Does retinol make your skin age faster?

Author: Raphael Turner IV  |  Last update: Monday, November 10, 2025

Retinol has many skin-clearing and antiaging benefits. Retinol increases the thickness and elasticity of your skin, slows the production of melanin, reduces inflammation and prevents clogged pores.

Why does my skin look older after retinol?

This is because retinol increases skin cell turnover causing dryness, peeling, and irritation of the skin. These effects may have a layering or texturizing impact that causes the skin to appear fine-lined and wrinkled, creepy, or aged in appearance temporarily. Why Does This Happen?

What are the downsides of retinol?

Retinol Can Have Side Effects

Among the most common are dryness, peeling, redness, and discomfort. Usually, these retinol side effects are temporary and resolve once your skin gets used to the retinol product you're using (this phenomenon even has its own name: the retinization period).

Does retinol bring out age spots?

Retinoids minimize the appearance of wrinkles, bolster skin's thickness and elasticity, slow the breakdown of collagen (which helps keep skin firm), and lighten brown spots caused by sun exposure.

Should you use retinol forever?

Do you have to use retinol forever once you start? If you are using it correctly, where you are balancing getting an effect with minimizing irritation and dryness, then there is really no reason to stop (with the exception of during pregnancy).

I Tried To Make My Face Younger

What happens when you stop retinol?

Potential for Skin Dryness: Retinol users often experience dryness, flakiness, or peeling as a common side effect. Upon cessation of retinol, your skin may undergo a period of adjustment, leading to temporary dryness or irritation.

Is vitamin C serum better than retinol?

If you want to target wrinkles, uneven texture, or acne, retinol is your best bet. If you're looking for brighter skin and protection from environmental damage, vitamin C is the way to go.

At what age should I use retinol?

As you enter your mid- to late 20s, your skin's natural cell turnover begins to slow down, which is when early signs of aging may start to appear. This is an ideal time to introduce retinol into your skincare routine, even if you're not yet seeing visible signs of aging.

What vitamin will get rid of age spots?

Three of the best vitamins for lightening dark spots are vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Vitamin C helps your skin produce more collagen while inhibiting the formation of melanin. Vitamin B12 also promotes collagen formation while supporting the growth of new skin cells.

What is the retinol purge?

Retinol purging is a temporary reaction where increased cell turnover brings underlying impurities to the surface, leading to breakouts, dryness, and irritation. Symptoms include flaking, redness, and rough texture. Although unsettling, this phase indicates that retinol is working to renew your skin.

Why is retinol not recommended?

Retinol might not be a fit for those with overly sensitive or hypersensitive skin, those who have food intolerances or high allergic reactions, and young skin, she says. “Caution is necessary when using any vitamin A derivatives and should only be used after advice from your derm or skin care specialist,” Joss says.

What is the best moisturizer for aging skin?

SkinCeuticals' Triple Lipid Restore is our top pick because it absorbs well and promises deep hydration while providing skin a youthful glow. Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream is a close second because it can moisturize and plump skin intensely. Aging is a beautiful thing, but change isn't always easy.

What are the retinol uglies?

The Retinol Uglies: Fact vs Myths. Retinol can benefit skin in a myriad of ways. Often implemented into routines for anti-ageing and skin clearing, its potency can sometimes cause side effects in the short term. Termed 'retinol uglies', the skin shedding function of this ingredient results in sensitivity for many users ...

Does retinol speed up Ageing?

Retinol has many skin-clearing and antiaging benefits. Retinol increases the thickness and elasticity of your skin, slows the production of melanin, reduces inflammation and prevents clogged pores.

Why is retinol causing more wrinkles?

The Wrinkle Worsening Myth

Here's the tea: Retinol does NOT make your wrinkles worse. But (and it's a big but), it can sometimes make your skin look worse before it gets better. When you first start using retinol, it's literally speeding up the process of cell turnover.

Does apple cider vinegar really get rid of age spots?

There's also evidence that it may help manage dry skin, acne, and age spots, among other conditions. ACV is generally safe to use, but it does come with a risk of irritation or worsening skin symptoms, especially for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions.

Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12?

There are ten major sources of vitamin B12 fruits. These are apples, bananas, oranges, mangoes, strawberries, guava, avocado, pomegranate, kiwi, and blueberries. Apples- Apples rank first in the vitamin B12 fruits list.

Is 50 too old to start retinol?

How to start using retinol in your 50s – and beyond! As we said, it's never too late to start using retinol. You can even extend using retinol down your neck, too. This area of your body is just as delicate and can often show your age even more than your face because we take care of it far less.

What does retinol burn look like?

The skin goes red, inflamed, and peeling because retinol has chemically burned away the upper layer of skin, the new exposed skin has not had enough time to build up its natural protection film to UV light and pollutants that a good UV moisturising oil can help with and reduce the exposure to skin cancer risk, ...

What is better, hyaluronic acid or retinol?

Indeed, retinol is excellent for treating acne and imperfections, while hyaluronic acid is ideal for dehydrated skin. And it is also possible to combine them in your beauty routine to benefit from their full effectiveness. This moisturizing cream, to be used daily, has many advantages!

Why don t you mix vitamin C with retinol?

15% Vitamin C + EGF Serum is an antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental pollutants, whereas Retinol Serum rebuilds the skin. Essentially, this means that using both simultaneously would cancel each other out.

Should you put moisturizer or retinol first?

It's important to always start with clean, dry skin to make the most out of using retinol. Retinol penetrates the skin better and is more effective when applied after gently cleansing the skin with a mild face wash and toning it but before any moisturizer, since it acts as a treatment.

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