Retinol | What's in your anti-aging products

Retinol gets a lot of love in the over-the-counter anti-aging skincare product world. Retinol itself is a form of vitamin A found in foods and products. When applied to the skin, retinol is actually not active in the skin. It needs to be converted into its active form called retinoic acid by the skin. The ability of our skin to convert retinol into its active form varies from person to person. This can also lead to results that are widely variable between users. Read more...

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Topics

• What is Retinol?

• How does Retinol work?

• What's the deal with retinol and UV exposure? Is it okay to use retinol in the sun or in the summertime?

• When I look up products, I find retinols, retinals, retinoic acid, and more. What do all of these names even mean?

• How does retinol compare to other anti-aging ingredients found over the counter?

• Is it possible to know how active the retinol product I purchase will be?

• What should I do if retinol is too irritating to my skin?

• How often should I apply retinol?

• Which ingredients should not be used with retinol?

• How can I find the best retinol for my skin type?

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Photo: Wix

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What is Retinol?

Retinol gets a lot of love in the over-the-counter anti-aging skincare product world. Retinol itself is a form of vitamin A found in foods and products. It’s naturally occurring. When applied to the skin, retinol is actually not active in the skin. It needs to be converted into its active form called retinoic acid by the skin. The ability of our skin to convert retinol into its active form varies from person to person. This can also lead to results that are widely variable between users.

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RELATED | Dr. Erum Ilyas discusses Retinol with Suggest

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How does Retinol work?

When applied to the skin, the inactive retinol is converted into retinoic acid which is considered an active retinoid. It is the active retinoid that can actually benefit the skin, not the retinol directly.

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RELATED | Dr. Erum Ilyas discusses Retin A with The Greatist

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Retinoids work by targeting specific cell receptors regulating gene expression. They increase the rate of cell turnover. They increase collagen production and decrease the rate at which collagen is broken down.

Retinol (inactive) → Retinoic Acid (active Retinoid)

Retinoids are known to improve fine lines and wrinkles by boosting collagen production in addition to helping to retain water in the skin.

They can actually help reverse the signs of aging that come from sun damage.

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