In the skincare world, there are few ingredients as powerful as retinol. With so many products claiming to help improve skin health and reduce the appearance of acne breakouts or fine lines and wrinkles, it’s easy to get caught up in the long ingredient lists. With retinol, you won’t have to look any further to achieve glowing skin.
So what exactly is retinol? If you've ever asked yourself, “What does retinol do?”, you are not alone. There are many retinol benefits that are important to be aware of. The professionals at Kate Somerville have put together a foundational guide that delves into what retinol is, the top retinol skin benefits, and additional tips to help improve the appearance of your skin.
What is Retinol?
Retinol is a commonly used ingredient, but many people still do not know exactly what retinol is. At its base level, retinol is a form of Vitamin A. When placed on the skin's surface, it is converted into retinoic acid. This skincare ingredient is available in a wide variety of over-the-counter products. When looking at various products containing retinol, you may also run across the term retinoids. To understand which form and potency of retinoic acid are in the skincare product you are using, you need to start with Retinol 101 - understanding the difference between retinol and retinoids.
The Difference Between Retinol and Retinoids
One nuance that can be confusing when looking at skincare products is the difference between retinol and retinoids. Are they the same thing? Are they different? In fact, retinol and its brand name productions like Retin-A are part of a family of drugs known as retinoids. This group of compounds consists of human-made derivatives of vitamin A. This has a variety of benefits when used on the skin, which include helping to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging.
The primary difference is that over-the-counter products contain a form of retinol in ester forms, which means that they are Vitamin A derivatives. Examples of retinol ester forms include retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate, and retinyl linoleate. When these forms of retinol are placed on the surface of the skin, they must be converted into retinoic acid by the skin in order for the skin to be able to utilize it. The strength of the retinol is based on how many conversions the ester form of retinol takes to get to the retinoic acid form. The more conversions the retinol takes to be converted into retinoic acid that the skin can use, the weaker it is.
Prescription-based retinoids, such as RetinA or Tretinoin, have a much higher concentration of retinoic acid than over-the counter retinol products. The primary difference between retinol and prescription-based retinoids is their potency and the amount of retinoic acid they contain. With continued use of either product, many people see an improvement in their skin, though there is an initial adjustment period to increase tolerance. With this understanding in mind, it is now possible to explore five of the key benefits of retinol.
How Does Retinol Work?
Retinol is a key ingredient in many skincare products because of the significant benefits it delivers the skin. Topical retinol products are useful for many individuals to integrate into their regular skincare routine to help improve the appearance of their skin. Below are the top benefits of applying retinol as a part of your skincare routine.
Improves Skin Fullness
As we age, healthy skin loses some of its natural volume which contributes to the development of wrinkles and a face that looks more hollow than it used to. This decline in volume typically begins in your early to mid-30s so the sooner you start to use retinol products, the more effective they will be. Fortunately, when you apply retinol topically, like with a retinol vitamin C moisturizer, it helps to combat the appearance of wrinkles and hollowness by increasing the skin’s ability to retain moisture. As aging skin becomes more hydrated, your face will appear fuller and the skin smoother.
Exfoliates the Skin
Retinol can also help to exfoliate healthy skin, unclogging pores and sloughing away dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Having clear pores allows other products to penetrate deeper into the skin, making them more effective. The benefits of exfoliation can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by buffing away the surface layers of skin, leaving fresher younger-looking skin exposed. Revealing these new layers of skin also aids in evening your complexion and minimizing the visibility of acne scarring.
Helps Soften Age Spots & Evens Skin Tone
Not only can retinol help to reduce the appearance of acne scars, but it can also aid in visibly softening age spots while addressing uneven skin tone and improving your complexion. You can even use our Retinol Eye Cream to help with the tightening of aging skin. Our Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts report that clinic clients with mild discoloration have seen a noticeable improvement after three to six months of regular use while more severe cases may require up to twelve months of use before you see significant results.
Tips for Using Retinol Products
As shown through the benefits above, retinol is one of the best anti-aging ingredients you can integrate into your skin routine. However, before doing so, it is important to be aware of some key tips for how to apply retinol anti-aging products to ensure that they are as effective as possible and your skin experiences minimal irritation. Below are a few tips to keep in mind when using pure retinol products.
Only use retinol products at night - Because retinol products trigger the skin to remove dead skin cells from the surface of the skin and replace them with newly regenerated skin cells, the skin can be more sensitive to sunlight. To prevent photosensitivity side effects, only use retinol products at night. If you must use retinol in the morning, make sure to apply sunscreen over the top of the product to avoid sun damage, although doing so should already be part of your daily routine skincare steps!
Follow the usage rule of thumb - You may wonder how frequently you should be using retinol products for them to be effective.Regardless of your age, retinol can be an extremely beneficial addition to your skincare routine. Consider starting with products like Retinol Vitamin C Serum or the KateCeuticals Resurfacing Overnight Peel.
Allow your skin type to adjust. Some skin is more sensitive to retinol than others, causing redness and other visible signs of irritation. Make sure you slowly ramp up your usage of retinol products so your skin can become accustomed to their presence. If your goal is to eventually use a retinol product 3 or 4 times per week, start with once or twice weekly before building up your frequency. This will minimize any irritation side effects
Upgrade Your Skincare Routine
At Kate Somerville, we recommend the new Mega-A Skin Transforming Serum to reach your skincare goals. This premium formula features Retinal, an advanced retinoid 11 times more effective than traditional Retinol, proven to smooth, firm, and renew your skin. Impressively, 100% of clinical testers reported feeling more hydrated skin after just four weeks. By integrating this powerful retinal serum into your routine, tailored to your unique skin needs and lifestyle, you're setting the stage for a transformative journey toward renewed, radiant skin.
Looking for more advice to youthful-looking skin? Check out our top anti aging tips for skin!
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