Retinol cream is often touted as a miracle skin care ingredient. But along with the good stories come plenty of bad ones. Some say retinol ruins their skin, leaving people too scared to try it. Can retinol cream transform your skin care regimen for the better? Or does retinol actually have the ability to damage your complexion?
Most skincare experts have heard of retinol, but very few people truly understand what it actually does. Retinol is one of many members of the retinoid family. Retinoids, compounds derived from vitamin A often come in a variety of different forms. The good news practically guarantees a perfect retinoid out there for you.
Read on to learn more about retinol cream and its benefits to your skin.
What is Retinol Cream?
Retinol is a form of vitamin A, commonly used to reduce wrinkles and treat acne. It is one of the many types of retinoids, an umbrella term used for all vitamin A derivatives. Retinol cream is one such product.
Retinoids come in a variety of strengths. Hence they are known by different names, but Retinol cream is the most common type. Note that retinol is weaker than most retinoids, and you can find it in many over-the-counter products like creams and retinol serum. These products are readily accessible and do not need a prescription for use, unlike other potent forms of retinoids.
How Does Retinol Cream Work?
Retinol works by triggering your skin cells of the outermost layer of the skin to turn over faster so that it can generate new skin cells. This process results in smoother and more even-looking skin.
Additionally, retinol cream increases the production of natural chemicals like hyaluronic acid when applied to your skin. These chemicals help to keep the skin plump and moist. Retinol can also boost collagen production and prevent the collagen breakdown that already exists.
Also, note that the retinol does not become biologically active until it is transformed into retinoic acid inside the skin.
Benefits of Retinol Cream
Here is what you need to know about how retinol works and the benefits it can have for your skin.
1 Improves the appearance of acne
According to research, clinical data from thousands of people shows that retinol and even retinol are highly effective in treating both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne. It was proven to reduce the visibility of pimples on your skin. Moreover, it can also stop the development of new pimples and acne blemishes.
One significant way retinol cream can improve the appearance of acne is by encouraging cell turnover. Acne often develops on your skin when a combination of dead skin cells and oil collects inside the hair follicles. With retinol, those cells are shed and replaced more quickly.
The cream can also decrease oil production in these cells by binding to the specific receptors for retinol within the cells of the skin. If your skin has decreased oil production, it will prevent oil from blocking your pores and help to prevent acne.
To ensure you clear up your acne and keep it clear, your dermatologist will usually recommend three months of use to get optimal results.
2. It is an anti-aging treatment
Retinol cream works as an anti-aging treatment in three significant ways. Retinol reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, helps with sun damage, and gets rid of dark spots.
Collagen is a protein made by the human body that keeps the skin looking smooth. A decrease in collagen production causes wrinkles. Retinol works wonders in reducing the appearance of these fine lines and wrinkles by boosting blood flow to the skin.
Retinol also helps with sun damage and dark spots as it encourages skin cell turnover. As a result, it allows you to shed discolored skin cells. But retinol cream also makes you more susceptible to sun damage. This is the reason why retinol products should only be used at night. Alongside you should use a broad spectrum of sunscreen each morning, even when you are indoors.
According to a 2000 study published in the journal, researchers studied the effect of applying retinol on aged skin in more than 53 participants aged 80 or above.
They observed that retinol application for seven days led to a reduction in the breakdown of collagen. Moreover, there was also an increase in collagen production. They concluded that retinol cream could be used as an effective anti-aging treatment.
If you are using retinol cream for its anti-aging properties, continuous use is encouraged. To treat anti-aging issues, retinol use should be a continual process. Retinol can extensively help with sunspots, wrinkles, and fine lines.
But it is something you want to continue using for years. Probably because you want to stay on top of an anti-aging regime. Note that it might take three to six months of regular use to see any noticeable improvement in your wrinkles.
3. Brightens dull skin
Retinol cream can also help to brighten dull skin. Dull skin can be caused by several factors, including pregnancy, sun damage, and stress. Poor lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking alcohol in excess could also be a factor. Environmental pollution also plays a vital role in giving your skin a dull look.
Retinol in the retinol cream works by calming down the skin cells that produce melanin, a dark pigment. These cells are primarily responsible for skin conditions like melasma, which causes discoloration of your skin. Retinol makes these skin cells turn over, making the skin healthier, smoother, and looks brighter.
A 2016 study studied the effect of a product that contained 0.5% retinol on people with mild to moderate hyperpigmentation. By week 4, participants showed a significant improvement in their hyperpigmentation. Researchers confirmed that the retinol product worked well for skin brightening. Especially when they used the product with a complimentary skincare routine that included sunscreen.
4 Retinol Can Help Even Skin Tone
One of the many benefits of retinol cream is that it stimulates skin cell turnover. It is a kind of skin exfoliating effect. Your dry and dull skin will make way for brighter, new, and more even-toned skin.
A skin armed with increased levels of elastin and collagen. The thicker skin is smoother and stronger and has fewer overall imperfections. Therefore you will have relatively “problem-free” skin that can have radiating effects from retinol.
With the use of the cream, your skin increases the collagen production. This naturally helps to improve the appearance of your wrinkles by thickening the inner layer of the skin.
5 Retinol Is Cost-Effective
Many see retinol creams as expensive that they cannot afford. However, spending on cheaper, short-term solutions might ultimately prove the pricier option in the end. Therefore retinol cream is one of the only ingredients with scientifically-proven benefits. So make it a reliable investment for your future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 Why Choose Retinol Cream?
Retinol is one of the most common types of retinoids readily available over-the-counter in the form of retinol cream. Even beginners can try the product, less concentrated ones.
Note that you may end up with irritated, red, and peeling skin with too much retinol. If you use it with precaution, retinol has the potential to be one of the best preventative and proactive solutions for your skin, no matter your age.
2 Is Retinol Cream Dangerous?
Many people are warned by retinol because it has long been associated with peeling, harsh, flaky skin. In reality, retinol cream is a well-researched ingredient, and it has established credibility in the medical community.
Experts believe that there are no long-term adverse effects from retinol use. However, there could be some side effects that some may consider unpleasant. But you can manage them easily with proper preparation.
3 What Are the Side Effects of Retinol?
It is a common misconception that retinol products thin the skin. However, this is not true. Because retinol stimulates collagen production. Hence your skin will actually thicken and become stronger once you add it to your routine. Other common visible side effects include skin dryness. However, you can easily manage this symptom with a diligent moisturizing routine.
4 When Will Retinol Cream Start Working?
Many people often ask how long they can see the result. The results solely depend on a variety of factors. It depends on your skin type, the product’s dosage, and how much product you use. In general, you can expect to see the benefits of retinol cream after about twelve weeks of consistent use. Never assume that more is better, as it might lead to disastrous results. Your best is to build up a tolerance.
Start slow with little and work your way up. On the contrary, using a retinoid product that is too strong might bring about more annoying and unnecessary side effects.
5 How Does Retinol Keep You Looking Young?
Retinol cream is a member of the retinoid family. Retinol actually neutralizes any free radicals that may be causing collagen damage in your skin. Your body will naturally begin to produce less collagen as you grow older. Retinol can help preserve your collagen stores by stimulating new collagen production.
Thus thickening the layer of your skin where wrinkles form. Thus your existing wrinkles and fine lines might appear to be smoothed over. As new collagen production starts, it will prevent new wrinkles from forming.
Takeaway
Retinol cream has many skincare benefits. However, it can be drying and irritating for some with sensitive skin. In such a case you should start with a product with a low concentration of retinol and use it only once or twice a week.
Once your skin grows more tolerant, you can up the frequency you were using it. Then you can try out products with a higher concentration of retinol. A product with guaranteed, proven results!
