If you were to approach any impossibly glowy and radiant woman and plead for the secrets to their literal skincare brilliance, you\u2019re likely to hear a few of the same responses over and over again. Sunscreen, of course. Lots of water, leafy greens, and sleep, mais oui. And always, always retinol. The brand, percentage strength, and frequency are never the same, but retinol seems to be the secret for all of your skincare heroes. <\/p>\n
\u201cRetinol is hands-down my favorite ingredient for the skin,\u201d says celebrity esthetician and founder of her eponymous skincare brand, Shani Darden<\/a>. You\u2019re likely to hear that sentiment enthusiastically mimicked in every spa, esthetician and dermatologist office, too. <\/p>\n
Hey, what is retinol anyway? <\/strong><\/p>\n
Retinol gets all the fame and exaltation, but it\u2019s actually just a type of retinoid, and all retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. \u201cRetinoids is the catch-all term for creams that contain vitamin A derivatives,\u201d says Dr. Morgan Rabach, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of LM Medical<\/a>. Retinoids seem ingrained into our lives, but they\u2019re a fairly recent discovery: They were first uncovered at the start of the 20th century, but it wasn\u2019t until mid-century that it was able to be made into a product. And (shockingly) it\u2019s not until 1984 that retinoids are made available in over-the-counter skincare products. <\/p>\n
Aren\u2019t there a lot of different types of retinol? <\/strong><\/p>\n
How does retinol even work? <\/strong><\/p>\n
No matter which version of retinoids you select, it all works the same way\u2013the stronger versions will just achieve results much quicker (with much more potential side effects). Retinoids are so beloved because they work, and the reason retinoids work so darn well is science. \u201cIt works because our skin is literally designed to work with retinol,\u201d says famed natural skincare pioneer Marie Veronique<\/a>. \u201cOur body is biologically set up to take the messages and information that retinoic acid gives to the cells,\u201d says Veronique. \u201cAnd as long as it’s got all the necessary elements there to do what it directs, it will do it.\u201d <\/p>\n
What retinoids accomplish on the cellular level is pretty extraordinary: An increase and speed up of cell turnover in the skin, so healthy new skin is pushed to the surface faster. \u201cIt puts your cells on a treadmill increasing cell turnover (something that slows down in our inevitable march towards\u2026 getting older) and increases collagen production, thickening your dermis and smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles\u2026 aka holy grail,\u201d says Charlotte Palermino<\/a>, co-founder of Nice Paper<\/a> and CEO of soon-to-be-launched skincare brand Dieux<\/a> (and known on Instagram for her science-based skincare advice and no-BS reviews). <\/p>\n
More importantly, what can it do for my skin? <\/strong><\/p>\n
The better question is, \u2018What can\u2019t it do?\u2019 \u201cIt can exfoliate, stimulate collagen production, increase skin thickness and elasticity, treat acne and breakouts, and target fine lines and wrinkles,\u201d says New York-based medical esthetician Sofie Pavitt<\/a>. <\/p>\n
Whoa, and it can do all that immediately? <\/strong><\/p>\n
Oh, no, not immediately\u2013no immediate results whatsoever. You\u2019ll have to be in it for the long haul with retinoids. \u201cThere is no immediate gratification when using a retinol product (even the prescription form) like there is with an acid-based product,\u201d says Renee Rouleau<\/a>, Austin-based esthetician and founder of Renee Rouleau Skin Care. <\/p>\n
Does it have side effects? <\/strong><\/p>\n
Yes\u2013you read that correctly\u2013shockingly, studies have shown<\/a> that over-the-counter retinoids can give you the same impressive results of a prescription, it, as Veronique expressed, will just take longer to achieve those desired effects. <\/p>\n
How do I properly use this so-called \u2018holy grail\u2019 retinoid? <\/strong><\/p>\n
Hi, I\u2019m a retinol beginner. Where should I start?<\/strong> <\/p>\n
Hey, congrats on starting your retinoid journey. <\/p>\n
Hi, I\u2019m a retinol novice. Am I doing it right? <\/strong><\/p>\n
Hey, congrats on continuing your retinoid journey. <\/p>\n
What are the retinol best practices? <\/strong><\/p>\n
When do I use them?<\/strong><\/p>\n
Is it right for everyone? <\/strong><\/p>\n
For Those That Are Acne-Prone<\/strong><\/p>\n
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1 Acne Treatment<\/a>, $13.99<\/p>\n
The Not Actual Retinol Option<\/strong><\/p>\n
Ole Henriksen Glow Cycle Retin-ALT Power Serum<\/a>, $58<\/p>\n
The Clean, But Effective Option <\/strong><\/p>\n
Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum<\/a>, $110<\/p>\n
The Celebrity-Approved Option<\/strong><\/p>\n
Shani Darden Retinol Reform<\/a>, $95<\/p>\n
The Effective, But Not Too Harsh Option<\/strong><\/p>\n
Renee Rouleau Advanced Resurfacing Serum,<\/a> $86.50<\/p>\n
The Strong Version <\/strong><\/p>\n