Here's All You Need To Know About The Magical Anti-Ageing Ingredient Retinol

By Samprita on 21 Feb 2023

Senior Digital Editor

Retinol is a magical potion that maintains your youth by turning the clock in reverse for your skin. Retinol is all that and so much more! But even with the increasing hype about the ingredient, many of us aren't aware of how we should include it in our skincare routine or its benefits for the skin. So here's a breakdown on retinol so you can finally decide if you wish to add it to your skincare regimen or pass!

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a type of retinoid which is a by-product of Vitamin A. The ingredient specialises in anti-ageing and is found in a variety of skincare products. Retinol is an antioxidant wherein once the retinoids are converted to the active form, retinoic acid, they get absorbed deep into your skin to impact how they act.

Using a well-formulated product with retinol will visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, acne and sun damage. It also works in stimulating your skin cells and further the production of collagen. It also helps in resurfacing the skin's texture for a smoother and even-toned look & GURLLL can we ask for more? This is like magic!

How to include Retinol in your skincare vanity?

There are very specific steps that you should follow if you wish to include retinol in your skincare routine.

Step 1: Do a patch test on your wrist. Let the product absorb into your skin and observe it for about 24 hours. Now if you get any rashes/ irritation - leave the product then & there but if it feels fine then it is time for a second patch test.

Step 2: Apply the product near your neck and put it under observation for 24 hours again, if it feels okay to you again then it's time.

Step 3: Choose a product of your choice - serum or moisturiser with a lower concentration of retinol that doesn't irritate your skin.

Step 4: It is ideal to use retinol at bedtime and a pea-size amount should be good for application. Expect a little bit of dryness the next morning and if you do not feel any dryness, you can increase the quantity of retinol being used. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to protect the area around your mouth and eyes with some vaseline.

Retinol by itself can cause some irritation and redness to the skin or in the worst-case scenario a burn. Yes, you read it right! So, it's important to follow the right steps in order to squeeze out its benefits in the best way possible. Creating a retinol sandwich is a quick method to ease the discomfort (dry and flaky skin during the initial retinol application). This requires sandwiching your retinol between two layers of moisturisers.

On your damp & clean face, first, apply a generous layer of moisturiser and then apply retinol on top of it. After this, seal the product with another top layer of moisturiser. This step will fight the possible dryness and any irritation during the initial phase. The moisturiser acts as a barrier between the skin and retinol and still allows it to soak the benefits.

Something you should never skip after using retinol is sunscreen. Using retinol with sun exposure can aggravate redness, pigmentation or chemical burns. So it is a must to include sunscreen daily in your morning routine.