Often heralded as the be-all end-all for everything from acne to fine lines to sun damage, retinol is something of a hero skincare ingredient. Even so, it can feel intimidating at times, especially since its efficacy can sometimes come with side effects like irritation and increased sun sensitivity. So, is retinol really something to be afraid of?
We chatted with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Estee Williams to ease all of our retinol-related woes and she assured us that there's no reason to be afraid. After all, as she put it, retinol is "available over-the-counter because it is generally very safe and easy to use." She also explained that there are actually no specific safety issues regarding retinol, especially if you're buying it from a reputable brand.
Still a little nervous? "Start low and go slow," advises Williams, "Begin with twice weekly at night for two weeks, then three times weekly at night for two weeks, etc., and eventually every night, if tolerated." She also recommends only using retinol products at night and wearing SPF during the day to offset any of that potential pesky sun sensitivity. You're also going to want to avoid mixing it with other active ingredients like glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, at least until your skin has adjusted.
Essentially, if used correctly, retinol doesn't have to be scary at all. And really, at the end of the day, the benefits far outweigh the (potential) costs: According to Williams, retinol can "aid in skin exfoliation, collagen production, reversing DNA damage and lightening skin discoloration." (If you're counting with us, that's pretty much everything). And because of their myriad benefits, retinol products can be used for everything from acne to stretch marks.
Of course, there are a few very specific instances where Williams says you shouldn't use it — such as during pregnancy and before/after potentially irritating treatments like waxing, threading or chemical peels — but if that doesn't apply to you, we encourage you to go for it.
Want to ease into it? Dip your toe into the pool, as opposed to a full-on cannonball? Read on for some of our favorite gentle retinol products.
Image via Imaxtree
There's a reason this stuff basically went viral: The efficacy of the retinol combined with the soothing and hydrating oil base (hello, blue tansy!) gives this popular retinol product quite the one-two punch.
Famous for making retinol products more widely available in the aisles of your local drugstores, RoC has quite the line-up of products. This particular cream is specially formulated for sensitive skin, so you don't have to worry about irritation.
First Aid Beauty is known for its sensitive skin-safe products and ideology, and this retinol serum is no different. Thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal and ceramides, the formula is very gentle and hydrating — and the 0.25-percent retinol ensures you'll wake up to a brighter, clearer complexion.
Does it get any lovelier than Eve Lom? This ultra-luxurious serum is quite the treat and the encapsulated retinol is gentle yet effective.
