There are seemingly thousands of skincare ingredients on the market all promising to provide eternal youth and aesthetic beauty to the face and body. It’s easy to get lost in the marketing hype of the next best ingredient. Because of this, knowing what ingredients will work the best on your skin’s unique conditions and concerns can greatly assist when choosing an effective skincare regimen. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that complicated.
As it turns out, one ingredient has stood the test of time and has been proven necessary for the health of all skin types – good old Vitamin A. Otherwise known as retinol, retinoids, retinoic acid, and beta-carotene-among other names-this powerful molecule is a vital piece in every skincare routine (which explains why it’s included in so many products and topical prescriptions).
Our skin needs Vitamin A for normal, healthy function and must be replaced daily. This is why vitamin A is often referred to as “the skincare vitamin” because, just like taking a daily multivitamin, your skin needs to be constantly nourished with Vitamin A. This is even more important due to the fact that exposure to UV light further depletes Vitamin A on our skin.
Vitamin A enhances skin performance and function in a variety of ways. First, Vitamin A stimulates fibroblast activity which boosts collagen and elastin production keeping skin plump and firm. Most importantly, Vitamin A normalizes the skin and helps to keep the dermis and epidermis healthy and strong.
What does it mean to normalize the skin?
It’s all about skin cell function. Normal skin is balanced in all aspects of look, feel and touch. This means that oil production isn’t too excessive but at the same time, you don’t want your skin to be too dry. Think of it as the Goldilocks of oil production-it’s got to be “just right”.
Skin cells that are functioning “normal” will also have a smooth, even texture without the presence of irregular pigmentation or blemishes. Vitamin A has the ability to impact skin cell function in a way that promotes this normal skin condition. This includes skin cell functions such as:
- Normalizing oil production which helps to control breakouts and other acne skin conditions.
- Normalizing tyrosinase activity which influences pigmentation in the skin.
- Normalizing the skin’s immune system by promoting the natural moisturizing factors of the skin which speeds up healing and keeps your skin resilient and glowing.
We all need a daily dose of topical Vitamin A to promote this skin normalization but the truth is that most people are deficient. Plus, as previously mentioned, Vitamin A is depleted with exposure to UV light. So, how can you know for sure if your skin is deficient in Vitamin A? Some common signs of Vitamin A deficiency are presented in the skin with the following conditions:
- Hyperpigmentation
- Sun Damage
- Breakouts
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Skin sagging
- Skin texture irregularities
- Sallow skin
- Psoriasis and dermatitis
But, don’t retinoids cause skin irritation and sensitivity in a lot of people?
There is a bit of misconception regarding sensitivity to topical retinoids but we are here to clear it up. Maybe you or someone you know have experienced sensitivity to retinoids in the past. The common side effects of topical retinoids might include different levels of skin discomfort such as; redness, peeling, itching, and small blemishes.
Many times, when this happens, an individual might assume that they have an allergy or sensitivity to topical retinoids and discontinue use immediately. However, this is not the sign of either and should not discourage further treatment because all skin still needs topical Vitamin A for health.
What the individual is experiencing is what’s commonly known as a retinoid reaction. This reaction takes place when the skin is currently Vitamin A deficient and exposed to levels of Vitamin A that the skin cannot metabolize. Additionally, even if the skin is not deficient in Vitamin A, care needs to be taken to use the correct amounts until a stronger tolerance for the molecule is built.
“Start Low, Go Slow”
This is Environ’s motto for introducing Vitamin A into your daily skincare regimen. Less is more and shocking your skin with powerful levels of Vitamin A is not the key to healthy, vibrant skin. Instead, you should start with lowering levels of Vitamin A and increase your tolerance slowly.
This is what makes Environ’s Step Up System so unique. The system is designed to deliver a healthy dose of Vitamin A to address deficiency while maintaining maximum skin comfort in the process.
There are five levels in the system and as the treatment plan progresses, the skin slowly adjusts to the proper level of Vitamin A without causing a retinoid reaction. This way of building tolerance, rather than shocking the skin, helps keep the skin looking and feeling healthy throughout the entire process.
It’s recommended to begin with the moisturizer holding the lowest level of Vitamin A, and when skin adapts(after about 2-3 bottles of moisturizer), then it is time to move on to the next level. In the last step of the system, the skin now has the ability to metabolize the highest concentration of Vitamin A legally permitted in a retail, non-prescription product.
Your skin is the largest organ of your body so give it the essential nutrients that it needs for function and well-being. Environ skincare uses the most efficacious formulations of Vitamin A in combination with essential antioxidants and peptides to help you achieve maximum skin health and beauty.
This is why Environ is the product line of choice at OWM Integrative Wellness. Contact us today to schedule your free customized skin evaluation and to learn more about Environ’s revolutionary Step Skin System. Take your skin to the next level.