Retinol → Style Chicks → Page 3

Skincare for Busy Moms

September 18, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Moms take care of everyone but themselves. It is easy to allow oneself to get into a bad pattern of not properly caring for skin because it can be time-consuming and expensive to buy an eye cream, an anti-aging treatment, an acne treatment, and a daily moisturizer. But it is important for Moms to take time for themselves to care for their skin. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer is a one-step product to treat and moisturize skin on the face, the eyes, and throat so even the busiest Moms can fit a skin care program into their day.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides fast, effective one-step skin care for busy Moms who are short on time

Caring for your skin in your twenties and thirties is very important. It is much easier to schedule an at-home spa night when there is no family to care for, but as soon as there are kids, all personal beauty rituals take a back seat. While it may be a very difficult time to buy out a few minutes to take care of the skin, a Mom needs good skin care the most, especially new moms. Post-Pregnancy hormones can lead to acne and brown spots. Rapid weight gain and loss leads to stretch marks and sagging skin. Many new Moms are so busy and tired that they can’t even begin to think of pre-empting signs of aging, but now is when they occur. You take the time to moisturize your skin after washing your face, why not make that moisturizer count for your short-term and long-term beauty needs?

ONE STEP SKIN CARE

Lordsbury Retinol+C contains the holy grail of skin care: a 2.5% prescription grade pure Retinol paired with 20% Vitamin C serum. This powerful combo addresses whatever may be wrong with your skin: acne, aging, sun damage, discoloration, sagging, loss of collagen, scars, uneven texture and tone. It is also paired with highly emollient natural moisturizers including Hyaluronic Acid, Shea Butter, and Aloe Vera. You get an eye, throat and face cream all in one. It leaves skin with a dewy but not sticky finish that looks good enough that you may choose to skip wearing foundation entirely. Retinol gently exfoliates skin over time, so there is no need to use abrasive scrubs, masks or peels. Retinol and Vitamin C both treat acne. There are no extra steps with Lordsbury, just wash your face, apply Lordsbury and your choice of sunscreen, and that is all your skin needs!

Tempted to use whatever all-purpose moisturizer you find at the drug store or something basic like coconut oil? This may seem the most economical choice, but it does not meet the needs of the skin of a Mom.

Just a small dollop of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides the power of retinol, Vitamin C, and rich moisturizing cream suitable for the eyes, face and neck, fast, easy and effective!

WHY MOMS NEEDS EXTRA TLC FOR THEIR SKIN

Pregnancy does a toll on the skin, leaving behind stretch marks, brown spots, acne, and hyperpigmentation left from “pregnancy mask”. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains both Vitamin C and Retinol that addresses all of these problems. Getting stretch marks? Nip them in the bud with Lordsbury’s combination of Retinol and Shea Butter to treat and reduce their appearance.

Being a Mom is a whole new level of tired, and for those who are returning to work, many are concerned about looking their best or at least looking half-awake. Proper skin care goes a long way towards looking well rested even if you are not. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer gives such clear, even skin that you may completely forgo foundation.

FAKE LOOKING AWAKE WHEN YOUR TIRED TIPS: Curl the eyelashes for a wide-awake look, add your favorite lipstick for a pop of color. Pink-based blushes look more “alert” than yellow-based. A good anti-redness eye drop can do wonders, especially if you keep it in the refrigerator overnight.

NO DRY DOWN TIME

Part of what makes elaborate skin care routines time consuming is waiting for products to dry down before applying the next product. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer absorbs so quickly that sunscreen or makeup can be applied on top immediately.

NATURAL INGREDIENTS

Now that one has a family, the concern for what we put in our body and on our skin becomes all the more important. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains organic and natural ingredients including Shea Butter, Organic Aloe Vera, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Sunflower Oil, and Jojoba Oil.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains natural ingredients including Aloe Vera, Jojoba, and Green Tea

COST EFFECTIVE

Spending money on oneself can feel selfish for a Mom, there are so many things that need to be done around the house and for the kids. Lordsburys Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer is a beauty regimen that won’t break the bank. For less than the cost of a manicure, it is the best deal around for a moisturizer, 20% Vitamin C serum, 2.5% Retinol, an eye cream all in one. Even just an eye cream at 2.8 ounces would often cost more than this effective combo! I really like that it serves as a cream for my eyes, face, and throat all in one product. And at this large 2.8-ounce size, it is big enough that using it on stretch marks is still more cost effective than buying separate DIY stretch mark home remedies. It is also more cost effective as it pre-empts acne and the more costly associated skin care products that are required to treat it.

CONCLUSION

Moms have enough to deal with in their hectic day without worrying about extra skin care steps. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer is just one step to moisturize, treat acne and wrinkles, improve skin texture, gently exfoliate, and to help build collagen and keep skin looking bright and fresh. You can apply makeup or sunscreen directly over Lordsbury almost immediately because there is no dry down time and it won’t cause makeup to streak or run. It leaves a nice subtle dewy finish suitable for skipping foundation entirely. Made with natural ingredients, it is ideal for treating post-pregnancy acne breakouts and hyperpigmentation.

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

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer is ideal for busy Moms to treat their skincare concerns with an effective, easy to use product

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

Avoiding Hyperpigmentation: How to Fight the Insidious Threat Making You Look Much Older and You Don’t Even Know Why

September 5, 2017 · Leave a Comment

If asked to name a primary sign of aging, what would you say? Gray hair? Crow’s feet? Wrinkles? Actually, those aren’t even the worst one. The most insidious form of aging sneaks up on you: DISCOLORATION. Learn how to stop age spots and discoloration with a quality Vitamin C and Retinol combo such as is contained in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. Lordsbury has 20% Vitamin C Serum paired with 2.5% Retinol, a prescription level dose, plus a host of skin nourishing moisturizers to keep skin dewy while sending discoloration and brown spots packing.

Discoloration due to aging occurs in three primary forms: red spots due to broken capillaries below the surface of the skin, the brownish areas of discoloration due to sun damage, and brown spots on hands and face. If you examine aging faces, you’ll start noticing how the vitality of skin is robbed not by the appearance of a few wrinkles here or there, but by the areas of discoloration and uneven skin tone.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer does double duty when fighting discoloration: the combination of ingredients fades existing discoloration and prevents the skin from forming new brown spots

HOW DO I KNOW IT IS DISCOLORATION THAT IS AGEING MY FACE?

Discoloration may be very obvious, or it may be diffuse and subtle, giving a general rough, lackluster look to the skin. But if you are in your forties or older, it’s likely happening. When a makeup artist wants to age a young face, discoloration accomplishes that: darkened under eyes, brown spots on the top of the cheekbone, and redness around the nose, drawing shadows in wrinkled areas.

In an interesting video, a female face is digitally aged from a child to an older woman. If you watch the video, you’ll notice the real change comes after the three-minute mark, when the brown discoloration increases, even accenting the existing sagging and wrinkles. The skin is more uneven, the face looks harder, less feminine due to the harshness the discoloration gives the face. Note the areas of the face such as the lower cheeks, subtle darker patches and a veil of darkened small dots appear, making her once smooth skin appear pixelated and dill. One cheek (her right), the brown spots appear where highlighter should be placed, giving the face a sagging look on one side.

Why does discoloration, redness, and brown spots happen as we age, and what can be done about it?

WHY IT HAPPENS

Redness can occur because your skin has become more sensitive over time or from using overly harsh skin care products in an attempt to youthify skin. Over 35, granular scrubs can tear skin easily, causing more harm than good. The acne treatments that worked as a teenager should be off limits to older skin, they are too drying. Also, broken capillaries happen in part due to the depletion of collagen as we age that results in weakened tissue structures. Capillaries bleed and the skin just can’t flush out these fluids like they used to. The leaked blood appears as red or eventually brown spots, as blood is absorbed into the delicate surrounding skin tissues.

Brown spots of discoloration can occur for several reasons, including due to hormonal shifts or medications, but they are primarily due to collective sun damage. The dark spots aren’t adorable like freckles, they make the face seem uneven and even haggard as if contour has been applied where it ought not to be. If you start to notice older faces, you will notice what makes them appear so old is less to do with some wrinkles or crow’s feet and more to do with this discoloration that occurs all the areas the sunlight hits – such as the top of the cheekbone, jawline, the nose, forehead and around the eyes. Many of the places you might apply a highlighter to look younger, you may have natural darkening like a muddy contour, making the face seem more drawn, droopy and less sculpted.

HOW TO FIX DISCOLORATION

Some people leap to doing IPL treatment series, chemical peels, and lasers, these can indeed effectively lessen the appearance of discoloration and brown spots. The problem is they also tend to lighten the entire face at the same time, meaning you lose your natural skin tone in the process. Topical lightening products, unless applied exceptionally sparingly, also overly-lighten the entire face. Even when “spot” applied, they do not necessarily deliver a result that matches your natural skin tone, it is like trading an overly dark spot for a mismatched too light one. So while these remedies can affect some results, they effectively only bleach the skin and they do not counteract future discoloration.

A BETTER REMEDY

A better remedy is a Retinol and Vitamin C combination topical treatment. A 2016 study in the peer-reviewed Journal for Drugs in Dermatology showed that 20% Vitamin C paired with a low dose prescription level Retinol greatly aid in reducing mild to moderate hyperpigmentation and photodamaged skin due to sun damage. [An Open Label Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Tolerance of a Retinol and Vitamin C Facial Regimen in Women With Mild-to-Moderate Hyperpigmentation and Photodamaged Facial Skin, J Drugs Dermatol. 2016 Apr;15(4):476-82.]

We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer because it contains all the ingredients you need to prevent and reverse discoloration in one product including 20% Vitamin C and 2.5% Retinol (a prescription level dose). Retinol and Vitamin C are both powerful ingredients, so Lordsbury also contains soothing nourishing ingredients like Aloe Vera, Jojoba, Shea Butter, Vitamin E and other moisturizers to properly buffer the Retinol/Vitamin C combo for twice a day use that leaves skin soft, youthful and looking dewy.

WHAT VITAMIN C AND RETINOL CAN DO FOR DISCOLORATION

Vitamin C accomplishes two things; pre-empt discoloration due to collagen breakdown by providing accelerating the bodies’ own collagen production, and by fading the existing sun damage and scars that dark the skin by breaking up the over pigmentation. This gives a far more natural result that matches your own skin tone, not a bleached out version of you.

Vitamin C fights free radicals that contribute to the aged appearance of sun damaged skin, meaning regular topical Vitamin C use results in less photodamage going forward. How is that possible? An article in the Journal ofÂ Indian Dermatology explains the science behind how Vitamin C even reduces future hyperpigmentation:

“Vitamin C interacts with copper ions at the tyrosinase-active site and inhibits action of the enzyme tyrosinase, thereby decreasing the melanin formation. Vitamin C also acts on the perifollicular pigment.” (Vitamin C in dermatology, by Telang. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2013 Apr-Jun; 4(2): 143â€“146. doi: 10.4103/2229-5178.110593)

Retinol fades discoloration and creates new and fresher skin that diminish and eventually replace the dark spots, making skin look young again. It also increases cell turnover to banish fine lines and wrinkles. When the skin inside a deep wrinkle has discoloration it looks deeper than it is. When retinol fades the discoloration within deep wrinkles, the “shadow” effect is gone and they appear more shallow than before.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains Retinol to accelerate cell regeneration to fade old discoloration, and Vitamin C to prevent future discoloration. It also contains several natural moisturizers to soothe and nourish skin for a more youthful look.

CHOOSING A RETINOL TO FIGHT DISCOLORATION

Looking for a non-prescription Retinol with all the lighting discoloration 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. Find Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSEQX/.

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

HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL | WHY RETINOL NEEDS BUFFERING

August 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment

HOW TO GUIDE: WHY RETINOL NEEDS BUFFERING and HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL

Have you experienced this? Retinol suddenly becomes too irritating to your skin to continue use? Don’t quit Retinol, learn how to buffer retinol and stop the skin irritation.

How to best buffer retinol by skin type.

What does “buffer retinol” or “skin buffering” mean?

To buffer retinol or “skin buffering” means to apply it with a moisturizer to reduce the effects of irritation.

This helps retinol penetrate slower with less irritation.

How it is applied depends on your skin type. See below “HOW TO BUFFER RETINOL: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS BY Skin Type”.

MY RETINOL OVERUSE STORY

I started retinol. In a few days, my skin is so smooth and refined.

My dermatologist said to use it only every other day.
The directions say spread a pea-sized amount into a thin layer all over the face. Not so sure how big a pea, so I mostly wing it.

And then I use more. And the results are so good. I assume the directions must not apply to ME.

So I use even more.
Because if a little is good, more will be better, right?

You know where this is going.

So I dab on a bit extra. I think with a bit more retinol, soon I won’t even need to wear any foundation! And I’m convinced I’ll have to explain suddenly looking so young. So fresh! So dewy!

And then my skin feels tight. And then… OUCH!
The irritation, tightness, redness, and peeling. What happened?

The Risk of Retinol Over Use

I accidentally gave myself an at-home chemical peel burn from too much Retinol.

Nothing helps. I had to take a couple weeks off of retinol for my face to repair. Boo.

Yet, somehow, I never learn. So I repeated this pattern whenever I start a prescription retinol. Sometimes I just give up and months go by.

But Retinol is the holy grail of skincare.

Many who try retinol have fallen into the trap of thinking that we’re special. So the directions do not apply to us. And the pea-sized amount in the directions is vague. We apply too much.

You know what? You ARE special.
But not about Retinol. Everybody is the same to Retinol.

WHY RETINOL IRRITATION HAPPENS

Retinol is a powerful cell-turnover agent that demands your respect for how it works.

But if skin cell-generation occurs too rapidly, young, fresh skin is revealed. This is why you look so ridiculously young. It is for all intents and purposes, baby skin.

But it’s also as sensitive as baby skin. And it’s not ready for more retinol.

This is why your lovely skin suddenly becomes irritated and burns when more retinol is applied.

Why Is my Skin irritated? I followed the Retinol Directions!

And don’t feel so superior just yet you rule-followers who followed the directions as prescribed. You aren’t immune to retinol irritation.

The prescribed pea-sized dosage packs a peely-faced, red, itchy wallop too.

Why Does Retinol Irritation Happens After a Few Weeks?

Skin builds a small retinol tolerance in about a month.

At that time, skin cell-turnover happens at a slower rate.

The same dosage of product suddenly causes surface irritation.

Thin-skinned areas have problems first. But these are also the areas that wrinkle and show signs of aging. So it’s tempting to over-treat these areas with too much retinol.

So how does one get all the retinol goodness without the irritation and burning? BUFFERING.

LAW OF THE BEAUTY UNIVERSE: YOU MUST BUFFER RETINOL

Retinol must be buffered or else you will have to take constant breaks due to irritation.

Some products come pre-buffered so you don’t experience the skin irritation stage. One pre-buffered retinol product is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains all natural moisturizers to buffer its’ 2.5% Retinol

TOP TIPS HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL

1. ALWAYS APPLY MOISTURIZER AND PLENTY OF IT

Some prescription retinol such as Renova or Atralin have an emollient base.

These act as a buffer on very powerful retinol. But you may still need a second moisturizer.

Prescription retinol can be deceptive: it looks emollient but still requires lots of moisturizers to tolerate its’ powerful effects

HOW TO BUFFER RETINOL: STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS BY Skin Type

How to Buffer Retinol for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin retinol buffering: If your skin is already irritated or very sensitive, apply moisturizer first, then retinol. Maybe even moisture in top.

How to Buffer Retinol for Normal Skin

Normal skin retinol buffering: mix your retinol directly into your moisturizer and apply it together.

You may choose a dime or quarter sized amount of moisturizer, and the pea sized amount of retinol.
Also, this technique requires mixing the moisturizer and retinol together well. Otherwise, results will be uneven.

How to Buffer Retinol When Irritation Happens after a few Weeks Use

Are you suddenly itchy and peeling after a few weeks retinol use? Don’t quit!

If you’ve been on retinol for more than one month, apply retinol first, then moisturizer on top.

Decrease use to ever other day if you must to let skin adjust.

FAQ: WHAT MOISTURIZER SHOULD I USE TO BUFFER RETINOL?

Your moisturizer may be unknowingly contributing to your irritation. What moisturizer should you use to buffer retinol?

I prefer as natural and simple as possible because there’s already plenty going on with just the retinol. Some good moisturizers to buffer retinol are:

Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion is a good one. It has Ceramides.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisture Lotion
Epionce Barrier Cream

Does your moisturizer contain brighteners, Vitamin C or exfoliating ingredients? Stick with gentle ingredients such as:

Aloe Vera
Shea Butter
Jojoba
Sunflower Oil

These are all very soothing and nourishing to the skin.

Although due to the consistency of these natural moisturizing agents, you can look a sticky and oily mess after a direct application and makeup application is out of the question.

Retinol with Built-In Buffering Ingredients

A product that has saved me a lot of grief in the tricky retinol and moisturizer buffering department is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.

It contains:

a prescription level 2.5% Pure Retinol
20% Vitamin C
it has a host of hydrating natural moisturizers all in one product, so it is gentle enough to use twice a day without every getting irritated.

HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL With moisturizer

Highly moisturizing Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains soothing and hydrating natural moisturizers to buffer the retinol

Even if I over-apply, I haven’t gotten irritated even ONCE in months of use. This means I never miss a dose or have to take time off from Retinol.

If you don’t want to worry about combining retinol and moisturizer or just don’t want the hassle of multiple products, Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer is a no-fail, highly effective and emollient one-stop shop that contains all the hydrating nourishing buffering moisturizers including:

Aloe Vera
Shea Butter
Jojoba
Sunflower Oil
Vitamin E
soothing Green Tea
Hyaluronic Acid

HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL Lordsbury uses green tea

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

2. RE-EVALUATE OTHER SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Retinol makes skin sensitive.

Do you also use powerful actives that could irritate your sensitive skin?

Some examples are:

Vitamin C Serum
AHA like glycolic acid
benzoyl peroxide
skin lighteners
peels
scrubs with grains
Niacinamide

Even harsh washcloths and sponges or sonic facial brushes are all potentially too harsh now for your retinol-treated skin.

Remember, Retinol is already doing all the peeling and exfoliating for you, you just have to keep your skin clean and moisturized, nothing more.

Vitamin C Serum during the day and Retinol at night is touted as the standard for skin renewal. This is true, but this requires even more intensive buffering.

Master retinol use first before adding in Vitamin C Serum.

HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL Lordsbury uses aloe vera

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer has so many soothing and hydrating moisturizers that it can buffer BOTH its’ prescription strength Retinol and its’ 20% Vitamin C Serum when applied TWICE a day with ZERO irritation

3. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE

It is exciting to see Retinol’s rapid skin renewal.

But less is more with retinol. Because if you have to take two weeks off to heal from overuse, you lost more than you gained in zealous overuse.

Even if you buffer, don’t use retinol more than once a day.
The exception to this would be a buffered retinol product, such as Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer, that can be used twice a day due to it’s pre-buffered highly moisturizing ingredients.
When it doubt, apply as little Retinol as you can. Also apply more moisturizer than you think you may need.

HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL Prescription retinol + creme de la mer

Retinol requires powerful moisturizers to buffer its’ irritating effects. Before finding the all-in-one Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer, I often had to use expensive moisturizers like Creme de La Mer Concentrate to counteract the dryness that retinol causes. Lordsbury gives a better result, is faster and far more cost effective

Summary of WHY RETINOL NEEDS BUFFERING | HOW TO BEST BUFFER RETINOL

Don’t give up retinol due to irritation!

Retinol is a powerful resource for removing:

wrinkles
brown spots
acne scars
discoloration
and refining overall skin tone.

It is exciting to see changes in your skin!

But buffering retinol is MANDATORY to be able to use it consistently without irritation.

While buffering your prescription retinol with moisturizers or hydrating serums can make a world of difference in tolerating your retinol program, an easy no-hassle alternative is Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.

It contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, which is the lowest level on the prescription dosage scale, but Lordsbury can be used twice a day.
it contains 20% Vitamin C and it comes pre-buffered with skin moisturizing, hydrating, youthifying nourishing ingredients that take the guessing work out of buffering your retinol. This way, you never miss a dose or have irritated skin.

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

Lordsbury Retinol+C has 2.5% Pure Retinol plus several moisturizers all in one bottle for one step skin care

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort to create this post. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Retinol Facts For New and Experienced Retinol Users

July 10, 2017 · Leave a Comment

Retinol has long been known as an FDA approved treatment for acne, with the side benefit of being an anti-aging superstar. But when undergoing a Retinol treatment program, what should you expect? What can and can’t it do? Is it effective for anything other than acne and wrinkles? Today we discuss four Retinol Facts that new and experienced Retinol users need to know to get the most out of their Retinol treatment program.

RETINOL TREATMENT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE

Here at StyleChicks, we’ve long touted the value of a good retinol, the benefits just can’t be beaten. Retinol used to just be a prescription topical medication and a pricey one at that. So we were thrilled earlier this year to find Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer because it combines a prescription strength percentage of Retinol (2.5%) with the power of a 20% Vitamin C Serum and Hyaluronic Acid, plus it has a host of skin soothing moisturizers built right in. Effective and easy to use, it is a one-stop shop for meeting your skincare needs. It also comes in a massive 2.8-ounce container, so it is a tremendously cost-effective treatment that leaves no excuse to not give Retinol a try.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Retinol Cream moisturizer has a beauty powerhouse of ingredients

Lordsbury Retinol+C Retinol Moisturizer has a beauty powerhouse of ingredients and makes a Retinol skincare program tolerable for even sensitive skins

A past negative experience or story may have turned you off to all Retinols. But not all retinol products are created equal. Let’s examine a few Retinol facts:

1) DOES RETINOL CAUSE ACNE?

In short, no. Retinol does not produce acne. But there is a reason that it might seem as if it does: skin purging. And once you start a Retinol, any retinol product, whether prescription or over the counter, in about two weeks, the purging can start to happen all of a sudden.

Why does retinol cause purging? Retinol draws clogged pores, sebum plugs, oil, whiteheads, and blackheads to the surface of the skin and eradicates them. For example, I had a few whiteheads on my lower cheek that I could feel and see but they were not forming a head. My dermatologist declined to remove them, saying it was far better to keep using my current retinol program and Vitamin C skin care program (which is applying Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer twice a day, all over my face, neck, throat, and eye area) and she said the retinol would draw out the impurities without risking a scar.

Purging acne is short-lived, about two weeks, and once the purging is over, skin remains clearer because Retinol reduces excess oil production while concurrently eradicating dead skin layers, so fewer bacteria and oil are trapped under dead skin cells, which means less acne. The acne you do get when using a Retinol is less angry looking and generally controllable and short lived.

But those two weeks of purging sure feel like a long time! Don’t start your Retinol program a few weeks before a big event that you will want clear skin. Give yourself at least a month of Retinol use before any big event.

2) DOES RETINOL CAUSE SUN SENSITIVITY?

Probably every Retinol article you read holds that Retinol causes sun sensitivity and to avoid direct sunlight. Is this true? Sort of.

This belief is based upon an experience from the initial prescription Retinol FDA studies. A few clinical trial study subjects reported excess irritation of the skin when exposed to direct sunlight. But many other subjects in the study reported skin irritation because, in a nutshell, unbuffered Retinol is irritating to the skin. Many people report being so irritated from prescription retinol, sunlight or not, that they need to use it only every other day or every third day. When I formerly used prescription retinol I experienced the same problem and frequently had to take breaks from treatment.

So what does this mean while using a product like Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer? Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer is emollient and buffered, so it doesn’t have irritation associated with traditional retinol, and so sun sensitivity is less likely. Even around the delicate eye area, I haven’t experienced irritation, even with twice a daily use.

But this is StyleChicks, we are never gonna tell you not to wear sunscreen even if you aren’t experiencing irritation from retinol. Why not?

Because the Lordsbury Retinol and Vitamin C combo are still revealing new, younger skin, skin that has not been ravaged by photodamaging sunlight like the older skin was. Life does not hand out free do-overs, especially for skin. If you let your old skin get sun damaged in your youth, and you are now using any Retinol, protect your newly revealed, younger, softer skin with a sunscreen whenever possible to retain its’ new youthful glow and feel.

Direct sunlight can also break down the full efficacy of products, so sunscreen over topical treatments is a good idea in general.

3) TREATING BODY ACNE

Acne can happen on the chest, upper arms, and the back (known as bacne). Body acne can be just as troubling as facial acne and it is often more difficult to conceal. Many body acne treatments contain benzoyl peroxide which can bleach clothing and are irritating to the skin. Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer is a good combo for body acne because the Retinol treats, Vitamin C fades acne scars and shrinks existing acne, the Jojoba softens and the Green Tea soothes, the Aloe Vera nourishes, eases irritation and is a natural anti-bacterial to help fight acne.

How to treat: apply a thin layer of cream to affected areas of the back or chest after cleansing. I like that I can wear Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer during the day under clothing and not worry about bleaching my clothes and it does not have the weird smell that some acne treatments have, so it is undetectable.

One pump is all you need for face, neck and decolletage or for treating acne on the back, chest or other acne prone areas.

4) KERATOSIS PILARIS ON UPPER ARMS

Keratosis Pilaris is chicken bump skin. If you don’t know what we are talking about, I’m happy for you. If you’re familiar with chicken bump skin, then you know how tough it is to treat.

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 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.

Well, good news. Chicken bump skin responds to, you guessed it: Retinol. It takes a good four to six weeks, but it clears it up pretty well. This is one of the reasons I love that the Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer is such a large and generous 2.8-ounce size because it makes a cost-effective treatment for the Keratosis Pilaris on my upper arms. My case 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!

So those are four Retinol facts that can help new and experienced Retinol users get the most out of their Retinol use. StyleChicks will be talking more about Retinol in upcoming weeks, so if you’re thinking of giving retinol a try, stay tuned for more Retinol intel!

Looking to try a Retinol with all the 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. Find Lordsbury Retinol+C moisturizer at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M3PSEQX/. For Prime Day, it is at the amazing price of $21.99.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort to create this post. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.