In this day and age, where terms like ‘heartthrob’, ‘goddess’, ‘current boyfriend’, ‘ex-boyfriend’ and ‘young lady’ are everywhere, everyone wants to stay forever young, keep their face looking 18, retain that ‘youthful glow’ and become a ‘beauty who defies aging’.

 

Alas, time is relentless. As we grow older, the skin’s ability to regulate itself declines, collagen is lost, and wrinkles, sagging skin and dark spots all make their appearance. Consequently, many people consider choosing skincare products containing retinol when selecting their skincare routine.

 

So, today, I’d like to share with you the secret behind this miraculous ability to reverse skin ageing!

Vitamin A, chemically known as retinol, is a fat-soluble vitamin and was one of the first vitamins to be discovered. Vitamin A encompasses a range of substances, including retinoic acid, retinol, retinaldehyde and retinol palmitate.

 

Retinol, commonly known as VA alcohol, is often referred to as the ‘gold standard’ of anti-ageing and is one of the key ingredients in many anti-ageing skincare products.

 

So how does it actually achieve its anti-ageing effects?

★★★ The Guardian of Collagen

VA alcohol regulates the metabolism of the epidermis and stratum corneum. By stimulating the activity of fibroblasts, it increases collagen synthesis and induces the formation of dermal elastin and fibres.

 

At the same time, it inhibits metalloproteinases that break down collagen, slowing down collagen loss. This helps to reduce fine lines and improve age-related enlarged pores, leaving the skin supple and firm.

 

★★★ The Key to Fading Dark Spots — Combating Photoageing

Photo-damage is one of the main causes of skin ageing, dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Retinol is one of the few active ingredients that can effectively combat photoageing, and is renowned in the skincare world as the ‘key to fading dark spots’.

 

It reduces sebum production and restores the stratum corneum’s metabolic function to normal levels. As cell renewal accelerates, accumulated melanin is eliminated through the skin’s metabolic processes, reducing pigmentation. By lightening pigmentation in the epidermis, it leaves the complexion looking more even and radiant.

★★★ Smoothing the Skin — Epidermal Cell Proliferation

Thinning of the epidermis is one of the signs of ageing caused by a slowdown in the differentiation and renewal of keratinocytes; the epidermis is particularly thin at the base of fine lines and wrinkles.

 

Retinol regulates the growth factors involved in epithelial cell differentiation and growth, maintains the morphological integrity of epithelial cells, strengthens the barrier function of epithelial tissue, promotes the differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes, induces epidermal thickening, and accelerates epidermal renewal, thereby significantly improving skin texture and revitalising the complexion.

Whilst retinol offers numerous benefits in skincare formulations, it also presents several challenges in application.

 

Due to its high potency, retinol is extremely sensitive to light, temperature and oxygen, making it prone to losing its activity and causing the product to turn yellow. Furthermore, retinol has a relatively high molecular weight, which hinders its penetration of the skin, and high concentrations of vitamin A can irritate the skin.

Nano’s product—the Retinol Nano-Emulsion—offers a significant solution to the issues of stability and irritation associated with the use of retinol mentioned above.

 

The Retinol Nano-Emulsion utilises advanced nanotechnology to effectively encapsulate retinol, with a retinol content of approximately 8.50–9.90.

 

It enhances the penetration of retinol into the skin, protects its potency, improves its stability in skincare formulations, and simultaneously prevents the irritation caused by direct contact with retinol.

★ Avoid mixing the nano-emulsion with acidic products

★ Recommended formulation pH: 4.5–8.0

★ Recommended addition levels (calculated based on retinol)

Overnight leave-on formulations: 0.10–0.30%

Day care, hand creams and body care: 0.05%

Rinse-off formulations: 0.30%

★ When adding at low temperatures (below 40°C), mix thoroughly with water before incorporation

★ Adding chelating agents or UV filters to the formulation can improve product stability

★ Products containing retinol are recommended for night-time use or in combination with sun protection