Finally! A Retinol *Without* the Peeling and Redness

After reading article after article in every beauty magazine on the rack, one feature is a consistent favorite of beauty editors: "The Skincare Routines of Top Dermatologists." I, too, find these articles fascinating, no matter how many times I read them. It makes sense. We assume that after years of training and validation by celebrities who can see whichever dermatologist they want, these dermatologists must know what products are best. After all, they have access to everything and can use whatever they want.I've mentioned before that the articles have one thing in common, and that's these three, consistent products: a topical vitamin C (generally, C E Ferulic by Skinceuticals); a broad spectrum sunscreen (various brands); and, a nightly retinol (various brands).The topical vitamin C is your morning antioxidant. It provides an extra bit of sun protection and helps reverse sun damage. It's an electron donor so it fights against free radical damage and the ascorbic acid helps protect your collagen. It really is a morning essential for anyone concerned with premature aging.Sunscreen is the fountain of youth. Remember that 85 to 90 percent of aging is environmental. Avoiding the sun's damaging rays is essential to a good skincare regimen, not to mention a crucial step in the fight against skin cancer.Lastly, a nightly retinol. Retinol is an amazing product. It helps to reduce fine lines and even out skin tone. It stimulates the production of new skin cells, increasing collagen, and helps to fade dark spots. However, it also causes serious exfoliation. The peeling and redness are a side effect of the skin renewal process. It's one of the reasons people give up on using and sticking to a retinol program.It is most certainly why, even knowing all the benefits of retinol, I have never managed to maintain it as a part of my nightly regimen. Inevitably, I would start using it and my face would shrivel up and I would look ninety years old. The crepe-y skin would fold under my eyes and I would look terrible.It's very hard to sell skincare to someone who walks in and sees me in that state.As a result, I would stop using it and start hydrating like crazy. By the time I looked like myself again, I was too scared to start again. So when Alchimie Forever came out with their Advanced Retinol Serum I was excited and nervous. Excited because I really want to start using a retinol regularly, and nervous because I always end up peeling and stopping.I used the product night one. The next day, I could see an immediate difference in my skin. My skin was clear and even toned. That night I used it again. Next morning, my skin was amazing. I skipped that night and used it again the following night. I woke up in the morning and the peeling had begun, so I skipped that night. I woke up the next morning and yep...my ninety-year-old self was staring back at me.I had done it again.I grabbed the bottle and read the directions: use two to three times a week. I had done that! So I read the directions on the pamphlet. Ohhhh.....75 percent pure retinol and time-release retinol. Use every two nights as the time release will continue to work the nights in between usage. Oops.So, I got back to square one. After a week of peeling and exfoliating, I was back to normal. I would try again, but this time every two nights. That was the magic ticket. I am now two weeks in. My skin looks fantastic. It took a couple weeks to get here. I didn't peel again, but it did bring all of my skin's impurities to the surface. As a result, I had a few blemishes for a week. It was worth it, though. Now I don't have those little bumps under my skin.I LOVE this product. It has finally afforded me the ability to use a nightly retinol, which I know will do wonders for my skin. Dr. Polla has done it again! Another fantastic product from Alchimie Forever.