You are in your 20s - you are young, free-spirited and have perfectly glowing skin! But as you hit 30s or 40s, the natural charm that your skin had suddenly gets replaced by emerging fines lines and wrinkles.

That’s natural ageing, and it definitely sucks!

But it’s going to happen, and your skin is going to be one of the first organs which show the effects of age.
Ageing makes your skin thin and dry. It loses its elasticity as there is a decrease in the levels of collagen and elastin in your body. However, you cannot stop it; you can definitely slow it down. For that, you need to start young and practice a healthy skincare routine. This includes applying sunscreen, eating healthy, sleeping well and following a thorough skin cleaning routine.

Another thing that you can include in your skincare routine to reverse the effects of ageing is a wonder element called Retinol! The chances are that you have already heard about or come across products like anti-ageing retinol serum, face masks, creams and so on that are available OTC.

Let’s find out how can you leverage the goodness of Retinol and have glowing skin even at the age of 50 and more!

But before we do that, let’s find out what it is and how does it work.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a synthetic derivative of Vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is largely found in carrots, eggs and sweet potatoes. They are subtypes of retinoid but contain lower strengths of retinoic acid.

How does Retinol work?

The application of Retinol on the skin alters the behaviour of the aged cells by going deep beneath the outer layer of the skin called the epidermis. However, as opposed to other products, it does not remove dead skin cells.
Once it reaches the middle layer of the skin, it helps in neutralizing the free radicals. This boosts the production of elastin and collagen that creates a ‘plumping’ effect that can reduce the appearance of ageing signs like wrinkles, fine lines and enlarged pores. It also boosts the production of new blood vessels on the skin.

What are the benefits of Retinol?

As it is capable of going deep into the skin, it has various benefits. Apart from being a key of age preventive skincare routine, it also reduces uneven texture of the skin and makes skin look more toned. |
Below is a detailed overview of how can Retinol help your skin:

- Treat Acne

Acne is a common skin condition that happens when the hair follicles on the skin get blocked with oil and dead skin cells. Bacteria invades these areas and causes inflammation, resulting in pimples, blackheads, whiteheads and cysts.

Topical retinoids like retinol help in reducing the abnormal skin peeling that blocks pores and unclogs them. It can also reduce inflammation by blocking molecules that cause it. When combined with an antimicrobial agent, its efficacy gets increased in treating acne.

However, if you are suffering with severe acne then using a simple retinol serum will not work for you. You need to consult your skin specialist and he/she will recommend you a stronger form of retinoid.

- Anti-ageing properties

While biological ageing has an impact on your skin quality, there are certain external factors like UV rays, smoking and pollution that can result in ageing. Your skin loses its elasticity and the epidermis layer of the skin starts holding less water, making it drier. Sun-damaged skin generally shows darker spots (also known as age spots).

Retinol can protect against the breakdown of collagen and even push the production of the same in the cell. It also stimulates cell turnover, making your skin look younger and plum. It also strengthens the epidermis and influences the amount of water that is lost from the skin.

- Improve skin appearance

It can also help in the evening of skin tone and skin texture. As already stated above that, it can have a positive effect on cell turnover and collagen production; Retinol can also help in brightening the skin.

It is because of all these reasons and more that you will find anti-ageing face masks infused with the goodness of Retinol. It basically is great for the overall improvement of the skin health.

What are the side effects of Retinol?

Although it does provide a plethora of benefits, it does have certain side effects as well if used without taking proper consideration. It comes in a variety of strengths and is not suitable for every type of skin. It takes around 6 months to show any visible results and requires constant and consistent usage. Hence, it is advised to start with products that have a low percentage of Retinol and as your skin gets used to it, you can increase the amount accordingly and gradually.

Some common side effects of Retinol include:
- Skin irritation or redness
- Flakiness, dryness or acne breakouts during the initial days of application
- Increased sensitivity to sun, dry skin and peeling of skin
- Should not be used by pregnant women

The bottom line is retinol serum for the face has miraculous properties and if used correctly and timely, it can help you stop the clock of ageing!