“This is different from traditional retinol because it causes less skin dryness, irritation, and flaking, which makes the product more tolerable.” This technology also creates a more stable product with a prolonged shelf-life, adds Dr. Marie V.
Think retinol is good for your skin? Encapsulated retinol is even better at reversing the signs of ageing. “Encapsulated retinol is more stable and efficacious, having the ease of travelling and targeting the skin cells where it is most beneficial,” explains Hobson.
This milky serum contains 3% retinol in an encapsulated form, which equates to 0.09% of retinol proper, and is gradually released into the skin over the night.
Retinoic Acid. As mentioned earlier, retinoic acid is the most potent form of retinoids. “This is the end point molecule that is biologically active on skin, and is therefore the strongest,” says Dr. Rabach.
The second form of retinol active in Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is a sustained-delivery form of pure retinol. The retinol is encapsulated to improve delivery and performance.
Super Retinol anti-aging hand treatment – Includes 1% encapsulated Retinol and 0.03% pure Retinol. Use as needed, but not more than two or three times a day.
With retinol (or any repairing ingredient for that matter), consistent application is key. It can take around 1-3 months to see visible changes for signs of aging and overall skin clarity, but everyone's skin is different. For better results, make sure you apply ample sunscreen in the AM.
Differin became available over the counter three years ago and is now widely available at drugstores. “It uses the weakest form of a retinoid, but it's still stronger than any over-the-counter retinols,” Saedi says.
Tretinoin (also known as Retin-A, Renova): “This is a prescription topical retinoid. In its mildest forms, it's used for its anti-aging properties.
On average, it takes eight to 24 weeks of treatment for tretinoin to produce noticeable improvements in wrinkles and other signs of aging. One short study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, which used a . 025 percent tretinoin cream, found a “statistically significant improvement” after just 84 days.
“This is different from traditional retinol because it causes less skin dryness, irritation, and flaking, which makes the product more tolerable.” This technology also creates a more stable product with a prolonged shelf-life, adds Dr.
Because they're super exfoliators, they can make skin look and feel red, tender, and sensitive even after using only once or twice. In my experience, they can also cause some light peeling (think eraser-sized bits) and “purging”—AKA breakouts caused by this increase in cell turnover.
Hero Ingredients
Retinol - Retinol helps boost collagen production and aid in cell turnover. This results in more even, smoother skin and helps reduce the appearance of sunspots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Gluconolactone - Exfoliates the dead, dry cells that sit on top of the skin, helping to improve texture and tone.
One of our go-to encapsulated retinol products is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. It provides the traditional retinol benefits, like reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but its hydrating formula doesn't leave the skin feeling dry or irritated.
"For the Olay Retinol24 formulas, we have created unique oil-in-water emulsions in which the retinol is encapsulated inside micro-droplets of an oil blend, which are surrounded by the water-based phase.
“Studies suggest you need to use at least 0.25% retinol or 0.025% tretinoin to be effective, so I recommend using a product that specifies the percentage.” When choosing a retinol product, Dr. Rogers says it's best to start with the lowest concentration before moving up.
Moderate-strength retinol – 0.03% to 0.3%
If you experience skin concerns like uneven skin tone or texture and a visible loss of firmness, try adding a stronger retinol product to your routine such as 0.03% to 0.2% retinol products. Start by using 2-3 nights a week and build usage to see how your skin responds.
For the purposes of skin care, tretinoin can be thought of as a more concentrated version of retinol. This means that tretinoin is stronger than retinol. This difference in strength can help guide your decision-making when it comes to choosing a skin care product. Your skin is affected by more than what you put on it.
Retinal + Retinaldehyde
“Retinal is more effective than retinol and less irritating than a prescription Rx, which makes it reliable at delivering swift results,” says Cline.
The Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream formula contains a strong 1% concentration of retinol, which is one of the highest concentrations you can get over-the-counter.
First, the answer is yes, retinol can make wrinkles worse, especially when you first start using it. What is happening is a drying effect, and one can get epidermal sliding from separation from the dermis.
0.3% – a relatively low but effective dose of retinol. "0.3% retinol is enough to give a good effect but also enough not to put the skin at risk or irritate the skin," continued Abi. "There are creams out there formulated at 1% and 2% but in my experience consumers don't always use retinol properly.
Encapsulated beauty just refers to the practice of coating ingredients with a protective layer and, often, are also known as ampoules (not to be confused with the K-beauty serums by the same name). Some of the time, these are large, actual plastic coverings.