![]() Also, avoid using retinoids and potent actives (i.e., direct acids, vitamin C, or benzoyl peroxide) in the same routine. Apply after cleansing and toning but before a moisturizer.Īvoid using more than one retinoid product in the same routine. ![]() ![]() How to Use Drugstore Retinoidsĭepending on your skin’s sensitivity, you can add a retinoid serum into the treatment step of your skincare routine. Please read my Disclosure for additional information. This post contains affiliate links, and any purchases made through these links will result in a commission for me at no extra cost to you. In fact, while prescription retinoids may be seen in as little as 4-6 weeks, over-the-counter retinoids may take around three months to start seeing benefits. As a result, you should see improvements in your skin faster. Note that prescription retinoids will work quicker than over-the-counter retinoids. It could take several months or even a year to build your tolerance to more potent retinoids.Ĭlearly, using retinoids is not a quick anti-aging fix. They are best for those who have been using retinoids for a while and have built up their tolerance to more potent retinoids. Prescription retinoids (i.e., the strongest) such as tretinoin or tazarotene contain retinoic acid.It’s fat-soluble, making it less irritating than prescription retinoids. Adapalene (known under the brand name Differin and now also available from La Roche-Posay and a few other brands) is the most potent over-the-counter retinoid and a newer-generation retinoid that has primarily been used to treat acne.This is a step up from retinol and stronger too. Retinaldehyde gets converted into retinoic acid and then is available in its active form.Retinol must be converted into retinaldehyde and then retinoic acid before becoming available for your skin to use.Retinyl palmitate must be broken down into retinol, then retinaldehyde, and finally retinoic acid before becoming available for your skin to use.Let’s take a quick look at the main retinoids from weakest to strongest: Remember that all retinoids need to be converted into retinoic acid at the cellular level to be used by the skin. This makes it quite confusing when trying to decide which one to try. There are so many different variations of retinoids. But before you go to the drugstore and pick up the first retinol you come across, it’s important to understand the difference between retinoid products. Retinol effectively treats photoaging, increases skin cell turnover and collagen production, smoothes the skin, reduces hyperpigmentation, prevents wrinkles, improves acne, improves skin texture and radiance, and even affects gene expression. As a supplement, it is used to treat vitamin A deficiency, but we love it for other reasons, especially its topical use as an anti-aging treatment. Retinol is a type of retinoid, the umbrella term used for vitamin A derivatives.Īlthough discovered in 1909, retinol wasn’t formulated until 1947. Today the drugstore has an expansive selection of effective retinol treatments, some of which rival their more expensive luxury counterparts.īefore we get into all of the retinol goodness that the affordable brands offer in this drugstore retinol guide, let’s take a look at what retinol is and how it works.
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