A Beginner's Guide to Retinol and Retinoids
What is Retinol?
Before we dive into the benefits, we have to explain what retinol actually is.
Retinol is actually a general term for compounds derived from vitamin A.
Retinol products are classified as over-the-counter retinoids (stronger and mostly prescribed by doctors).
It's primarily used on the skin to reduce the signs of healthy aging - but it has a variety of other benefits as well, which we'll delve into later.
Retinol has several different functions when it comes to caring for your skin.
These include:
(1) Stimulating collagen production to help plump up the skin
(2) Helping with cell regeneration to make the skin look healthier
(3) Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles3
Retinol is also thought to have some success in fading scars and reducing hyperpigmentation and blemishes.
How does retinol work?
Let’s take a closer look at some of the inner workings of this multi-tasking skin savior, starting with a quick overview of how it works:
(1) Cell turnover
(2) Collagen production
What does retinol do?
If you’ve been wondering, “What does retinol do?” Here are the claims you’ll see on retinol packaging:
(1) Smoothes existing fine lines and wrinkles and reduces the appearance of new ones
(2) Exfoliates skin cells for brighter, smoother, more renewed skin
(3) Helps resolve clogged pores
(4) Lightens skin tone by fading signs of discoloration like sun spots, scars, and hyperpigmentation
No wonder there’s so much hype around it; is there anything it can’t do?
7 Benefits of Retinol for Skin Big Benefits
Celebrities, dermatologists, and beauty gurus have praised the benefits of retinol.
But does this product really deliver?
Some retinol benefits may include:
1. It may help with acne
Retinol is often used to support your skin during acne breakouts.
This is because retinoic acid (which retinol converts to) stimulates the process of skin cell proliferation, as well as stimulating the elimination of sebum trapped in the ducts.
This basically means that retinol helps unclog pores that cause acne and avoid the formation of dead cells.
2. It reduces the appearance of fine lines
For years, retinol has been hailed as a great anti-aging product, but why is this?
In general, retinol can help reduce the appearance of fine lines on the skin - this is because it stimulates the production of collagen, which has the effect of plumping up the skin.
In addition, the increased production of natural chemicals such as hyaluronic acid when using retinol helps make the skin more plump and moisturized.
This also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. May Help Reduce Signs of Sun Damage
Retinol use helps thicken the epidermis, which is a result of increased skin cell proliferation.
This helps reduce signs of sun damage on the skin, such as sun spots and actinic keratoses. 12
4. Can Improve Skin Texture
Retinol’s exfoliating effects may also help improve skin texture – again due to increased collagen production.
5. It May Help with Hyperpigmentation
If you have hyperpigmentation and are looking to reduce its appearance, it’s worth adding retinol to your skincare routine.
Topical retinol products have been shown to reduce clinical signs of aging, such as hyperpigmentation.
6. It Reduces the Size of Pores
As we mentioned earlier, retinol helps prevent pores from becoming clogged with dirt and dead skin cells. But in addition to reducing breakouts, this may actually make your pores look smaller, too. - Win-Win!
7. It Helps Thinning Skin
As we age, our skin tends to thin, which is often a natural body response to things like sun exposure, and we stop producing as much collagen and elastin.
This all leads to weak, thin skin - but thankfully, retinol can mitigate these factors, as increased cell proliferation helps build the epidermis (the outer three layers of the skin).
The Final Word
From reducing fine lines and wrinkles to unclogging pores, the effects that retinol can achieve will vary from person to person.
It may take a while to work, though.
It may take up to three months before you start to see results, and for some products, this can be longer.
Patience is essential with this skincare product, although you should always discontinue use if you notice any sensitivity or discomfort.
We hope you found this post helpful in helping you get to grips with all things retinol, and that you feel confident trying this super popular skincare ingredient.