After cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen, retinol is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Keep reading to learn about what retinol is, its benefits, how to use it safely and effectively, and some products I recommend.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A with many benefits for the skin. It is a topical treatment—once applied to the skin, your body converts the retinol into retinoic acid, improving the skin’s appearance, condition, and texture. Retinol is used to treat many skin conditions and comes in a range of dosages, from over-the-counter to prescription strength. It can be used in gels, creams, serums, lotions, and ointments.
Benefits of Retinol
There are many benefits of retinol. The main benefit it has for the skin is to help increase skin cell production (proliferation) and turnover. Retinol also increases collagen production, exfoliates the skin, unclogs pores, and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It has also been shown to help multiple skin conditions, such as acne, dark spots, acne scars, large pores, melasma, psoriasis, and stretch marks.
How to Use it Effectively & Safely
Due to retinol’s powerful ability to turn the skin over, it’s natural to have dryness or peeling over the first few weeks. In
fact, your skin may look worse for a brief period because it’s adjusting to the retinol’s effects. Start slowly integrating retinol into your skincare routine; apply it once or twice a week to allow your skin time to adjust. Apply retinol to your skin at night; this allows the product to penetrate the skin’s surface while you sleep, supporting cell turnover for a younger, healthy-looking complexion. Use a pea-sized amount of retinol and apply it to your face, neck, and décolleté. Avoid getting it in your eyes, nose, and mouth
Retinol-Based Products
If you’re looking for a retinol serum, try Murad’s Retinol Youth Renewal Serum from Sephora. This corrective serum works on all skin types – normal, dry, oily, and combination – to fight deep wrinkles and fine lines. Many customers report seeing an increase in their skin’s radiance in as little as two weeks.
Retinol treatments like Kiehl’s Retinol Skin Renewing Daily Micro Dose Treatment are perfectly formulated to deliver a daily dose of pure retinol for visible results. This treatment helps firm up your skin, visibly reduce wrinkles, smooth texture, and even skin tone with minimal discomfort.
Made with calming ingredients like grapeseed oil, acmella oleracea, allantoin, and antioxidant-rich bakuchuiol, Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream is the perfect retinoid to help nourish and soothe the skin. It is formulated with 0.1% retinol to soften wrinkles and fine lines while minimizing dryness and irritation.
The Retinol 0.5 Oil from CORSX is a highly concentrated oil formulated with 0.5% pure, stabilized retinol for powerful anti-aging care. It helps improve skin by reducing dryness and improving elasticity. This retinol oil is an intensive treatment for a more radiant, youthful complexion.
Jordan is a writer and photographer based in the DFW area. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a Bachelor ‘s degree in English and a Minor in Marketing. She is a history nerd and animal lover, with one dog and three cats at home. In her free time, she enjoys reading, arts & crafts, working on her first novel, and traveling to places near and far.