Retinol is one of the most sought-after ingredients when it comes to anti-ageing skincare, and with good reason. A form of Vitamin A, it speeds up skin's cell turnover, encouraging fresh new cells to grow and leaving the complexion firmer and smoother, with fine lines reduced. Some might say it's as close as we've yet come to an elixir of youth! I've certainly always known it to be high up on the list of ingredients to look for when choosing anti-ageing skincare.

Needless to say, I was intrigued when Super Facialist got in touch to ask if I would like to try their Retinol+ range. I said yes right away, and they sent me the day cream*, night cream* and serum*, all housed in this very attractive purple and silver packaging.

Super Facialist was created in collaboration with top facialist Una Brennan and features several skincare ranges, all of which combine potent plant extracts with essential oils, proven active ingredients and beautiful fragrances designed to recreate the spa experience in your own home. Although I can't quite put my finger on what the scent is, the Retinol+ range definitely does smell amazing. I personally love this, but it's something to bear in mind if you're not keen on fragrance in your skincare.

On that note, it's important to mention that Retinol is an ingredient you need to be a little bit careful with, and I was pleased to see the Super Facialist website talking about the best way to use it here. Essentially, because Retinol encourages a faster rate of cell turnover, skin can become more sensitive after a while because the cells at the surface are younger and less robust. For this reason, it's a good idea to use the range for just a few weeks at a time, before giving your skin a break. Super Facialist recommend using it for 6 to 8 weeks a couple of times a year. Retinol can also make your skin more sensitive to sun, so remembering your SPF is more important than ever while using these products. Another recommendation is to build up your usage slowly if you have naturally sensitive skin. Mine can be a little sensitive, so that's what I did, and apart from a little bit of redness on the first couple of days, I've had no problems.

I love the fact that the serum features this handy pump dispenser. You only need to use the smallest amount, and this makes sure there's no waste. The day and night cream come in clear plastic jars and a little of these goes a long way too. The night cream is a lot richer and thicker than the day cream, but they are both pleasant to use and neither lingers too long before being absorbed.

The main thing I have noticed after having used these products for several weeks is how smooth my skin is. They have been fantastic for refining the texture of my complexion and I'd definitely recommend them for that purpose. I'd also say that they have done a great job in terms of firming my skin. As for my fine lines, well, they're still there, but they certainly haven't got any worse! All in all, I really like this range and wouldn't hesitate to repurchase next time I feel like giving my skin a course of Retinol.

Have you tried any Retinol based skincare, and if so, what did you think of it?

*Gifted product. All opinions, as always, are my own.