For those who are over the age of 30, retinol is a big deal – but more freelancing people who are younger are finding the benefits of retinol as well. But what precisely is so special about retinol that makes it a popular ingredient in serums and creams, especially when associated with words such as reparative, rejuvenating, and age-defying or anti-ageing? Is retinol truly a safe product, and where does it come from? If you have some questions about retinol because you are interested in trying it out for yourself, here’s everything you should know about retinol – and its real benefits for skin.

What is this miracle ingredient?

First of all, retinol is a derivative produced synthetically from vitamin A, and everyone is already familiar with vitamin A, which is found in food such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and eggs. When you apply retinol topically to your skin, it can convert retinoic acid through special enzymes on the skin. Once the acid is converted, it can alter the behaviour of the skin’s aged cells, helping them, in essence, act more ‘youthfully.’ This means the skin can become smoother and more refined, and the skin can also appear more radiant, basically reversing the ageing process as well. Once retinol has been incorporated into your skincare routine, it can help accelerate the renewal of the skin and enhance the production of collagen, and it can also reduce the apparent signs of ageing, such as age spots and an uneven skin texture.

What are its real benefits?

When you apply retinol onto your skin, such as SkinCeuticals retinol night cream, it can come with real benefits, which include:

  • The prevention of wrinkle formation. Since retinol has a minimising effect, it can also smooth out any wrinkles and fine lines.
  • The brightening of skin that has become dull because it can exfoliate the skin at the cellular level. This then results in smoother and brighter skin since new skin cells are encouraged to develop.
  • The regulation of oily skin and the minimising of skin breakouts.
  • The fading away of sunspots, dark spots, as well as hyperpigmentation. With this, your skin complexion can become more even over time.

Some considerations

Since retinol is highly effective and powerful, dermatologists recommend slowly and gradually incorporating it into your own skincare routine. If you incorporate it too quickly, the skin can peel or redden. Skin can also become flaky and dry when you first use it, but your skin simply needs to adjust to its effects. You can slowly add it to your evening routine around once or twice a week initially, and then gradually increase it to daily use depending on how your skin reacts.

You should also allow the serum or cream to be absorbed by your skin for about 20 minutes to half an hour before you apply any other product. Here’s another thing to remember: when you use retinol, make sure to apply your sunscreen every day since your skin may become more sun-sensitive once you use it.

Even if you are still in your 30s, you can already incorporate retinol into your routine three or four times per week. Once you are in your 40s, you can apply it every other evening, and if you’re in your 50s or 60s, you can incorporate it about five times a week or every day.