Retinol Skincare Products | CeraVe (2024)

FAQs

What is retinol good for in skincare? ›

What does retinol do for your skin? Retinol increases skin cell production (proliferation). It helps unclog pores. Retinol also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your skin a fresher, plump appearance.

At what age is it recommended to start using retinol? There are no set rules on how old you should be to use retinol. For anti-aging purposes, you can start to use it in your 20s as a preventive step. If you're using it for mild acne, you can use it even younger.

Moderate-strength retinol – 0.03% to 0.3%

If you experience skin concerns like uneven skin tone or texture and a visible loss of firmness, try adding a stronger product to your routine: around 0.2% retinol is ideal. Start by using it for two or three nights every week, then build usage to see how your skin responds.

He recommends starting with no more than every other day for the first 2 weeks. If, after the first 2 weeks, you don't see any side effects, he says you may want to move up to “2 nights on, and 1 night off.” After a month or so with no side effects, you can likely use it every day if you want.

Retinoids, including retinol, aren't recommended if you're pregnant or nursing. You'll also want to proceed with caution if you have: sensitive or dry skin.

Retinol helps fade hyperpigmentation by making dead skin cells shed faster and encouraging new skin cell growth (a.k.a the darker stained skin cells of freckles, age spots, acne scars, etc. come off and reveal newer, brighter, more even skin cells underneath).

Retinol Can Have Side Effects

Among the most common are dryness, peeling, redness, and discomfort. Usually, these retinol side effects are temporary and resolve once your skin gets used to the retinol product you're using (this phenomenon even has its own name: the retinization period).

In animal sources, vitamin A is found as retinol, the 'active' form of vitamin A. Liver, including fish liver, is a very good source. Other animal sources are egg yolk (not the white) and dairy products such as milk (including human breast milk), cheese and butter.

If you find your skin feeling softer, with reduced rough patches or uneven tone, it's a sign that retinol is positively impacting your skin's texture. Increased Radiance and Glow: A healthy glow is a universal sign of vibrant skin.

The answer is a resounding YES! The combination of Vitamin C and Retinol in a skincare regimen can help you achieve glowing, healthy-looking skin, while improving the look of dark spots and uneven skin tone, as well as visibly improving signs of skin aging including fine lines, wrinkles and loss of firmness.

What happens if I stop retinol? ›

For some people, stopping retinol abruptly may not lead to serious changes, but it's always best to consult a dermatology provider to determine the most suitable approach based on your specific circ*mstances. However, there is a chance your more obvious signs of aging may return after discontinuing retinol.

The good news is that it is never too late to start incorporating retinol into your skin care routine.

Retinol 1% is the strongest retinol and it is available without a prescription. The strongest prescription strength retinoid is tazarotene 0.1% gel.

Tretinoin is considered a far superior alternative to retinol for those seeking to address acne breakouts, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, lighten dark patches, or smooth rough skin texture. A lot of scientific evidence supports this.

Tazarotene is a third generation retinoid which is considered the strongest topical retinoid available on the market. Tazarotene is also available in higher concentrations than tretinoin which may be particularly useful in cases of severe photoaging or acne, but it will also be more irritating.