A+ Refining Serum – Beach Beauty Bar’s Vitamin A Acne All Star
Let’s cut right to the chase: Vitamin A is widely considered to be the most beloved hero ingredient in all of dermatology. Confused because you perhaps haven’t heard of it? Well, you probably have heard of it, you just don’t realize it. Ever hear of retinol or retinoids?
They’re the same thing. Retinoids are the preformed, or active, form of vitamin A. Vitamin A is featured in many anti-aging serums and face oils.
Retinols are pretty much the gold standard in improving some of our most annoying skin complaints. It has been around for decades and has been a go-to skin care solution for dermatologists, however at Beach Beauty Bar, we have our very own vitamin A refining serum chock full of goodness for your acne prone skin.
But first – What is Vitamin A?
Vitamin A is the name of a group of retinoids. The term “retinoid” refers to three different states of vitamin A: retinol, retinal (or retinaldehyde), and retinoic acid.
Ultimately, they all have the same types of skincare benefits; the difference lies in the conversion process they do or don’t have to undergo in the skin to be effective, and subsequently how potent they are.
Retinoic acid, which is what prescription-strength products contain, is the strongest, retinols are the weakest, and retinaldehyde falls in the middle.
Benefits of Topical Vitamin A
Vitamin A as a skincare ingredient has been more extensively studied than any other ingredient on the market today. Retinoids were first used in dermatology in 1943. The point being, this is one tried-and-true ingredient with a long list of proven benefits and is effective both as a preventative and anti-aging option. More of its benefits include:
Boosts Skin Cell Turnover
Vitamin A promotes the shedding of old skin cells and stimulates the regeneration of newer, healthier, and smoother cells.
Improves Skin Texture & Tone
Essentially, vitamin A acts as an exfoliant, improving both the tone (it’s great for combating hyperpigmentation) and texture of the surface of the skin.
Stimulates Collagen Production
Along with working on the epidermis (aka the top layer of the skin), vitamin A is unique in that it also works in the dermis, the deeper layer, where it stimulates the production of collagen.
Reduces Fine Lines & Wrinkles
Vitamin A helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles and also improves and thickens the skin. As if that weren’t enough, it simultaneously minimizes the destruction of existing collagen and elastin, giving you even more bang for your buck.
Is an Effective Acne Treatment
There’s good reason(s) why prescription-strength vitamin A (or retinoic acid) was first FDA-approved as an acne treatment: It helps normalize oil production and its exfoliating properties help prevent clogged pores.
Treats Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Prescription-strength vitamin A can also minimize the look of post-blemish discoloration if pimples do pop up. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect that eliminates redness.
Side Effects of Vitamin A
The bad news is that all of these potent effects come with some potential pitfalls. Side effects include irritation, dryness, and photosensitivity, and in some cases even blistering and peeling.
There’s a “learning curve” for the skin during the first few weeks of use, which typically presents as dry flaky skin, redness, peeling, and overall inflammation. When you work with us, (acne specialists) we will slowly introduce retinol into your treatment program so that you avoid the “dry itchies” associated with Vitamin A.
The good news is, eventually your skin adjusts and you can increase the strength of the treatment and the frequency. Once your skin acclimates to the ingredient, a process technically known as retinization happens then its smooth sailing from there.
A Plus Refining Serum
We have our very own unique retinol formula here are Beach Beauty Bar! It’s called A Plus Refining Serum.
A Plus is a powerful vitamin A serum that takes your skincare routine to the next level. And we’re not just saying that because it’s ours! Our oil-free formula is developed with vitamin A propionate, peptides, kojic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, salicylic acid and aloe vera.
This powerful little guy packs a punch with an added key ingredient called niacinamid also known as vitamin B3. This particular vitamin improves the skin’s barrier by restoring the surface of the skin. It protects against moisture loss and dehydration by helping skin improve its natural production of skin-strengthening ceramides.
These specific ingredients help to nourish and soothe the skin while gently sloughing off dead skin cells. Most retinol creams can be very stripping and drying which can be quite painful for our acne clients.
This formula specially was made with you in mind.
The Takeaway
Vitamin A has many skincare benefits, especially when you’re using topical retinoids. These products can improve the appearance of your skin, whether you’re looking to heal acne, get rid of wrinkles, or simply boost your overall radiance.
However, you have to be patient, as retinoids may take a few months to be effective. If you’re interested in getting more Vitamin A or using it topically for skin benefits, schedule an initial consultation with us and we can help develop a treatment plan for you.
Cheers to clear!
Rene