This is the part of my routine I do not skip

Collagen is not something you can drink. It is built slowly, in the skin, by giving it a reason to make more.

Retinoids are one of the few topical ingredients with decades of evidence behind them. They build collagen and thicken the skin over time. Texture refines, lines soften, tone evens.

What determines whether it works is not just the strength but also the formulation. A poorly built retinol irritates, the bottle goes to the back of the drawer, and nothing changes. Most people who believe retinoids failed them never got past the first three weeks.

Begin at 0.5 two nights weekly, building to four as the skin allows. Make sure you use a sufficient barrier cream. Most of the irritation people blame on the retinoid is an unsupported barrier.

Dr Ellie Sateei
Cosmetic and Regenerative Doctor