Luckily for your skin, the secret on retinol is out…
Known as the #1 anti-aging ingredient by dermatologists, this vitamin derivative has long been established as a proven “wonder worker” for smoother, better-looking skin.
Reading: Retinol skin care reviews
in fact, wrinkle creams with this ingredient have been shown in numerous clinical studies to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, shrink pores and rebuild collagen.
Not bad for an ingredient that’s been around for 40 years!
If you use the right retinol wrinkle cream, you can fight the signs of aging and improve your skin better than anything you can buy over the counter.
as anyone who’s used it will tell you, it’s truly amazing…
but as its popularity has grown over the years, so has the number of anti-wrinkle creams, serums, and lotions that contain it.
You can find tons of different retinol creams online, in doctor’s offices, on cosmetic counters in department stores, and even at your local drug store!
how can you tell which one is best for your particular skin?
Hopefully, that’s where we can help you…
Since we’re obsessed with anti-aging skin care, we’ve taken the time to rank and review all of the most popular retinol wrinkle creams on the market.
and unlike most beauty “review” sites, we actually go out and buy the product we’re reviewing, test it thoroughly, and then report the results right here on our site.
You’ll quickly learn which products work, how much they cost, who should be using them, and exactly what’s in them.
in a nutshell: we’ll tell you everything you need to know to find the perfect wrinkle cream for your unique skin!
Click here for our list of the best retinol creams, or read on to learn more about what it can do for your skin.
what is retinol and what can it do for my skin?
Retinol, available in many forms, is a derivative of vitamin A applied topically.
so, it’s just an ingredient found in many anti-wrinkle creams, not a “brand name” or anything.
We’re not going to get too technical here, but your skin takes retinol and turns it into retinoic acid, which is responsible for the many good things it does for your skin.
the stronger prescription version is called a retinoid and was approved by the fda in 1971 as an acne treatment.
after a while of using it for acne, dermatologists began to notice that their patients not only cleared their acne, but also had brighter, smoother, smoother skin with fewer wrinkles.
thus, a new use for retinoids was born; like an anti-aging super ingredient!
and while you can still get prescription retinoids today, most people now prefer the milder, better-tolerated version scientists developed called retinol (which is available without a prescription).
so now that you know a little about retinol, you’re probably wondering why it’s so good and why everyone loves it.
the answer is simple.
Decades of clinical studies have shown that retinol does more for the skin than any other skin care ingredient on the planet.
Firstly, it promotes healthy cell renewal, which is very important for beautiful skin. this is what makes the skin look younger, softer and smoother.
then, it fades pigmentation and reverses signs of sun damage…so age spots, discoloration or blemishes are evened out.
plus, retinol also shrinks pores, which is why it works so well for acne.
and, finally, it stimulates the growth of collagen and reinforces the thickness of the skin, which is essential to keep wrinkles at bay.
with such a long and impressive list of proven benefits, is it any wonder why so many celebrities, models and everyday people swear by it?
Click here to learn more about the differences between anti-wrinkle cream ingredients, such as retinol, tretinoin, glycolic acid, and kojic acid.
who should use retinol and at what age?
Now that you have a better idea of all the great things retinol can do for your skin, you’re probably wondering who this stuff is for?
believe it or not, it’s actually a pretty easy answer.
if you’re in your 20s and have fine lines or wrinkles (or have exposed your skin to a lot of sunlight or tanning beds), then it might be wise to start using a retinol cream.
There really are no downsides to using it, and the sooner you start protecting and renewing your skin, the better!
for everyone else, most dermatologists recommend adding retinol to your antiaging regimen once you turn 30.
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there is a lot of evidence that early use of retinol creams can help delay the appearance of fine lines.
in fact, chicago dermatologist dr. carolyn jacob summed it up nicely by saying, “i recommend retinol to everyone. It’s never too early to start using a retinol product.”
so now that we’ve covered who should use this wonder ingredient, the next question is how long should you use it for?
studies have shown that you can use a retinol cream for a year or more and still see substantial benefit.
in fact, johnson and johnson recently did a study that confirmed this. the researchers concluded that even after one year, retinol continues to work and improves signs of aging.
so what do you do after a year or two of use?
well, many dermatologists suggest using a cream with a higher concentration than what you were using before.
so if you were using a 0.5% retinol wrinkle cream, after a year or two, you can use one that has a 0.75% or 1.0% concentration.
you can see a continuous improvement in your skin with this approach.
Now, before we move on to the next section, we wanted to quickly review who doesn’t want to use retinol.
Those with ultra-sensitive skin may want to start using retinol very slowly, perhaps using a product with a low concentration and applying it only once a week.
Also, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not want to use retinol. in either case, be sure to talk to your doctor or health care professional.
do I need a prescription to use an anti-wrinkle cream that contains retinol?
the short answer is no.
however, as we discussed earlier, there is a stronger version of retinol called a retinoid.
and those require a prescription (these are known as retin retin-a, tazorac, and differin).
so what is the difference between these ingredients?
Prescription retinoids are very concentrated, very strong retinoic acid. and because their molecules are so small and can penetrate all layers of the skin, they can cause a lot of redness and irritation.
in fact, many people don’t tolerate them at all!
On the other hand, the retinol found in anti-wrinkle creams must first be converted to retinoic acid once it is applied to the skin. so it is not active until it begins to interact with your skin.
basically, your cells can “hold” the retinol until they need it (at which point they convert it to retinoic acid).
so what exactly does that mean?
Over-the-counter creams have drastically fewer negative effects like flaking, sun sensitivity, and redness.
however, these creams give you the same beneficial effects as prescription retinoids (it just takes a little longer to see results).
Another advantage of retinol creams compared to prescription retinoids is that newer technologies, such as microencapsulation, allow manufacturers to add other ingredients to enhance the effects of retinol.
so that sums up the balance between prescription and over-the-counter retinol use.
prescription works faster but can have significant side effects. without a prescription it works slower but has minimal negative effects.
In our opinion (and the opinion of most dermatologists), both ways work equally well to improve skin!
for more information on prescription retinol, see our article, “what is retinol and are there non-prescription alternatives?”.
is it okay to use retinol around and under the eyes?
as long as it doesn’t go directly in your eye (duh), then yes.
in fact, studies show that people who apply retinol all the way to their eyes tend to get the best results.
and, if you think about it, it’s usually where a lot of people need it the most (because the skin is so thin there).
crow’s feet and wrinkles under the eyes are very common in almost everyone on the planet.
for these areas, you have two options…
First, you can apply your anti-wrinkle night cream up to the eyes and elsewhere on the face.
or second, you could use a special eye cream that contains retinol as one of the ingredients.
we’ve seen it work great both ways!
is it safe?
we can say with confidence that it is absolutely safe!
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just make sure you use it correctly (at night) and not overdo it, especially if you go the prescription route.
Retinol has been around in both prescription and over-the-counter form for over 40 years. it has been used by literally millions of people in one form or another during that time.
and unlike most anti-aging ingredients, retinol has been extensively studied in clinical trials for both efficacy and safety. so there’s not much to worry about here.
most safety concerns are based on the prescription form, which can be irritating and cause redness, scaling, and tenderness.
the good news is, for those who do experience any of that, the skin usually adjusts to retinoic acid within 2-3 weeks.
For those who use over-the-counter wrinkle creams with retinol, these side effects are mostly a thing of the past.
especially if you start using it gradually as we recommend in our tutorial on how to use retinol.
of course, if you have any questions, talk to your doctor or dermatologist 🙂
what do dermatologists and celebrity skincare gurus have to say?
You probably already know how great we think retinol is as an “all-purpose” antiaging ingredient.
When it comes to speeding up cell turnover, reducing wrinkles, shrinking pores, reversing sun damage, and fading pigmentation, there’s nothing better than retinol!
but instead of just taking our word for it, here’s what some celebrity dermatologists and skincare gurus have to say about this little anti-aging miracle:
kate somerville, beauty guru to stars like julia louis-dreyfus and debra messing says:
“I think one of the most effective ways to stimulate the skin is through topical ingredients like retinol. It’s amazing, it can transform your life.”
dr. dennis gross, dermatologist and surgeon from new york simply says:
“retinol is unique and brilliant.”
dr. harold lancer, beverly hills dermatologist to celebrities including beyonce and victoria beckham said:
“Retinol is a key ingredient for skin renewal.”
and oprah.com said the following:
“Lotions or creams that contain retinol are the best option to make your skin look younger.”
finally, dr. oz recently said this on one of his shows:
“Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, can stimulate collagen production, which firms the skin and increases elasticity.”
When a doctor or person says something great about an anti-aging ingredient, it may or may not mean something.
but when virtually every dermatologist, esthetician and skin care expert in the world says so, it’s time to take notice!
so what are the best retinol creams available?
This is the part you’ve been waiting for and why you probably came to this site!
we all know how good retinol is for the skin…
but now I’m sure you’re wondering which retinol products work best.
since each “skin” cream has different strengths, ingredients, and delivery systems, there can be a lot of variation in its effectiveness.
but don’t worry…
We’ve got you covered with our constantly updated ranking and reviews of just about every retinol product out there.
once we buy one, we’ll go through it thoroughly and let you know how well it worked, how it felt, and if there was any odor.
We’ll look at the ingredients, see how long it takes to get results, and report any side effects.
later we’ll see where you can buy it, how much it costs and if it’s worth the money.
once we’ve completed our review, we’ll post a video and blog post right here on this blog.
and, of course, we will regularly update our ranking of the 10 best anti-wrinkle creams.
we do all the work (and spend a lot of money) so you don’t have to!
so check out our ranking of the best retinol creams and get ready for beautiful, younger-looking skin!
sincerely, jessica and staff
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