will work for everyone is improving the skin’s appearance. How can you do this? By rebuilding the collagen, keeping the area smooth and hydrated, and removing discoloration due to sun damage. These three issues are almost universal to all dark circle suffers. This is where Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer for face, neck, decolletage, and hands

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains multiple ingredients to tackle dark circles and keep skin soft, smooth and supple

RETINOL, VITAMIN C, HYALURONIC ACID & DARK UNDER EYE CIRCLES

The under eye skin area, being so thin, is subject to the effects of sun damage. Two ingredients that can reverse sun damage are retinol and Vitamin C.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% pure Retinol. Retinol is exceptionally effective in reversing the appearance of sun damage. It also contains 20% Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C helps dark circles by breaking up excess pigmentation and dispersing it to make the skin tone appear even.

Dark circles appear worse as we age because sagging skin makes shadows. Collagen is the scaffolding of the skin, if there’s not enough collagen to support skin tissues, skin sags under the weight. Skin loses collagen with age, especially around the eye area. Retinol promotes collagen production and in tandem with topical Vitamin C, can reduce the sagging and discoloration.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 20% Vitamin C Serum to build collagen, fade both discoloration and sun damage around the delicate eye area

Dark circles look better when the skin is wrinkle free and as hydrated as possible. For this, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains Hyaluronic Acid, which plumps the skin on contact. As a result, wrinkles and fine lines disappear or appear less deep. Hyaluronic Acid draws in moisture so skin appears fuller and plumper. This plumping action also reduces sagging, which in turn, makes the dark circle seem firmer and smaller.

Hereditary dark shadows are difficult to improve and seem worse over time due to acquired sun damage. Reversing this sun damage can lighten, smooth and brighten the area. Vitamin C boosts the collagen levels to lift the skin upwards for a younger, brighter look. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains Aloe Vera which feeds the skin, providing a dewy look over time that’s smooth and reflects light, giving a lighter appearance. Aloe Vera also helps buffer treating ingredients to make them tolerable on the delicate eye area.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizing Cream comes in a generous 2.8 ounce bottle

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a generous 2.8-ounce size

TIP: Only apply any retinol all along the orbital bone of the dark circle, below the eye bulge and feathering up and out to the brow. Stay away from the lashline and tear duct.

Dermatologist tip: apply retinol products all along the orbital bone up and out to the crow’s feet and up to the brow

CONCLUSION

Dark undereye circles can occur for many reasons and can make you look tired and older. A safe, cost-effective way to treat dark circles is Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. It contains prescription strength retinol to smooth the surface of the skin and undo sun damage. Vitamin C builds collagen and fades discoloration. Hyaluronic Acid deeply hydrates so dark circles instantly appear brighter, firmer and smoother. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides a remedy to quickly improve the look of dark undereye circles. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a generously sized container that is an exceptional value for an eye treatment.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains natural and effective yet gentle ingredients

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=ll1&tag=lordsbury-20&linkId=80ce0c85b497e19a5480f6b096cc3147

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Beauty, Skincare
Tagged: Dark Undereye Circles, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer

What to Expect from a Vitamin C and Retinol Skincare Program

January 1, 2018 · 11 Comments

The first time one spots fine lines, crows feet, brown spots, or eleven lines on their face, one is probably only in their late twenties, but it feels like the start of a slippery slope into looking like a full-fledged card-carrying AARP member on their way to get a free senior coffee. To combat signs of aging, dermatologists recommend a combination of Vitamin C serum and Retinol. Considering starting a Vitamin C/Retinol topical skin care program? Find out exactly what to expect and when from this topical anti-aging power couple, as found in Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains both 2.5% pure Retinol and 20% Vitamin C Serum

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains both 2.5% pure Retinol and 20% Vitamin C Serum

AGING IS SNEAKY: WHY RETINOL AND VITAMIN C ARE THE FIRST LINES OF DEFENSE

Aging skin sneaks up on you. Your skin may seem dull, less dewy or vibrant, but not old, just… lackluster. This aging starts in our late twenties when collagen starts to decrease, and by 40, aging typically exhibits in increased uneven pigmentation, dark spots, redness, broken capillaries, along with the usual aging suspects of wrinkles, crinkles and sagging.

It’s easy to focus on the wrinkles and sagging, but the discoloration, dullness and cumulative sun damage effects are far more aging to the overall facial appearance. According to an article in the December 2006 Clinical Interventions in Aging Journal, “solar UV radiation unquestionably is the single major factor responsible for skin aging” (Clin Interv Aging. 2006 Dec; 1(4): 327–348).

Fortunately, both Vitamin C and Retinol excel at both building more collagen and undoing sun damage, its’ resulting discoloration, and skin texture changes, as well as restoring a youthful glow regardless of age. While there is a slew of anti-aging remedies and products out there, this sun damage reversal ability is one of the chief reasons that dermatologists will recommend a Vitamin C and Retinol combination.

CHOOSING YOUR TOPICALS

The temptation in anti-aging skin care is to panic and use too much too soon, attempting peels, scrubs, and topical treatments all at once, leading to dry, irritated skin. But the tried and true combination that addresses the broadest scope of anti-aging issues is Retinol and Vitamin C. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it’s an all-in-one product that combines a 2.5% pure Retinol with 20% Vitamin C serum plus Hyaluronic Acid for deeper penetration, plus a host of moisturizers to buffer the powerful active ingredients.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides gentle but effective Retinol plus Vitamin C in an all-in-one product

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides gentle but effective Retinol plus Vitamin C in an all-in-one product

ABOUT VITAMIN C: HOW IT REVERSES SKIN AGING

Vitamin C is needed for collagen production. Collagen is the scaffolding of the skin, keeping it supported and firm. We produce less collagen as we age, and we also lose collagen, which is tantamount to pulling bricks out of a wall – it eventually causes sagging and deterioration. But these missing “bricks” in the skin can be patched with Vitamin C application to produce more collagen. Because the skin makes less collagen as it ages, it’s helpful to apply Vitamin C topically to have it present at the cellular level where skin makes collagen, as Vitamin C is involved in all three collagen production processes. Vitamin C also fights free radicals which age the skin via oxidation and exposure to pollutants. Vitamin C fades away discoloration without bleaching it, just returning the skin to its’ natural tone.

Vitamin C can build collagen even around the delicate eye area

ABOUT RETINOL: HOW IT REVERSES SKIN AGING

Retinol helps retain existing collagen by preventing collagen breakdown and stimulate new collagen production. It is a great pairing with topical Vitamin C that provides the production process tools while Retinol gives the skin “orders” to make more collagen. It also increases skin thickness which makes it less prone to wrinkle and appear more even in tone. It breaks up discoloration and scars, which makes it easier for Vitamin C to fade it away. And it sloughs away dead skin cells and encourages new, younger skin to take its’ place. It shrinks pores, which tend to enlarge with age, and purges blackheads.

Retinol also uniquely retains the healthy glow or luminosity of youth that no other product or active ingredient can truly emulate or effect. If you have ever seen an older person without wrinkles or sagging, but their skin does not glow, you know they are maintaining their skin in some unnatural (surgical, laser or injectable) fashion. That glow is what gives older skin a natural young look.

Vitamin C and Retinol both accomplish different parts of many of the same tasks, making them a great team.

Just one pump of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats the face and throat with a potent combination of Retinol, Vitamin C and a bunch of natural, effective moisturizers

TIMEFRAME: WHEN CAN I EXPECT RESULTS?

Results can be seen between a week to three months, depending on the type of aging concerned. The return of skin radiance happens fairly quickly, whereas reversing deep wrinkles and sagging requires collagen production which can take a few months of daily Retinol and Vitamin C use to start to visibly show.

A key factor in how long it takes for Retinol and Vitamin C to improve skin is how well you tolerate the flaking, redness, and dryness that occurs with many retinol and even some Vitamin C products. Many people can only tolerate every other day Retinol use. This will delay results. A Retinol we like is Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it contains 2.5% pure retinol, 20% Vitamin C serum and a host of natural moisturizers that serve as a gentle buffer so effective that it can be used twice a day with zero skin irritation, even around the delicate eye area, and even for those with very sensitive skin, like myself.

LUMINOSITY: ONE TO TWO WEEKS

This famous elusive Retinol glow appears just after a major skin sloughing. And it is fabulous.

SMOOTH AND EVEN SKIN: TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS

Within the first week or two, the combination of Vitamin C and Retinol leads to rapid dead skin turnover, which makes skin look and feels soft and smooth, like after exfoliating. Wrinkles appear smaller and less deep because the light reflects better off of smooth skin than dead skin cells, but wrinkles are not actually improved at this stage, they are just attractively “buffed”. Prescription retinol is highly effective in dead skin sloughing but tends to have several weeks of itchy peeling to suffer through. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer also has rapid dead skin turnover, but without tell-tale peeling or redness often seen in prescription retinol.

REDUCED PORES AND REDUCED BLACKHEADS: ONE TO THREE WEEKS

A particularly satisfying part of Vitamin C/Retinol use is watching pores shrink down to nothing and blackheads mass exit your face, even the stubborn ones around your nose. This pore-shrinking is surprisingly youthifying, as it’s something that unknowingly makes one look older.

ACNE: WEEKS THREE AND FOUR

Vitamin C tackles acne quickly. Retinol removes the dead skin cells and sebum congesting pores. There is a brief period a few weeks into retinol use that the pores purge with a temporary major breakout, then skin remains largely clear after that period. Cystic acne takes longer to clear but daily Vitamin C use is excellent for shrinking the inflammation out of cystic acne.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats even adult cystic acne with Retinol and Vitamin C, plus reduces inflammation with Wildcrafted Green Tea and Aloe Vera

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats even adult cystic acne with Retinol and Vitamin C while reducing redness and inflammation with Wildcrafted Green Tea and Aloe Vera. Plus, it fades brown spots, uneven tone and discoloration caused by years of sun damage and even fades old acne scars

DISCOLORATION FROM PHOTOAGING (SUN DAMAGE): 2 to 6 MONTHS

This is one of Retinols and Vitamin C’s best tricks, reversing years of sun damage. How fast you see results depend on how much damage you have, but even severe sun damage can be vastly improved within three to six months. Vitamin C builds collagen and fades discoloration, improving sun damaged skin’s texture and even tone. According to the same article cited above, Retinol is the most effective treatment reversing skin damage, generally within three to six months, but most users won’t tolerate the burning, scaling, itching, peeling and general dermatitis issues associated with retinoid therapy. This is where buffering your retinol with moisturizers, such as those found in the all-in-one Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, becomes crucial to assure regular, consistent use.

CONCLUSION

Few treatments can hold a candle to what daily use of Retinol and Vitamin C can do for the skin in terms of reversing sun damage and restoring the skin. The key to making this program work for you is finding a Retinol and Vitamin C that you can use consistently each day without excess irritation or redness. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides 2.5% pure Retinol with 20% Vitamin C serum in a highly moisturizing cream base that contains many natural moisturizing agents so that you can tolerate daily use. In fact, you can use it twice a day without irritation. Once you see the wonderful youthful luminosity that Retinol can give your skin, you won’t want to stop, so Lordsbury gives the ability for daily use without any irritation, just soft, smooth, increasingly younger and better skin.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol enhancing ingredients

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol-enhancing ingredients

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Anti-Aging, Beauty, Skincare
Tagged: Anti-Aging, beauty, Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, Moisturizer, natural, Retinol, Skin, Skincare, Vitamin C

Ingredients to Optimize Retinol Use: A Close up of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

December 17, 2017 · 18 Comments

We’ve all heard it: Retinol is a miracle worker of anti-aging, and we see it on the ingredient list in products ranging from cheap drugstore brands to luxury spa products to mass-market chains, dermatologists offices, and all the way to the cosmetic counters at Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorfs. What accounts for the differences in efficacy and price? Two factors: the strength of the Retinol and the products other supporting ingredients such as Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, or Jojoba. These Most Valuable Players of skincare are the real test of how well any given Retinol will work for you and if it is worth its’ price. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ingredients you do – and don’t – want to see on a Retinol’s ingredient label.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol enhancing ingredients

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol enhancing ingredients

ALL-IN-ONE RETINOL

Let’s cut to the chase: Is there a Retinol that combines ALL of the good Retinol ingredient pairings? Yes. For an all-in-one Retinol product, we find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer to be a highly effective combination of ingredients to best support the many skincare benefits of a good Retinol. It combines a prescription strength 2.5% Retinol with 20% Vitamin C Serum, Hyaluronic Acid, along with multiple buffering moisturizers including nourishing Jojoba Oil, calming anti-oxidant Wildcrafted Green Tea, calming Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and many more.

How does each of these ingredients work in tandem with Retinol to increase its’ overall efficacy? Here are some details about these key player ingredients.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a generous 2.8-ounce container

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a generous 2.8-ounce container

RETINOL

It seems obvious, but there should be a respectable amount of Retinol in your Retinol product. Prescription levels begin at about 2.5% up to 5%, although some prescriptions are low as 1%. About 2% and up is needed for a Retinol to be effective, but not all Retinol products contain very much Retinol.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C Serum is Retinol’s BFF, a partner in crime, and all around pal. Vitamin C works in tandem with Retinol to accomplish the same thing but in different ways.
For example, where Retinol refines surface skin texture, Vitamin C builds collagen to strengthen and support the skin so it is as strong as it looks. Retinol fights acne by cleaning out pores and eradicating bacteria-trapping dead skin, Vitamin C reduces acne inflammation and fades post-pimple scarring. Both Retinol and Vitamin C promote collagen, but each is involved at different stages in the collagen production process. Together, they ensure the maximum amount of collagen is produced.

Vitamin C can build collagen even around the delicate eye area

These reasons are why applying Vitamin C and Retinol daily is considered the best anti-aging topical program.

Just one pump of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats the face and throat

HYALURONIC ACID

If you have old acne scars or sun damage and had to pick only one other ingredient for an active ingredient product with Retinol, it would likely be Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid is like your friend with VIP access. First, Hyaluronic Acid holds massive amounts of moisture to plump out wrinkles and fine lines while making skin look dewy and young. But more importantly, Hyaluronic Acid also can pull active ingredients deeper into the skin, including Retinol. The deeper these ingredients get, the better the supporting collagen structure becomes, and even older and darker scars fade.

Hyaluronic Acid makes skin instantly dewy and soft, it plumps wrinkles and helps Retinol sink deeper into skin to address deep wrinkles, scars, and discoloration

Many treating active ingredients, including Retinol and Vitamin C, have molecules that are too large to permeate these skin layers, but somehow, Hyaluronic Acid can bind with Retinol and bring the Retinol into deep skin layers it could not access alone.

What does all this mean? If you have deep scars, wrinkles, discoloration, sun damage, sagging, or stubborn cystic acne, a Retinol product containing Hyaluronic Acid can assist Retinol to treat those deep skin level problems. When Hyaluronic Acid helps Retinol sink into the deeper skin layers, it helps eradicate uneven skin texture and tone, including sun damage and deep scars.

Buffering Agent Moisturizers

It may seem counter-intuitive, but one must buffer Retinol with a gentle, soothing moisturizer, ingredients like Green Tea, Jojoba, or Aloe Vera.  Here is why:

For all that Retinol can do, it can also give a pretty nasty accidentally, haphazard self-imposed chemical peel, and the results are not pretty. It’s easy to give oneself an accidental Retinol chemical peel, because skin starts looking so good, that one might feel applying “more is better”, which works for a few days, until suddenly it doesn’t, and your face goes from looking dewy and younger to looking like a bad sunburn.

Even if you follow the directions and only use the prescribed amount of Retinol, skin becomes more sensitive to Retinol after about two weeks, because the old skin is sloughed off, and the new skin is more delicate, yet the same level of Retinol is being applied to skin that isn’t ready to exfoliate yet. This leads to redness and irritation.

HOW TO NOT BURN YOUR SKIN WITH RETINOL

The key to avoiding burning yourself with Retinols, prescription or over the counter, is buffering. To buffer either apply moisturizer first (if you’re very sensitive) or after applying Retinol, and don’t skimp. Buffering allows for the maximum frequency of Retinol use per week. If you still can’t tolerate the peeling and dry skin, apply Retinol for twenty minutes to an hour, then wash it off before bed. This way you at least get some Retinol benefits.

But ideally, your Retinol product comes with built-in buffering moisturizers. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it is SO emollient without being greasy. In fact, it’s gentle enough to use twice a day without redness, irritation or dry, flaky peeling.

The moisturizing ingredients make Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer gentle enough to use everyday

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains quality, organic, soothing, nourishing moisturizers including:

  • Wildcrafted Green Tea feeds and moisturizes the skin, calms irritation and is an excellent antioxidant. Green Tea can calm the irritation that Retinol causes
  • Jojoba Oil is very similar to the composition of our natural skin oils, so skin tends to absorb Jojoba very well. As a carrier oil, it enhances the ingredients it is paired with instead of creating a barrier. Made of 98% monounsaturated fats so it can penetrate deeply. Jojoba has a very similar structure to sebum, replacing the natural oils the skin needs to stay healthy and gives skin elasticity and softness
  • Aloe Vera is best known for burn treatment on the skin, but it is highly nutritious to skin with numerous vitamins that the skin can use topically to enhance cell turnover and repair skin cells.
  • Shea Butter can be tricky in some products, as inorganic Shea Butters can tend to make skin breakout. Because of this, you may have had a bad experience with Shea, which is unfortunate since it can both feed the skin and overhaul the skin texture, even on deep burns. If you’re going to apply a product with Retinol, make sure the Shea Butter is organic, such as is found in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer.
  • Cocoa Butter has long been used for stretch marks because it helps skin remain resilient and elastic. Retinol is also excellent for stretch marks, whether they are in the new “red” stage or older “white” stage. If you’re interested in Retinol for stretch mark repair, Cocoa Butter is an excellent pairing.
  • Vitamin B5 helps soothe and regenerate skin.
  • Vitamin E softens rough skin patches including scars. Retinol refines the texture and fades scarring, while Vitamin E makes the skin more pliable.
  • Organic Sunflower Oil softens the skin and is an excellent carrier oil. It works well with Retinol because it is so hydrating to the skin and can calm red, irritated skin when other products cannot be tolerated.
  • Propolis is a bee product, it fights infections and heals wounds. It allows for an aggressive Retinol and Vitamin C cell renewal program without skin becoming too red, irritated, flaky or raw. Some Retinol programs leave skin dry and peeling; the Propolis helps keep skin at its’ best. If you are allergic to bee products, take note.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains buffering moisturizers built right in like Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba and Vitamin E

With a line up of moisturizing buffering ingredients like that, you can see why we use Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. It is gentle enough to use twice a day without any irritation, even on delicate skin. That is an impressive amount of moisturizing ingredients!

CONCLUSION

There you have it, some of our favorite ingredients for boosting the efficacy of a Retinol product. Pairing Vitamin C helps Retinol do its’ job best, Hyaluronic helps Retinol reach the deeper skin layers to fight sagging, build collagen, and fade deeper scars. Moisturizing ingredients that do not cause breakouts are vital to tolerate any Retinol program. The long list of high-quality moisturizing agents in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, paired with prescription strength Retinol and 20% Vitamin C makes it an ideal all-in-one product for your Retinol needs.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/

 

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Posted by Style Chicks / Filed In: Anti-Aging, Beauty, Skincare
Tagged: Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, Retinol, Skincare

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