With the exception of L’Oréal, I feel like none of the big brands in the beauty industry are talking to me – do you agree? Case in point, how many of you roll your eyes up to heaven when you see another eye cream advert sporting a 20-year-old model with an eye-watering absence of crow’s feet? I stopped buying eye creams ages ago, simply because, well, the model, and I wasn’t seeing the results I wanted for the price I paid. But also because of a prescription retinol cream from my doctor. There’re a few prescription retinol cream brands available in South Africa, however, I’m not able to mention the brand name because it’s a scheduled medicine.

So, let’s first look at the difference between this prescription retinol and retinols, which are seen more and more in many beauty products today.

The product I used is a brand name for the drug Tretinoin, an active ingredient. It is a prescription medication used to treat acne. But, oh joy, it actually is very effective in reducing wrinkles and fading pigmentation quite significantly. The most suitable skins for tretinoin are oily or tolerant skins, like my Mediterranean skin.

But don’t despair, there are milder forms: Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A and it is best suited to the more sensitive skins. It is found in many over the counter products that can be applied daily.

The beauty about tretinoin is that it helps build collagen and strengthens the structure of your skin. Typically, it takes about 6 weeks for your skin to adjust and start generating new cell turn over.

It’s always best to go to a Dermatologist, or registered Aesthetic Doctor before you embark on your Prescription Retinol trip – especially the sensitive skin guys and gals. I am just sharing what works for me – but we are all unique, so get professional advice. This is certain though: if you were born in the last century, you need to be using some form of Vitamin A on your skin.

What I use

I love alternating products, so my skin does not get used to one thing only. I also believe that SURPRISE is good for your soul, as well as for your skin, so I tend towards active ingredients, self-massage and chemical exfoliation. An exercise routine for the skin.

Some of the brands I love are NeoStrata, Exuviance, Filorga and SVR, amongst many others. I also enjoy some products from local brand Dermafix.

But a less pricy option is to use prescription 0,05% Tretinoin about 3 times a week, sparingly, all over my face, neck and the residue I pat around my crow’s feet (can we revise the bird here, could it not be a pretty weaver?) and that’s why I don’t buy an eye cream. After using this for a long time, I realised that my lines were definitely softer.

However, if you love beauty products, like me, there is nothing wrong with splurging on an eye cream that is specifically designed for the eye area, especially if the model of that particular brand is Jane Fonda or Helen Mirren.

Another wonderful way to explore using vitamin A for your skin is a much loved, local is lekker brand, Environ. Our very own South African Dr Des Fernandes, founder and creator of the brand was advocating using vitamin A way back when. In fact, Vitamin A is the cornerstone ingredient of the Environ Skin Care philosophy.

There are also online skincare destinations like www.skinmiles.com or www.dermastore.co.za with qualified doctors and consultants to guide you in your choice, but I prefer an in-person Dermatologist or Aesthetic Doctor. Let them analyse your skin and go from there.

Lastly and most importantly, you cannot skip your sunscreen if you are using Retin A or any retinol product.

Paola Chellew

Paola Chellew is a freelance journalist and regularly writes for a number of publications. A former professional contemporary dancer, she has always loved the arts in all their forms. She has been a freelance writer for many years and has been published in various magazines including Live Out Loud, Private Life and Do It now magazines. Her passion for beauty and skincare started in her teens, when she would read every beauty editor’s picks and reviews. Serious about skincare, she has researched medical-grade products for over ten years, as well as aesthetic treatments to restore and repair skin to look its best. Having turned 60 last year, she has dedicated her blog to the “over 50s and beyond Club”, shining a spotlight on a generation that is seemingly side-lined by the beauty industry. “There is no age limit for when you stop being beautiful – a gorgeous lipstick, a sexy fragrance, radiant skin- these are not synonymous with youth- they are just things that add an extra sparkle to my day”.

📸 Profile photo credited to Lerissa Kemp Photography

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