- Retinol has many incredible benefits for the skin including reducing fine lines, treating acne, and improving skin texture.
- It is a powerful ingredient that must be incorporated at a low percentage and slowly to avoid overwhelming the skin. You must also always use SPF while using retinol since it can make your skin more sensitive to sun damage.
- The most common side effects experienced by those beginning with retinol is dry, irritated skin.
Retinol is a powerful skincare tool to promote anti-aging, skin rejuvenation and cell turnover. It’s long been considered a holy grail skincare ingredient that can truly transform the skin by minimizing wrinkles, improving texture, boosting collagen production and diminishing dark spots. If you’re considering adding a retinol into your skincare routine, it’s important to understand how to use it and what type of retinol is right for you since it can have some notable side effects.
Follow along as we walk through everything you need to know about retinol and how to effectively incorporate this powerhouse ingredient into your skincare routine.
What is Retinol?
To begin, it’s important to understand what exactly retinol is. Healthline describes retinol as a type of retinoid, which is derived from vitamin A. Retinol is made up of small molecules that penetrate deep into the middle layer of the skin to help neutralize free radicals. It also helps to boost the production of collagen, which is responsible for the elastic and “plumped” effect of youthful skin.
Retinol can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and enlarged pores. It can also help to treat acne, scarring, inflammation and bacteria. Lastly, it’s known for its ability to improve skin texture and tone.
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