Are you looking for a skincare ingredient that’ll boost Collagen, improve the look of fine lines, reduce acne, fight congestion, brighten and get rid of pigmentation? Look to Retinol, an ingredient that promises to do all this—all at the same time.
What Is Retinol, And Which Kind Should You Be Using?
When used correctly, retinoids can boost Collagen production, combat breakouts, smoothen uneven texture and fight fine lines. These anti-ageing miracle workers are derivatives of Vitamin A–which is the nutrient responsible for bolstering cell turnover. They are available by prescription at a chemist or in the tubes and tubs you buy from a beauty store. Retinol is a kind of retinoid. It works by converting to the active form (trans-retinoic acid) by using a two-step conversion process. The more steps the type of retinoid needs to convert to this active form, the weaker it is.
But they are good servants and bad masters—so you’ll want to use a retinoid that’ll work for you. Here are some of the popular retinoids you’ll see on the market. So if you’re looking at a skincare product label, keep this in mind.
This means that Retinol may take longer to work than a stronger version that doesn’t need to convert (like Adapalene or Tretinoin). But it causes less irritation in the process.
Benefits of Retinol
1. Reduce the signs of ageing
A very interesting thing to know about Retinol is that it enhances cell turnover. This leads to the quicker formation of skin that is plumper and smoother. As you age, the process of cell turnover slows down. Hence it is advised to incorporate retinol in your mid-20s.
2. Boosts collagen production
If you're familiar with skincare, you must have heard about Collagen innumerable times. For the ones who are unaware, fret not. Collagen is a protein that is found in the various connective tissues of the body. It improves skin tone and diminishes fine lines and wrinkles. Using Retinol helps increase collagen production, which gives you glowy skin.
3. Helps in reducing acne
We're pretty sure we caught your attention at this point. Retinol is known for its ability to effectively eliminate and reduce acne to a huge extent. It is known to inhibit the growth of new pimples and acne. Using Retinol unclogs the pores of your skin, and reduces oil production. Thus, there is less possibility of acne formation.
4. Brightens dull complexion
Factors like stress, tanning, pollution, and smoking can make our complexion appear even duller. Retinol works to regulate the production of melanin, a substance that is responsible for the production of pigmentation, and through cell turnover, it helps in brightening your complexion.
5. Say bye-bye to fine lines and wrinkles
How does Retinol help in reducing fine lines and wrinkles? It's simple - Collagen. They are responsible for giving your skin a firm and taut appearance. When your body is at a deficit of collagen, it gives rise to fine lines and wrinkles. Luckily, Retinol stimulates the production of collagen, which in turn reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
6. Helps to even skin tone
You can now throw a cold shoulder to problems like hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Using Retinol helps improve the overall skin tone and fade pigmentation to give skin that's youthful and even.
7. Aids in skin exfoliation
Retinol helps in exfoliating by removing the upper layer of skin that is full of dead cells, giving newer and healthier skin a chance to surface.
8. The texture of the skin is improved
An abundance of Collagen and taut skin go hand in hand. When you introduce Retinol in your skincare routine, the rate of cell turnover is increased, meaning old and dull skin is replaced with skin that is soft and radiant.
9. Reduces sun damage
Fine, you are guilty of being very lazy with your sunscreen application. But luckily, Retinol is here to save your skin from any further damage that's caused by the sun’s UV rays. It helps get rid of all damaged skin cells and fades brown spots.
How Can You Use Retinol?
Less is more. If it’s a gel, lotion or cream, start with a pea-sized amount all over the face. Then, layer it with a serum, moisturiser or oil to stave off dryness. It is best to apply it onto a totally dry face. Then wait for it to totally dry before adding anything on. Phasing it in is a good idea—use it twice a week, and then work up your tolerance.
What About The Side-Effects Of Retinol?
With this product, you have to be ready for your skin to look and feel worse for a while, before it gets a LOT better. Initially, you may have to deal with retinisation, which is the period where your skin is adjusting to the increased cell turnover, Collagen and elastin production. During that time, you might find your skin feeling super dry, irritated and prone to peeling, and this could last 4-6 weeks. Eventually, your skin develops a tolerance. However, If you have oily skin, retinization might not hit you as hard—the drying might actually help mattify the skin.
If you’re prone to acne, you might find that your breakouts have worsened for these first few weeks too. Retinol is causing new cells to come up to the surface, but that might bring with it some trapped oil and debris too, which—when they mingle with the dead skin cells on the surface—might clog pores and cause congestion in the area. Once this is cleared out, things get a little more smooth sailing. If you are purging and want tips on how to deal with acne at the time, read our discussion of what causes breakouts and how you can help them here
There are some that are nervous about the possible long-term side effects of this ingredient. But there is no definitive evidence that topical retinoids lead to cancer or reproductive toxicity. So doctors still suggest keeping it in your repertoire—as long as you’re dosing correctly and following it up with lots of sunscreen. The only time you’ll have to take a break is when you’re trying to conceive, are expecting or are breastfeeding. It is important to note that actual research with test subjects isn’t really possible in this case. But it is clear that too much Vitamin A can cause issues to the fetus, so doctors will suggest you leave it for after you’re done breastfeeding.
So, What’s The Alternative?
For those that have tried low concentration Retinols and found the side-effects overwhelming, research is being done on newer, time-release formulas that give skin time to acclimate before getting to work. If you’re still nervous and want to start with an alternative without some of these concerns, bakuchiol and carrot seed oil are being researched currently, which indicates that they may be able to create similar results (albeit slower), but with less irritation or retinisation.
Conclusion
Whether it's a concern related to ageing or acne, Retinol can solve them all. The only thing you need to keep in mind is to be patient when using this product. Slowly introduce the product to your skin to avoid any harsh side effects. You can try using Foxtale’s Retinol Anti Ageing Night Serum to avail the best anti-ageing benefits! When used consistently, Retinol can work wonders.
FAQs
1. At what age should I start using retinol?
You can introduce retinol to your skin in your mid-20s or early 30s.
2 .Does Retinol slow ageing?
Yes! Retinol is the magical ingredient for anti ageing. Through the production of collagen, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles is reduced which gives you younger-looking skin.
3. Why should we use retinol at night?
The simple reason is because of UV rays. If used in the morning, the efficacy of retinol is decreased. At night, cell turnover is at its peak, hence retinol should be applied at night time only.
