Retinol (Ingredient Explained + Products)

You should know

What it is

Retinoid

Benefits

Acne

Good for Oily Skin

Brightening

Texture

Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots

Scar Healing

Concerns

Dry Skin

Irritation

Eczema

Explained

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A This anti-aging ingredient has plenty of research to back up its claims.

Unlike AHA's, retinol does not remove the top layer of old and dead skin cells. Instead, it travels directly to the middle layer and gets to work. As an antioxidant, it boosts elastin and collagen production.

This makes retinol effective in removing fine lines, wrinkles, fading dark spots, and enlarged pores.

Retinol is sensitive to breakdown when exposed to sun and air. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent.

Retinol (and retinoids) will also make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Studies show using retinol consistently will make your skin sensitive for up to a month after the last application. Definitely wear SPF after applying retinol!

It is not recommended to use any retinols while pregnant. Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test.

Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.

Read about Tretinoin

People also like: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic Acid

People also dislike: Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Salicylic Acid

Also known as: Vitamin A

Retinol is a rare cosmetic ingredient, with about 2.1% of the products in our database containing it.

What it does:

Skin Conditioning

Everything you need to know about Retinol in skincare

Retinol is one of the most famous skincare ingredient these days. It rose to fame for its science-backed anti-aging benefits. ...

Updated 27 days ago

Community Stats

4165 people from our community have liked or disliked this ingredient.

Users who like it 💖

Often have the following skin types:

Oily Combination

Usually have one or more of the following skin concerns:

Seborrheic Dermatitis • Fine Lines • Wrinkles • Dullness

Users who dislike it 💔

Often have the following skin types:

Sensitive Dry

Usually have one or more of the following skin concerns:

Sensitivity • Dryness • Redness • Dullness

Where it's used

Retinol is most often found as ingredient number 16 within an ingredient list.

Of the 10 products in our database that have a known concentration of Retinol, we've seen concentrations from 0.03% to 3% specified within their ingredient lists.