We love retinoids. They're one of the key pillars of our skin health philosophy. But time and time again, we hear clients say that despite their best efforts, retinoids just don't work for them. It usually takes some gentle nudging, but once they try our options (that aren't retinol or tretinoin), they never look back.
THE FORMS
Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A, a powerhouse ingredient that influences how your skin cells function. Most forms need to be converted by your skin into retinoic acid, the active form, before they can make any changes:
Retinyl esters → Retinol → Retinal → Retinoic acid
When most people think of retinoids, they picture prescription tretinoin or over-the-counter retinol. Tretinoin is one of the most studied options around, with decades of clinical evidence behind it. But because it's the closest form to retinoic acid, it's far too potent for a lot of people's skin.
STRONGER DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN BETTER
That's why we love applying retinyl esters daily for results you can actually maintain over time.
Think of it this way: you may only be able to tolerate tretinoin once or twice a week in the evening. But if you can use retinyl palmitate morning and night, seven days a week, you're giving your skin a steady, consistent supply of vitamin A without the redness and peeling.
WHY WE'LL NEVER STOP RECOMMENDING AVST
This is exactly why the AVST Step-Up System is a staple for us. The AVST moisturizer combines retinyl palmitate with vitamin C, antioxidants and hydrators to nourish your skin. It comes in levels 1 through 5, so you can gradually build strength without disrupting your skin barrier.
Once your skin has adjusted to AVST 5, you can add in vitamin A boosters like the Environ Retinol Serum and Serum Forte.
Trust us on this - your skin will feel better than ever if you use a retinoid daily without disrupting your skin barrier.
