Retinol Might Just Be The Skincare Saviour You’ve Been Looking For

Should I say those two magic words?

Anti-ageing!

Doesn’t everything feel better now? Every time we read these two words, we can’t help ourselves. We have got to have it. It doesn’t matter how expensive it is, doesn’t make a difference if we need it or not. We want it. Pure, carnal desire. Nothing else matters. We can’t see logic, we don’t care about facts.

If anything promises to be anti-ageing, we’re going to have it. Be it a cream, a treatment or an edible. Such is our desperation to stop our biological clocks from ticking, or at least our hopes to make it go back in time. We may or may not have liked how we were at 25 but we’re willing to spend a good amount of money to make sure we can forever look like how we did at that age. Is it plausible? We don’t want to know. We just want to live in the hope that it can happen, and we’re going to make it so. We’ll do whatever it takes.

But you can’t stop time. You can’t stop aging. The only sure shot anti-ageing product is death. Morbid, yes, but factually correct. If you’re alive, you’ll age. Every second, minute, hour and day. From the time you’re born to your dying breath.

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Don’t let me break your bubble. I’m not a skincare writer for nothing – I too have pursued all possible means, not to mention written about them in detail. I’m forever buying and trying the newest skincare products in the market in the hopes of finding that magic potion. I’m no better than you, nor do I want to be. If there’s anything anti-ageing or at least somewhat anti-ageing, I’m getting it.

Speaking of somewhat anti-ageing, let’s get to the topic, shall we?

The word is retinol, and it’s the one scientifically proven skincare component that’s actually effective in making your skin look ‘younger’, as in reduce the appearance of age-related lines and wrinkles. It won’t make your skin younger, nor will it stop it from ageing. But it’ll make your skin look and feel better and help reduce signs of ageing. If it sounds like a dream, it absolutely is but one that actually comes true.

What is Retinol?

In simple terms, while being a part of the Retinoid family (which you don’t need to much about at this point), it’s a derivative of Vitamin A and an easier-on-the-skin (comparatively) ingredient that can help your skin.

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What retinoids do is majorly work towards amping your skin turnover which allows for your skin to better fight any damage it’s facing be it age-related or otherwise. For instance, retinol was first introduced as a powerful solution to treat acne and only later, after a million studies, did it come to be recognised for its anti-ageing properties.

Benefits of Retinol

Here are some reasons why retinol is fabulous:

It reduces fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation
Boosts collagen production and smoothens its breakdown process
Diminishes stubborn dark patches
Treats acne, boils and pimples
Combats uneven skin texture
Prevents clogged pores

How to use Retinol

Firstly, start slow. For absolute retinol beginners, don’t use it more than twice a week for the first couple of months. This is because some people feel a slight irritation or breakouts when using retinol for the first few times, which goes away after repeated use. Also, since retinol is a powerful ingredient, don’t use anything more than 0.25 to 0.5 in strength, at first. Build it up in your routine over time, but only if you need to.

Esquire tip:

Use retinol only at night and do not forget to use sunscreen the next day as retinol tends to make your skin photosensitive to the Sun’s UV rays in some cases. Though you should be using sunscreen every day, in any case.