Unveiling the Power of Retinol: Revitalise Your Skin for a Youthful Glow

The Science Behind Retinol

To understand the benefits of retinol, you first must know that it is a form of retinoid, a class of chemical compounds within Vitamin A family. This fat-soluble vitamin is crucial in various bodily functions, including vision, immune function, and skin health. The astonishing effects of retinoids make them beneficial, for example, for acne-prone skin.

So, what does retinol do for your skin that makes it one of the most effective ingredients in the beauty aisle? It diminishes the visible signs of aging by promoting cell turnover, improving skin’s firmness and elasticity as well as reducing the appearance of wrinkles—hence the popularity of retinol creams among women over 30!
To some degree, retinol can also help reduce signs of pigmentation, otherwise known as dark spots, by encouraging healthy cell turnover, combatting the accumulation of melanin. When we add up all the benefits, it’s no surprise it has become a key ingredient in skincare.

Integrating Retinol into your Skincare Routine

At What Age Should You Start Using Retinol?

We recommend you start using retinol from the age of thirty. This is typically when collagen levels in the skin begin to decline at a rate of 1% per year. Some people are inspired to act earlier due to early signs of ageing such as crow’s feet. A standard guideline is to use it when dynamic wrinkles like frown lines or laughter lines become noticeable.

Step-by-step Guide to Adding Retinol to Your Routine

If you’re wondering how often to use retinol, the key is to gradually and softly introduce it into your skincare regimen. Overusing this potent active or selecting a formulation that’s too intense for your skin may lead to irritation, redness, or dry skin. We also recommend speaking to your dermatologist, especially if pregnant, as using retinol when pregnant is generally discouraged.
For retinol beginners, we recommend applying it once or twice a week, building up to a routine you’re comfortable with, such as daily or every other day. Once your skin acclimatises to this powerful ingredient, you should be ready to apply it as part of your regular morning and/or evening routine.
Simply cleanse your skin, pat it dry, then add your retinol serum. For optimal results, wait a few minutes for your serum to sink in before applying moisturizer as the final layer. If you are using a retinol eye cream, it should be applied before the face serum. And remember – always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen at the end of the morning routine.

Shiseido’s Retinol-Infused Products

Highlighting Top Retinol Creams and Serums

Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Contour Serum

Formulated with RETINOL SOFT CAPS and TECHNOLOGY+™, this retinol serum has a rapid and proven effect against crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, nasolabial folds and upper lip wrinkles in just one week(1).
Clinical test on 34 volunteers

Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Eye Cream

Designed to visibly reduce sagging, dark circles, and eye wrinkles, this global anti-aging retinol eye cream uses a retinol derivative to achieve a more lifted, firmer and brightened eye area in just 1 week(2)
Consumer test on 104 women

Shiseido Vital Perfection Intensive Wrinkle Spot Treatment

For an extra anti-ageing correction, complete your skincare ritual with this retinol treatment that smooths deep wrinkles and, thanks to exclusive 4MSK, fades the look of dark spots in just one week(3). Overall, skin looks smoother, firmer and brighter.
Consumer test on 109 women

Vital Perfection Uplifting & Firming Express Eye Mask

A potent facial sheet mask treatment featuring a Pure Liquid Retinol Delivery system, brightens the skin instantly while addressing sagging and loss of resilience.

Why Choose Shiseido for Your Retinol Needs

Shiseido offers unique expertise in retinol technology, being the sole company in Japan authorized to manufacture and sell quasi-drug products containing pure retinol as an active ingredient. Recognizing that retinol degrades quickly when exposed to oxygen, heat, and light, Shiseido dedicated 30 years of research to developing innovative solutions such as Retinol TripleLock Technology. When Shiseido’s retinol products are formulated, the Pure Retinol is enclosed in a special oil to shield it from oxygen exposure and oxidation, preventing its degradation. The manufacturing environment is also entirely designed to isolate retinol to preserve its stability. The products are then packaged in custom-designed air-tight containers. In other words, you can be sure that you are receiving pure, high-quality retinol—with all its incredible skin benefits.

Customer Reviews and Success Stories

★★★★★ Keljaneh80
Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Contour Serum
April 2023

Magic in a Bottle

Wow is my first thoughts. What an amazing luxurious serum Shiseido - Wrinkle smoothing serum is. I recently began to have some deeper lines appear in my forehead. After my first use I noticed instantly my skin was smoother, glowing, felt silky and looked healthy. I've been using for a couple of weeks now and my fine lines have vanished and my deeper lines are no longer deep. The packaging and bottle look great on the vanity table. Sleek lines, curves, heavy set lid and luxurious gold colour screams I deserve this. I would highly reccomend this.

★★★★★ Wizzy
Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Eye Cream
December 2023

My favourite eye cream

I have been using this eye cream for some time and I'm extremely pleased with the results. It feels great on the skin, has helped the dark circles under under my eyes and minimises any wrinkles. Great result.

★★★★★ lauras858
Shiseido Vital Perfection Intensive Wrinkle Spot Treatment
January 2024

Love this product!

I love this product! It has a subtle smell which is lovely and such a silky feel when you apply. You can feel the product working and the skin tightening just after application and it also has a brightening effect. Does not cause irritation as my skin can sometimes be sensitive. I have been using this for over 3 weeks now and a little goes a long way!

Frequently Asked Questions about Retinol

How long does retinol take to work?

By stimulating cell renewal and acting on visible signs of collagen loss, retinol usually offers gradual, visible skin benefits over the long term. However, its effectiveness depends on the type and concentration of retinol used in the product. For instance, Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Eye Cream, is proven to lift, firm and brighten in just 1 week(1). Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Smoothing Contour Serum is proven to reduce multiple types of wrinkles with proven effects from the very first week (2).
Consumer test on 104 women
Clinical test on 34 volunteers

Is it true that retinol makes you more susceptible to sunburn?

Retinol is a very potent ingredient that can temporarily sensitise the skin and cause skin irritation, which is why it is recommended to use a high-protection sunscreen as part of your morning skincare routine.

Final thoughts: The Long-Term Benefits of Retinol

Retinol is one of the most effective anti-ageing ingredients currently available, and its real allure lies in its long-term benefits. Indeed, renewing skin cells and plumping up skin’s structure takes time, so you need to be patient with your retinol routine and keep it for at least 4 weeks in a row to maximize the skin results. With consistent application, you can look forward to an overall smoother and youthful appearance.

Conclusion: Embrace a Youthful Skin Journey with Retinol

With new products that deliver pure retinol or retinol derivative to the skin with absolute certainty, we highly recommend it to combat the signs of ageing such as wrinkle and loss of firmness. Discover the perfect daily duo: Retinol Eye Cream and Retinol Serum - to be completed with an anti-aging moisturiser, complete with SPF for daytime protection.