Applying your cream is not just a routine. It’s all about the right technique to ensure your skin fully absorbs benefits. There are various approaches: spreading or massaging, carefully allowing it to be absorbed, there are various approaches. But what is the best way? It depends on several factors, such as the type of cream you are using and its purpose. For instance, some medical ointments require that you apply them thinly. Sometimes application once per day is enough, but in other cases, it’s important to care for your skin multiple times a day, especially if you are frequently exposed to the sun or if your skin is damaged and dry. A tiger balm is easy to massage in, but some prescribed creams should not be massaged because it can affect absorption and effectiveness.
Recently, an interesting scientific article was published that demonstrates which massage technique is the most effective for the absorption of retinol cream by your skin. We are excited to discuss this fascinating article1 with you in this blog.
Retinol, a commonly used ingredient in anti-aging creams, has been the subject of research on the effects of massage on its absorption. Scientists applied retinol to pieces of pigskin and subjected them to various massage techniques. What did they find? Massage indeed influences the absorption of retinol by the skin, with the so-called 'rolling massage' proving to be the most effective. This could help in the development of advanced skincare products that combine massage with retinol.
The research experimented with different massage styles (rolling or rotating) and their duration. The results showed that the type of massage had a significant impact on the penetration of retinol into the skin. Although retinol naturally dissolves well in the upper layer of the skin, the research team discovered that after 4 hours, significant amounts of retinol also penetrated into the deeper skin layers (epidermis and dermis), depending on the massage therapy protocol used. The 'rolling massage' was much more effective than the rotating process, which had little impact on retinol penetration.
The conclusion was clear: the rolling type of massage was significantly more efficient than the rotating process in promoting the penetration of retinol into the skin. In other words, if you want to get the most out of your retinol cream, a rolling massage is the best choice.
- Referentie: Salas, T., Bordes, C., Arquier, D., Caillier, L., Mandica, F., & Bolzinger, M. (2023). "Effect of Massage on Retinol Skin Penetration." International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 642, 123106. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123106.