A retinol cream you can afford
It’s not that often you find a retinol cream for under $40. To find a retinol product that many people say actually works is even rarer.
Recently I have noticed a lot of buzz around an inexpensive retinol cream called Afirm 3X so I decided to check it out.
Afirm 3X is one of three retinol creams in different strengths from TX Systems. The idea is you select which strength you want based on how sensitive your skin is and whether you’ve used a retinol cream before.
Afirm 3X is the strongest with 0.6% retinol – use this if you don’t have a particularly sensitve skin or you have used a retinol cream at a lower strength
Afirm 2X has 0.3% retinol and is for normal, fairly tolerant skins or if you’re already used to using a lower strength retinol product.
Afirm 1X is the weakest of the three creams with only 0.15% retinol – if you have a sensitive skin or you’re not used to a retinol product then this is the level recommended. This cream is also best for sensitive areas of the face like the eye area.
The two things that matter with any retinol cream are – how much retinol is in it and is the delivery system good enough to get the retinol into your skin without causing irritation and inflammation.
“I have used Afirm for over 20 years …. I love what it has done for my skin and continues to do for years now. My skin is firm, shows little sun damage, and at 57, I have almost no noticable fine lines around my eyes or mouth areas. Even my dermatologist commented on how good my skin looks!”
TX systems – unlike many manufacturers – clearly state the level of retinol in their products. They also claim that their creams have a unique delivery system using microencapsulation to carry a high concentration of retinol and yet be exceptionally gentle on your skin.
They also say that Afirm 3X has the highest level of retinol in any over the counter retinol product which is amazing when you consider the price.
The recommendation is to apply Afirm 3X to a clean face in the evening. If you use it in the daytime as well you definitely need a good sunscreen and you may also need a moisturizer – both of which can be applied on top.
Also you should be careful what you use with a retinol cream like Afirm. Any product containing AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) should not be used at the same time as you apply the cream.
My advice would be – if you’ve never used a retinol product before or have sensitive skin – to start with Afirm 2X and use on alternative days to start with to gradually build up tolerance. No matter how good the makers say the cream is – retinol can irritate skin.
The reviews that I have seen of all the Afirm products – especially the high strength 3X – are very positive. And the great news is that all three sell at under $40. Affordable anti aging skin care is a bonus in these credit crunched times and retinol is one of the few anti aging ingredients proven to work.
At that price – even if you haven’t used a retinol cream before – you can afford to give Afirm 3X a go.
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Filed under Retinol Products
Jeni on Fri, 27th Jul 2007
I use this cream, but I haven’t used it in a while, so I need to build up to it, because it’s Strong!!! I usually rotate between this, or Differin, which is for keeping my acne away, but it also works for wrinkles.
Eileen Gravelle on Thu, 17th Jan 2008
You’re very wise to start with lower doses of retinol and work up to the max. Retinol gets great press over and over as an effective anti aging product that works and Affirm gets good reviews. Hope it works for you second time around too!
Karen on Wed, 9th Sep 2009
I have used Afirm 3x for about a year now and it has helped reduce fine lines and definately evened out my somewhat sun-damaged complexion. I feel it has also helped reduce the frequency of acne breakouts.
I use an 8% aha gel before I use this and I have had no problems at all with dryness. I wait at least 20 minutes after applying Afirm 3x before I apply my moisturizer, which is simply aloe vera gel with a squirt of jojoba oil mixed together in the palm of my hand.
Carolyn Bell on Fri, 8th Jan 2010
I am an dark skin African American woman who currenly started using a cream from a cosmestic surgery office I was told by skin care specialist it contain 10% hydroquoinine and 5 percent retinol, I have very dark discloration in my face and neck, I noticed that the cream started to peel my skin which I was told this was the retinol. I would like to buy your retinol, does your retinol peel the skin also or do I need to use it with a hydroquione cream if so would percent do I mix with retinol in order to achive the results I have experienced from the cream I am using now. Please write me back I let me know what you recommend.
Thanks
Carolyn Bell
Kat on Tue, 18th May 2010
This website mentions “Also you should be careful what you use with a retinol cream like Afirm. Any product containing AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) should not be used at the same time as you apply the cream.”
BUT WHY?
thanks
Eileen Gravelle on Thu, 29th Jul 2010
Carolyn – Thanks for your comment – we don’t sell a retinol product – the Afirm retinol cream is one that I have seen great reviews for on the forums and the price is so good I thought it needed an article! I’m sorry you have got worries about your treatment. I know hydroquinone is a very strong ingredient and that it is not approved for use in skin care in the UK and Europe. Try searching for negative reports to see some of the problems associated with it. Maybe also try other skin specialists to get second/third opinions.
Eileen Gravelle on Thu, 29th Jul 2010
Kat – thanks for the question! A good (high strength) retinol cream will accelerate the level of skin cell turnover and this can be accompanied by increased skin sensitivity and possibly redness and irritation in more sensitive skins. AHA Alpha Hydroxy Acid or fruit acids are skin exfoliators which broadly perform the same function. The FDA insisted on warnings about skin sensitivity and AHA products when their use was approved in 2003. So basically both retinol and AHA products may cause skin irritation – putting them both together will increase the risk.