If you're looking for high-quality products to add to your skincare routine with anti-aging effects, you've likely considered retinol. Retinol is one of the most common and highly sought ingredients for anti-aging skincare. It's commonly used in serums and applied during your nighttime skincare routine.
The problem with retinol is that it typically doesn't play well with all skin types, and it can take time for your skin to adjust to regular retinol usage. Most individuals can't just dive in and start using it every day without some irritation or redness.
If you're struggling with adding retinol into your routine but still want to reap the benefits of this anti-aging ingredient - there are other retinol alternatives, like bio-retinol.
We're here to walk you through the differences between bio-retinol and retinol, so you can decide which type is the best solution for your skin.
What is Bio-Retinol?
Bio-retinol comprises plant extracts, specifically a blend of diverse oils obtained from botanical sources. These oils possess comparable qualities to retinol and collectively work to promote skin health while addressing aging signs and other imperfections.
Bio-retinol is an excellent substitute for those who experience skin sensitivities or have a lower tolerance to conventional retinol. Its formulation incorporates gentle botanicals and plant extracts on the skin, making it suitable for daily use. Despite its mild nature, it still offers similar advantages to pure retinol.
Bio-Retinol vs. Retinol
The main difference is the formula. Retinol is a vitamin A derivative and is arguably one of the most effective anti-aging skincare ingredients you can use in your routine. When used regularly in your everyday life, it can help increase cell turnover and improve collagen production while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It's a must-have for anyone in their late-20s to early 30s that wants to get ahead of skin imperfections and maintain their youthful appearance. The problem is that it's much harsher than other skincare ingredients on the market. It takes time for your skin to adjust to adding retinol into your routine. The adjustment period can be as short as a few weeks or as long as a few months, depending on the formula.
Bio-retinol has similar effects as pure retinol but contains plant extracts rather than vitamin A. Both products will help with cell turnover, anti-aging, and skin repair. But it is a less harsh version of retinol and doesn't have a long adjustment period you need to worry about. The botanicals used in most formulas are gentle and won't harm your skin or cause irritation.
There are many reasons someone may choose to use bio-retinol vs. retinol:
• You have sensitive skin, or your skin gets irritated easily
• You're struggling with chronic inflammatory skin conditions like Eczema or Psoriasis
• You're looking for a product to use during the adjustment period but plan to switch over to pure retinol eventually
• You want a product that's less harsh than retinol but has similar effects
• You had a negative experience with pure retinol and want to try something new
Your skin can benefit from both options, so consider your unique skin concerns and what product would play well with your skin type.
How to Use Bio-Retinol in Your Skincare Routine
You should use bio-retinol the same way you'd use your retinol. It's the perfect serum to use during your nighttime routine. To maximize the full potential of the formula, here's what you need to do:
Start With a Cleanser
After a long day, environmental factors can affect your skin. Before using bio-retinol, it is vital to ensure your pores are clear and your complexion is clean, allowing the formula to absorb effectively. Just use your preferred gentle cleanser, then gently pat your face dry.
We recommend using The Foaming Cleanser, our lightweight cream-to-foam formula designed to eliminate grime, impurities, and long-wear makeup from your skin. The cleanser prepares your complexion for the rest of the products in your nighttime routine. During our 12-week user trials, 99% of participants agreed this product cleansed their skin without stripping or drying out.
Apply Your Bio-Retinol Serum
Apply the desired amount of serum to your face, neck, and décolleté. Gently apply the formula to your skin and massage it into your forehead, temples, cheeks, and neck.
If this is your first time using traditional retinol, consider doing a patch test or starting with a small, pea-sized amount. Since you don't know how your skin will react to the potent formula, slowly introduce it to your routine or start with a lower concentration.
If you're consistently using traditional retinol and it's causing irritation and skin sensitivities, you could disrupt your skin barrier and cause more harm than good. Bio-retinol has a similar effect as pure retinol, with half the risk. That means it can help reduce the appearance of crow's feet, fine lines, and wrinkles impacting your youthful appearance.
With a retinol alternative, you can be generous with the product you use on your skin. The blend of plant extracts and skin-loving botanicals is gentle enough to use daily and won't irritate the skin.
After you apply your serum, wait a few minutes before continuing with the rest of your routine to allow the product to absorb into your skin thoroughly.
Moisturize
Once the product absorbs into your skin, finish your routine with your favorite daily moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and reduce transepidermal water loss. It's the last step in any effective skincare routine for keeping your skin supple, plump, and smooth.
We recommend using The Rich Cream, our award-winning daily moisturizer featuring a potent blend of high-potency botanicals that nourish and hydrate the skin after applying your bio-retinol. If you're looking for products with anti-aging effects, this is the perfect moisturizer to add to your routine. During our clinical trials, participants felt their skin was 92% firmer in only four weeks.
Repeat These Steps Every Night
Whether traditional retinol or bio-retinol, you must stay consistent with your usage. Consistency is key to combating your skincare concerns and helping you see the results you want from these products.
The problem with traditional retinol is that it's much harder to stick to your skincare regimen than with bio-retinol. The risk of irritation, inflammation, and the adjustment period can lead to inconsistent usage. This may discourage some people or leave them feeling that retinol doesn't work, but that's not the case.
Augustinus Bader: The Retinol Serum
Switching to bio-retinol might be good in the short run but will never replace the life-long benefits of pure retinol. Pure retinol is the holy grail of anti-aging and is a must-have for your routine to maintain your youthful complexion.
At Augustinus Bader, we've designed a formula with a potent blend of Pure Retinol and plant extracts that caters to all skin types. Our formula is gentle yet effective, combining the best of both worlds in a product that will help you achieve a clear, smooth, and even complexion. We've taken our retinol serum one step further by infusing it with our patented TFC8® technology. TFC8® is revolutionary science that helps guide key nutrients to your cells, delivering game-changing results you won't get from other retinol serums.
In addition, with The Retinol Serum, you don't need to worry about an adjustment period or skin irritation. You can start experiencing the benefits of retinol in as short as 12 weeks.
During our 12-week clinical trials, 97% of participants experienced a reduction in the appearance of deep wrinkles and fine lines, and 100% agreed that their skin looked renewed and rejuvenated. Whether seeking a gentler alternative to pure retinol or struggling with skin sensitivities, we designed our serum with all skin types in mind.
Explore Our Selection of Luxury Skincare Today
Augustinus Bader's skincare products are in a league of their own. Our products are backed by over 30 years of research and clinical trials, so you can feel good about the formulas you use in your routine.
With our line of luxury skincare products, you can feel confident in the products you choose to use and the ingredients we use. All of our products are fragrance-free, vegan, and contain clean ingredients.
Explore our selection of skincare today.
