What Retinol Really Does for Your Skin

Why every skincare routine should include retinol

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is in the family of ingredients called retinoids. A powerful anti-aging ingredient, retinol fights wrinkles and fine lines, brightens skin tone and texture, and diminishes uneven hyperpigmentation. Here’s everything you need to know about this skincare miracle worker.

How does retinol work?

Retinol minimizes the appearance of wrinkles, increases skin’s thickness and elasticity, slows the breakdown of collagen, and evens out skin tone and texture. Retinol does all this by encouraging surface skin cells to turn over and die rapidly so that new skin cells can grow underneath.

While retinol may cause peeling and redness in the first few weeks of use, it actually thickens skin. By thickening the deeper layer of skin, retinol reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For hyperpigmentation, retinol sloughs those areas off and curbs the production of melanin associated with age spots. What’s more, retinol reduces the appearance of acne by unclogging pores and fading acne scars. Retinol is truly a versatile skin care ingredient that most women can benefit from.

Rx versus OTC retinol

Prescription retinol tends to be 100 times more potent than over-the-counter retinol-containing products. Dermatologists prefer to prescribe tretinoin and retinoic acid for aging skin. With prescription retinol, women notice smoother, more even-toned skin within six-to-eight weeks. Over-the-counter skin care products containing retinol, however, take about three-to-six months of daily use before people begin noticing a difference.

If you’re between 20 and 40 years old, you might benefit from over-the-counter skincare products containing retinol rather than prescription ones, since they tend to be milder and safer for sensitive skin. Women over 40 that want dramatic results should consider prescription retinol, specifically retinaldehyde.

The best skin care products containing retinol

If you’re a retinol newbie, your best bet is starting out with an over-the-counter skin care product that contains retinol. You’ll want to gradually work your way up to a stronger retinol. Here are the best OTC skin care products featuring retinol:

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream

This night cream is crafted with a fast-acting retinoid, a time-released retinol, and a retinol booster to quickly and visibly minimize lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet. What’s more, the red algae extract found in this cream boosts skin’s firmness and elasticity.

RoC Retinol Correxion Max Daily Hydration Creme

This intensive anti-aging cream is clinically proven to reduce wrinkles in one week, delivering smoother and more radiant skin. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, this cream leaves your skin ultra-hydrated and plump.

Paula’s Choice Resist 1% Retinol Booster

This skin care treatment combines potent antioxidants, extracts, and retinol to diminish fine lines and wrinkles and even out skin tone. What’s more, it firms skin, boosts cell regeneration, stimulates collagen production, and refines pore size.

LaserAway Beauty My Hero Sleep Repair Serum

This night serum uses revolutionary retinol-infused Smart Drone Technology to achieve smoother, firmer, and more radiant skin. It also contains a unique peptide complex to hydrate and repair skin, and licorice extract to soothe skin.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane

This water-free solution contains a 2% concentration of an advanced retinoid active complex called Granactive Retinoid that has been shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, increase collagen production, and even out skin tone.

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Serum

This serum penetrates deep into skin’s surface to deliver visible results. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid and retinol to smooth skin and fade the appearance of deep wrinkles while brightening skin.

TruSkin Retinol Moisturizer

This facial moisturizer is formulated with 2.5% retinol to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture and tone, and increase skin’s hydration. It’s formulated without fillers, fragrances, dyes, parabens, or sulfates.

LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream

This facial cream is designed for daily use. It erases sun damage, fine lines, acne scars, age spots, and uneven skin tone. This cream is also formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea, shea butter, and jojoba oil to deeply hydrate and repair skin.

Instantly look more youthful

Retinol is truly a skin care miracle. It not only diminishes the early signs of aging, but retinol also reduces acne and associated scarring. Anyone can begin using retinol-containing skin care products. Just remember to use it every other day in the beginning until your body builds up a natural tolerance. Within a few months of daily use, you’ll notice your skin is more radiant, youthful and flawless.