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Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum

What does a retinol serum do?

Retinol acts like a super nutrient for your skin cells. It boosts dozens of important renewing processes in your skin to visibly fill in wrinkles and fine lines, fade dark spots, and encourage natural collagen production. Overall, you'll see smoother

How does retinol work?

Retinol works by ultimately telling the skin cells to multiply in a better way. It promotes new cell creation, which improves dead skin cells shedding and collagen production. These changes in cell behavior create retinol’s very wide and well-documen

What are the possible reasons why your retinol isn’t working?

There are a few other factors that may impact how your skin reacts to retinol or retinal, so here are a few questions you may want to consider. 1) Are you using the right retinol?. Not all retinoids are created equal. Depending on the form of retinol

What does retinaldehyde do for your skin?

It’d be easier to explain what retinaldehyde doesn’t do. Retinal’s benefits for the skin are pretty broad since it can improve the look of just about any skin concern. That said, here are some of the main reasons why you’d want to start using it:. Re

How to choose effective retinal products

There’s a lot to love about retinal, but there’s also one very major drawback: It’s extremely unstable (as is its weaker younger brother, retinol). Most brands skip it altogether in favor of ultra-weak but easy-to-formulate vitamin A derivatives. The

At what age should I use retinol?

Different age groups use retinol for different purposes. Younger clients or clients who still struggle with breakouts use retinol for breakout control and skin clarifying. Clients who are seeing signs of aging (at any age) use retinol to reverse sign

Can I use retinol everyday?

Yes, Most people can use retinol every day! However, everyone's skin is different. If you have never used retinol before you may choose to ease into use by only applying every other day before transitioning to daily application. You can also mix it w

At what age should I use retinol?

Different age groups use retinol for different purposes. Younger clients or clients who still struggle with breakouts use retinol for breakout control and skin clarifying. Clients who are seeing signs of aging (at any age) use retinol to reverse sign

Why is the retinol serum bright yellow?

That's the naturally occurring color of the most effective and gentle retinol on Earth!All retinoids are derived from Vitamin A––which is a cousin of beta-carotene, the bright orange molecule that gives carrots and other vegetables their color. Proto

What to do when retinol tints my skin yellow?

Retinol is best used at night. Exposure to the sun causes it to lose some of its efficacy, so using it before bed means that it can do a better job renewing the skin. So at night, you’ll have to endure that bit of color on your skin. Try to avoid you

How to Tell If Retinol Is Working for You?

Each person’s experience with retinol will be a little different. The results and the timeline can skew depending on a lot of factors, including the type of retinol you choose, your age, the starting condition of your skin, genetic factors, your prev

Can I use retinol everyday?

Yes, Most people can use retinol every day! However, everyone's skin is different. If you have never used retinol before you may choose to ease into use by only applying every other day before transitioning to daily application. You can also mix it w

When should I use the Retinol Serum?

The best time to use the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum is in the evening, but you can use it in the daytime if that suits your routine better. It makes the most sense to apply our retinol serum in the evening to help your skin self-repair as you sleep

Are there any ingredients I should avoid using with retinol?

You don’t need to avoid anything specific while using retinol, but you’ll want to introduce new products carefully and watch out for signs of irritation or over-exfoliation, such as redness, tightness, or flaking. There is a lot of outdated informati

Is this retinol serum safe if I have rosacea or eczema?

The Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum is appropriate for all skin types, and it’s not known to cause any issues for clients with eczema or rosacea. In fact, our clients with either condition report seeing great results!. Note that this isn’t intended as me

What is the percentage of retinol in the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum? Is it for beginners or experienced users?

The Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum contains 0.1% retinal, which is estimated to be 20 times stronger than retinol. Studies show that at 0.05% to 0.1%, retinaldehyde can effectively reduce skin roughness and signs of aging without irritating the skin.

What other ingredients are included in the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum?

In addition to 0.1% retinaldehyde, the Protocol Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum contains a few other impressive ingredients that help preserve the skin’s integrity and youthfulness. They include niacinamide, gluconolactone, l-carnitine, resorcinol, and b

How stable is the retinol in the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum? Does it degrade over time?

Thanks to our patented containment technology, our production and bottling processes are 100% oxygen and UV-free. This way, we can maximize the longevity and potency of the fragile retinaldehyde in our Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum, for a 6 month shelf

Is there a period of adjustment when I introduce the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum?

It’s very rare, but some of our clients (especially those new to retinoids) experience mild flaking or skin purging as the skin acclimates to its new and improved turnover rate. You can limit this by introducing the Retinol Serum into your routine gr

What is the pH of the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum?

The Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum has a pH of 5, which is optimal for the skin while still preserving retinaldehyde’s chemical stability and bioactivity.

How would the Protocol Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum fit into a Korean skincare routine?

The Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum fits seamlessly into a K-beauty skincare routine. We recommend using it immediately after cleansing, or after toning if you’ve used a pH-balancing or exfoliating toner. Allow the Retionl Serum to absorb completely, and

In the morning, I notice that a yellow/orange residue comes off my skin. Is this normal with the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum?

Yes, a small amount of pigment might remain on the surface of your skin after you’ve applied the retinol serum. That said, it might be a sign you’re layering the serum on too thickly - consider using less, or use the excess on your neck, chest, hands

Can I use the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum on my neck as well?

Yes! Just as it can rejuvenate the face, retinal is also highly beneficial for signs of aging in the neck and chest. Our clinical-grade bottle dispenses exactly 0.5 ml, which is usually enough to treat the face and neck.

Do I have to wait 30 minutes between applying the Enzyme-Active Retinol Serum and moisturizing?

No. It’s important to allow enough time for the Retinol Serum to noticeably sink into the skin before applying moisturizer, which usually only takes a few minutes. Waiting the full 30 minutes can help you ensure maximum results, but retinol is still

Does retinol exfoliate?

No, retinol doesn’t exfoliate… Technically. By definition, exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, and that’s simply not how retinol works. Exfoliation can be done physically, with rough cloth or scrubs (n

Do I still need to exfoliate if I use retinol?

It depends. In many cases, combining retinoids and exfoliants can provide faster and better results, especially if you have very specific goals, like reducing breakouts faster or targeting discoloration. However, for simple skin maintenance and age p

Does retinol thin out the skin?

So let’s get to the heart of the matter: Overall, retinol does not thin your skin; it actually does the opposite. Retinol thickens the lower layers of the epidermis, and in some cases, it can even give the dermis a boost. From gentle cosmetic retinol

Where did the skin-thinning myth about Retinol come from?

We think that the misconception that retinol thins the skin comes from a misunderstanding of skin terminology. There is one layer of the skin that retinoids thin out - the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis,

What causes skin thinning?

So your retinoids aren’t thinning your skin, but here are some factors that can lead to skin thinning:. Meet the most transformative cosmetic retinoid. If you’re hoping for more resilient skin that also looks more youthful, smooth, and bouncy then we