A Guide To Environ Concentrated Retinol Serums
Environ is a skincare line I have been using for over 17 years, and its Concentrated Retinol Serums are among the products I recommend most. It was created by Dr. Des Fernandes, a South African based plastic surgeon who was looking to replace essential skin nutrients depleted by exposure to the sun and other environmental factors.
Dr. Fernandes’ focus is on vitamin A (retinol), which he considers the most crucial ingredient in maintaining optimal skin health, and his Environ Concentrated Retinol Serums, available in strengths 1 to 3, contain high concentrations of this key vitamin A ingredient.
Why Vitamin A (Retinol) Is Essential for Your Skin
Vitamin A, or retinol, works on both the dermis and the epidermis, normalizing skin cell function and influencing how cells behave. Its many benefits include:
- The promotion of healthy collagen and elastin production by stimulating fibroblasts (cells that produce collagen in the dermis)
- The normalization of oil production, which helps balance problematic skin
- The normalization of the process of pigmentation by working on tyrosinase, an enzyme that plays a vital role in the production of melanin
Vitamin A penetrates the skin, speeding up cellular turnover. Over time, lines become shallower, pores become less noticeable, and skin tone is more even and radiant. And it has to be replenished every day for maximum benefit.
How Environ's Vitamin A Step-Up System Works
While retinoids are often associated with redness and irritation, Dr. Fernandes’ unique "Step-Up System" lets you build tolerance to a low dose before progressing to higher-strength retinol serums.
How to Apply Environ Concentrated Retinol Serum
To use Environ Concentrated Retinol Serum, after cleansing and toning, add one drop of serum to your moisturizer, and if your skin is reacting well, continue to add more drops or you can use the serum on its own and apply moisturizer over it.
What to Do If Your Skin Reacts
The skin may feel uncomfortable when first using Retinol Serum 1 and this transient irritation of the skin may re-occur during each step-up in the Intensive Retinol regime. If an irritation (dry skin with a rash) should develop it is recommended that the frequency of application be reduced from every other day or even every third or fourth day until the skin becomes comfortable.
