Skin care
Why You Need a Daytime Retinol NowThe latest crop of retinol products don't fight wrinkles and discoloration while you sleep -- they do it during the day. Find out how to use retinol, and why you should |
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Things we hate about retinols: the red, lizard-like skin you get for the first six to eight weeks when you're using one; having to be maniacal about sunscreen; and only being able to use them at night.
If retinols were a boyfriend, we'd be bitching to our friends about how hot-yet-annoying he is.
Which is why we were downright giddy when we found out there are now daytime retinols (yes, you read correctly) on the market. And dermatologists are calling them a game changer. Throw out everything you thought you knew about how to use retinols. With these new products, you can get all of the benefits of every dermatologist's favorite skin care ingredient, morning and night, without your skin peeling off your face.
Skip ahead to see the best new daytime retinol products.
Skeptical? So were we. But here�s the deal: The old retinols would bombard your skin with retinoic acid, which drastically increased cell turnover. That sloughing off of old cells eventually makes your skin look baby-butt soft and new -- but it causes peeling and redness until your skin gets used to it, which can be six weeks or never (depending on how sensitive your skin is). The new, over-the-counter retinols are delivered gradually; they're absorbed by your cells and converted to retinoic acid over the course of many hours, says New York City dermatologist Dennis Gross, MD. You still get the turnover, but it's more controlled -- that's what makes them safe to use during the day. Plus, the new retinols also come mixed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, sunscreen, and moisturizers -- so they're even less irritating than they were before.
While the combination of retinols with every other ingredient you could possibly want sounds like the Holy Grail of skin care, there's a catch: You still have to be careful about SPF.
"It doesn't matter if you use them at night or during the day," says Miami dermatologist Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD. "Retinols change your skin in a way that makes it more sensitive to the sun." And here's where the marketing hype comes in: The fact that some of these daytime retinols contain SPF doesn't mean anything -- you should still apply more sunscreen on top.
There aren't a ton of daytime retinols on the market -- yet. But here are the ones we're most exited about, and how to figure out which one might be your new go-to.
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Older comments
I love the Philosophy night time Help Me. I use glycolic during the day.
by ccounts282 Friday, April 19, 2013 at 06:16PM Report as inappropriate
Great suggestions for retinol-based products. I am dying to try the Dr. Dennis Gross one!
by HeathRene Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at 04:25PM Report as inappropriate
i love anything philosophy!! i can not live without the "when hope is not enough serum"
by mscharliw Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 02:27PM Report as inappropriate
Having a problem with retinol and acne. Claims to help with acne, I don't see it happening yet.
by EricaC123 Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 02:50PM Report as inappropriate
I use Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair eyecream. I think it has made a difference, but it does not have enough moisturizer in it at all. The skin underneath where I apply the cream looks terrible- really, really lined. (I'm 49.)
by AshlingMerritt Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 06:06PM Report as inappropriate
very interesting!
by Chris213 Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 07:42PM Report as inappropriate
I'm not a big retinoid fan. Philosophy products have great scents, finishes, and packaging, but do not seem to work. At all. :(
by robyne00 Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at 05:59PM Report as inappropriate
I TRY THE RETINOID'S BUT THEY BREAK MY SKIN OUT EVERYTIME.
by Tlee Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 10:10PM Report as inappropriate
So expensive :(
by muellsrus Monday, September 10, 2012 at 05:30PM Report as inappropriate
You CAN'T use retinol during the day. Retinol replaces old skin cells, leaving your face vulnerable to an attack on the new cells, even with sunscreen protection, which can even make the situation worse. Please don't use retinol during the day. Use it at night, as prescribed by dermatologists!
by CaroleVonAllten Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 08:14AM Report as inappropriate