What is Retinol and Can it Benefit All Skin Types?

Whether wrinkles, loss of firmness, uneven skin tone, clogged pores, or red and darkened flaws are your concerns, retinol can make all the difference in the world when it comes to skincare. Regardless of your age or skin type, retinol is a superstar ingredient for your skin. But what does retinol do? How does it work? With this easy-to-understand guide, we'll walk you through everything you would need to know before shopping for any retinol product.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is another name for vitamin A. There are many derivatives of vitamin A, but retinol is the proper term for vitamin A in its purest form. Vitamin A has a fascinating impact on the skin’s surface because it can help to make skin appear younger looking.

When your skin is affected by environmental assault (e.g., air pollution) or you have signs of ageing, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, or bumpy skin, the use of retinol in such instances will be useful as it seems to intuitively know what your skin needs to minimise those concerns.

In short, there are a lot of things about your skin’s appearance that can improve when you use retinol to boost your skincare routine.

How to use Retinol on Your Skin

Once retinol has been applied to your skin as part of your skincare routine, it helps to normalise your skin’s look and feel by working in tandem with other tried and tested ingredients that are proven to visibly diminish numerous skincare concerns.

Retinol also helps promote a firmer and healthier looking skin, and naturally addresses concerns like dullness and rough texture. With retinol, you’ll see a renewed, younger-looking, radiant, remarkably smoother, and noticeably firmer skin.

Retinol’s Benefits

When you start using a product containing an appropriate amount of retinol for your skin type, you will love what it does to your skin because of the marked improvements that come from using this ingredient. The reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improved elasticity, as well as a more even skin tone are some of the benefits you'll reap.

However, it is important to support your use of retinol with other products that help increase its effectiveness. Using a broad-spectrum sunscreen is always critical. Even the most effective, research-proven anti-ageing ingredients like retinol won’t work as they should if you are not diligent about daily sun protection.

It is also important to remember that even though vitamin A is a superstar anti-ageing ingredient for skin, one special ingredient is NEVER enough when it comes to skincare.

This is why all Paula’s Choice formulas contain other vitally important skincare ingredients to help rejuvenate and sustain your skin’s smooth appearance. These include antioxidants, as well as skin-replenishing and skin-restoring ingredients.

Do note, when it comes to retinol products, packaging matters. Retinol is a potent yet delicate ingredient, and readily breaks down if it is routinely exposed to light and air. For these reasons, avoid retinol products that are packaged in jars or clear containers.

Learn more about the best retinol for your skin type..

Shop for highly effective retinol products on Paula’s Choice Singapore website today.

References for this information

Clinical Interventions in Aging, December 2006, pages 327-348
Archives of Dermatology, December 2006, pages 606-612
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2008, pages 369-381
Cosmetic Science, July-August 2006, pages 261-277
Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, May 2012, pages 32-40
Molecules, February 2012, pages 2219–2230