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Take Your Skin-Care Regimen to the Next Level with Retinol

by on ‎04-09-2013 04:49 PM

If you've tuned into a skin-care show on QVC before, chances are you've heard of an ingredient called retinol. Well, whether or not you've already heard about it, I thought I'd tell you a little bit more about this powerful antiaging (dare I say) "miracle" that'll take your skin-care regimen to the next level.


We offer several different retinol products at QVC, each with different technologies and delivery systems, but I'd like to focus on our three newest launches.


The first and newest to the QVC skin-care family is Algenist Retinol Firming Serum. This powerful treatment combines the power of Algenist's patented alguronic acid (derived from microalgae) technology with retinol. This product utilizes stabilized retinol encapsulated in a microsphere delivery system with a time-released mechanism to help deliver the treatment over time. In a consumer-use study of 100 women, most women who were surveyed noticed an improvement in firmness and lines and wrinkles in just 10 days. Most showed improvements in skin texture and overall radiance in just 28 days. This serum is oil free, hypoallergenic, and non-irritating.


Algenist Retinol Firming Serum 1oz


Algenist Retinol Firming Serum 1oz


The next item is Kate Somerville RetAsphere Hydrating 2-in-1 Retinol Treatment. This particular product was actually one of the first retinol products I tried. One of the perks of my job is getting to try a lot of these products way before they hit the market. It's a tough job, I know, but I'm more than happy to step up to the plate! Anyway, I immediately fell in love with the texture and fast results generated by this product. Kate developed a Smart Release delivery system, which is an exclusive microencapsulation technology that helps stabilize retinol in its pure form. This product also contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to help soothe and moisturize the skin. In a clinical study, 83% of women showed an increase in skin firmness and elasticity in as little as two weeks!


Kate Somerville RetAsphere Hydrating 2-in-1 Retinol Treatment, 1oz


Kate Somerville RetAsphere Hydrating 2-in-1 Retinol Treatment, 1oz


The last product I want to talk about is StriVectin Advanced Retinol Night Treatment. This product combines retinol with StriVectin's proprietary NIA-114 technology. StriVectin actually tested their formulation (with NIA-114) against a control sample that didn't contain NIA-114. They found that their product showed a greater improvement in decreasing the appearance of periocular fine lines and wrinkles than the formula without NIA-114. Pretty impressive! This product will address the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles while hydrating the skin and improving overall radiance.


 StriVectin Advanced Retinol Night Treatment 1.7oz


StriVectin Advanced Retinol Night Treatment 1.7oz


These three products are all designed for nighttime use and, as with all retinols, remember to always use an SPF during the day as they can cause heightened skin sensitivity to the sun.


I'd love to hear about your success stories with retinol products! Here's my challenge for you: before you decide to try one of these products, take your own "before" picture and then take pictures every two weeks. I'm willing to bet you'll be pleasantly surprised by your results! It's important to remember that, as with all skin-care products, you need to be patient and give the products time to work. Just because you can't see a change within a few days doesn't mean the product isn't working. These products are often measured using scientific machines, which can detect changes much better than the naked eye…just give your eyes a few weeks to catch up!


—Kristin