From improving our skin’s overall tone and texture to fighting the visible signs of ageing, there’s not a lot that retinol can’t do.
But the active ingredient can often irritate skin, leaving it feeling dry and looking flaky. While using the correct amount of retinol – not too much when your skin isn’t accustomed to it – is the best place to start says Dr Dendy Engelman, consulting dermatologist for Elizabeth Arden, Elizabeth Arden’s newest innovation combines the best of both worlds – retinol and ceramide – to help protect skin against irritation.
“Retinol Ceramide Capsule Line Erasing Night Serum is pre-dosed so you don’t need to think about how much you’re using,” she explains. And because ceramide has been added to the formulation skin is protected against some of the unwanted side effects that can come with the youth-restoring ingredient. “By adding Ceramides to the formula, we are helping to moisturize with the application of the serum itself and helping to preemptively address the dryness and potential irritation that we know it can cause,” Engelman explains.
Skincare essential retinol might not be new to your beauty cabinet, but the innovative way that Elizabeth Arden has decided to deliver the active ingredient is. Like most active ingredients, it is highly volatile and loses its potency and efficacy when exposed to light and air. “The capsule format prevents any exposure to light and air, preserving the potency of the Retinol,” says Engelman.
While Retinol Ceramide Capsule Line Erasing Night Serum can help to minimise the irritation that can come with using retinol, it’s still important to take the usual precautions when including the active ingredient in your routine. “Since Retinol can be unstable under ultraviolet radiation and skin can be hypersensitive to sunlight with Retinol use, the capsules are best used as part of your nighttime skincare regimen,” Engelman explains. “This is also the optimal time to enhance skin’s natural cell turnover since skin naturally resets overnight.” To ensure skin is well protected from harmful UV rays, Engelman says it’s crucial to apply a good sunscreen and antioxidant-rich skincare the morning after using retinol-based skincare.
Click here to shop the new Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsule Line Erasing Night Serum.
What are Ceramides?
Ceramides are molecules made up of essential fats and they make up about 50 per cent of the skin’s upper protective layer. The molecules work to the skin’s barrier function and to keep skin firm and youthful. Unfortunately, as we age levels of naturally occurring ceramides in the skin start to decrease. Adding ceramide-based skincare to your routine can enhance hydration levels, strengthen skin barrier function and keep skin looking radiant and healthy. You can learn more about them here.
