Retinol is undoubtedly a gold standard ingredient when it comes to encouraging youthful, healthy and plump skin. It’s why finding the best retinol serum can be such a game-changer for your skincare routine. However, narrowing down the right one for you can be tricky, since the active (which is also known as vitamin A) can sometimes cause irritation, dryness and flakiness if it’s used incorrectly or isn’t right for you.
Once you’ve managed that, when used consistently, the best retinol serums and creams can change the quality and texture of the skin in a way that few other ingredients can – from increasing cell turnover to stimulating production. Here, Dija Ayodele, aesthetician and founder of West Room Aesthetics and the Black Skin Directory, answers all of your most pressing retinol-related questions, from the ideal amount of retinol to apply to the most effective ingredients to layer it with. Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is applied topically to the skin.
“Retinol is a long-term game-changer for the skin,” says Ayodele. “Our skin cells are much better at interacting with it than many other ingredients. Retinol stimulates collagen, helping to keep the scaffolding under the skin firm, while smoothing lines and wrinkles in the process.
It refines the skin by speeding up the normal exfoliation process, giving clarity, smoothness and a much more even-toned complexion. It also stimulates the internal in the skin, keeping skin moisturised, hydrated, plump and.