This week, lovely Anya who works with us asked me the funniest question, ‘Can you eat your retinol?’.
And then, as if the universe was listening, the exact same question popped up in my DMs, followed by a flood of TikToks titled ‘How to eat your retinol’…
Can You Actually Eat Your Retinol?
If you’ve seen them, you’ll know exactly what I mean. Women are eating bowls full of carrot ribbon salad, claiming it’s the ultimate anti-ageing, youth-boosting secret. In fact, one video has racked up over 13.6 million views and there are thousands of others just like it.
Now don’t get me wrong, carrots are an amazing vegetable. They’re full of fibre, affordable, super easy to throw into lunches and absolutely deserve a spot on your plate. But, there’s a tiny detail social media forgot to mention…Carrots don’t actually contain retinol, they contain beta carotene.
The Truth About Beta Carotene vs Retinol
Beta carotene is a precursor to retinol, which means your body has to work to convert it, before it can actually use it. Which may sound simple enough, except that conversion isn’t always efficient.
Things like gut health, genetics, hormones and even whether or not you’ve eaten fat with your meal, all play a big part in how much beta carotene your body can transform.
So while you’ll get a few benefits from munching your way through the bowl, it’s not a reliable way to meet your retinol needs.
Why Food Retinol Isn’t Enough
In truth, you’d get far better results from foods such as milk, eggs and oily fish that already contain pre-formed retinol. These sources give your body a direct supply, without relying on all those conversion steps.
And if you’re a longtime BASE Blog reader, you’ll know I’m a big believer in supporting your skin from the inside out. However, when it comes to true retinol results, in this case, the transformation happens on the surface.
Topical retinol works directly where it’s needed most, without having to be processed by your body or shared around with your vital organs.
The Retinol That Does Make a Difference
So by all means, delve into that delicious-looking salad if that’s what floats your boat, because it’s great for your overall health. But if it’s smooth, radiant, youthful-looking skin you’re after, you’ll want to leave the retinol magic to your skincare.
Your One Cream Wonder delivers the perfect dose in about 30 seconds flat, without spending half your lunch break peeling endless carrot ribbons 🥕😉
