Retinol is a powerful ingredient that French women rely on to treat acne, reduce wrinkles, repair sun damage, and avoid hyperpigmentation. But what are the best French retinol creams for you? There are plenty of amazing French skincare products at your favorite beauty stores and local drugstores that contain retinol. I’ll share the best ones on the market and where to buy French retinol in the USA.
Keep in mind that French retinol can make your skin sensitive to the sun, so always use it before applying a French sunscreen in the morning, or apply it at night and wash it off before you go about your day!
Best French Retinol Serums & Creams
Whether you are a woman looking for a product that will help you diminish wrinkles, combat acne, or just improve your skin’s radiance, you’ve come to the right place! These are all key skin concerns that retinol can tackle. Here are the best French retinol creams you can buy in the USA.
French Retinol Serum
The best French retinol serum comes from the French pharmacy brand La Roche-Posay. The La Roche-Posay Pure Retinol Face Serum with Vitamin B3 was developed to fade away fine lines, wrinkles, and premature signs of aging. Not only that, but this French retinol serum also treats sun damage and hydrates the skin. It is safe for use on sensitive skin.
This retinol B3 serum works by gradually releasing retinol, vitamin B3, and glycerin. It’s a triple-threat to the aging process giving your face the optimal boost it needs to be radiant and youthful. It is recommended to apply 3-4 drops of this serum in the evening all over the face and neck.
French Retinol Eye Cream
The Avène RetrinAL Eye Cream is one of the best French retinol creams you can buy. Created to target the delicate eye contour area, this retinol cream for the eyes will diminish the fine lines around your eyes, tame puffiness, and brighten your dark circles. It includes hyaluronic acid and retinaldehyde in the formula. It should only be used at night and applied to the under-eye area and eyebrow arch.
French Retinol Cream
A longtime French retinol cream that Parisian women swear by is the A313 cream. It is a pharmaceutical-grade vitamin A product that is found over-the-counter. This much sought-after cream is ideal for treating skin irritation. Not only does it contain retinol, but it also contains Hyaluronic Acid. Together they help combat wrinkles, acne, fine expression lines, and brighten the skin giving it a fresh and youthful look.
A313 is a potent product that will reap the benefits listed above and is simultaneously gentle, leaving your skin feeling soothed without negative side effects. It is a smooth and consistent product that can be relied on to treat your skin delicately every night as a part of your skincare routine. You would be joining the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow, who makes sure to apply it on her face every night.
The famous French product is not only found in France but can be purchased online from Walmart. Again, no prescription is needed! You’re simply a few clicks away from gaining access to this French beauty product that may be the game-changer you need.
What is Retinol?
It is invaluable to know what we put on our skin and how it affects it. Understanding what retinol products consist of, how they work, and the difference between the effects of retinol vs. retinoid products will allow you to make an educated choice on what will work best for you.
When using retinol, you must protect your skin from the sun. Retinol makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. For that reason, retinol is often used at night only. Sunscreen can provide extra protection during the day. Don’t be discouraged by this! Make retinol products a part of your nightly skincare routine.
There are many benefits to using retinol products, and additionally, you always want to make sure you wear sunscreen to avoid sun damage no matter what.
Retinoid vs. Retinol
Retinol and retinoid often are used interchangeably, however, while they are related they are not one and the same. A retinoid is an antioxidant that helps promote collagen growth, fights wrinkles, and can improve the tone and texture of the skin.
While there are many topical retinoids that are found in beauty products, there are also stronger retinoids that can only be accessed via prescription. In addition, retinoids help combat acne by calming redness and unclogging pores.
So then, what is retinol, and how does it differ from retinoid? Retinol is a type of retinoid, which is primarily found over-the-counter and not as a prescription medication. The biggest difference between the two is their potency. Because retinol has a lesser concentration of the active retinoic acid ingredient, it is not as immediately powerful as prescription-strength products.
The vast majority of retinol products are combined with ingredients that help hydrate and brighten skin. Additionally, retinol has fewer side effects than a prescription-strength retinoid. The benefits of retinol are gradual and can take months, if not a year, to show visible results.
Using products that contain retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, and retinyl linoleate are delicate entry-level introduction to retinoids. This is especially true for those with sensitive skin.
Benefits of Retinol Cream
There are many benefits to using a retinol cream. Below is a list of the ways retinol can help improve your skin over time.
Anti-aging
The use of retinol has been shown to increase epidermal thickness, helping improve aged skin naturally and safely. The active ingredient for retinol in products helps your body produce collagen, which gives skin strength and elasticity.
Improved Skin Texture
Because of the boost in collagen, the strength and cell replacements of the skin happen more quickly and, therefore, your skin will be less dull or not dull at all. Your complexion will no longer be dry and flakey. Not only will it look smoother, but also feel smoother to the touch.
Help Heal Sun Damage
Since retinol has antioxidant properties, it can help lighten dark spots. Something to note is people with fairer skin or that have had significant sun exposure throughout their lives are more likely to get dark spots. Remember, protecting your skin from the sun is vital for many reasons. But, if the damage is done retinol can certainly help reverse it.
Improves Skin Tone
Continuously using retinol will help reduce hyperpigmentation without drying your skin. Of course, this will require patience as it is not as strong as a prescription retinoid. The more consistently you use it, and as long as it is for an extended period of time, you will absolutely see improvement.
Whether the uneven color was caused by the sun, chemical treatments gone wrong, or any other reason, giving retinol a chance can lead to your skin looking and feeling better, and in turn, you feeling better too!
Helps Treat Acne
A great benefit of retinol for those who suffer from acne is that retinol reduces the overactive behavior of your oil glands and helps unclog pores. You will see that your skin will clear up, pores will shrink, and using retinol helps prevent breakouts as well.
The most accessible retinoid is retinol, and it reaps many benefits. It will help you defy wrinkles, treat forms of acne, even out your skin tone, and smooth the texture of your skin. As we mentioned above, retinol is slow working; you will have to give it time and use it consistently. With some patience, you will see its positive effects!
