Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, has long been hailed as a powerhouse ingredient in skincare for its ability to tackle a multitude of skin concerns. From smoothing out fine lines to reducing acne, retinol is a useful addition to any skincare routine, no matter what concern you’re facing. 

Commonly available without a prescription, retinol belongs to the family of retinoids, which also include retinoic acid like tretinoin, which is known to be more potent than retinol and typically available only with a prescription. If you have sensitive skin, many prescription retinoids (and even some of the top retinol products) can irritate or dry skin out if the formula doesn’t contain soothing ingredients to counteract the potency of retinoids. 

Foundation Skincare's Night Renewal Cream is a dermatologist-formulated non-prescription retinoid product featuring Granactive Retinoid (also known as hydroxypinacolone retinoate). The product offers all the benefits of traditional prescription retinoids with a lower risk of irritation and dryness. This makes it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. The Night Renewal Cream is specifically formulated to address issues such as dark spots, uneven skin tone, texture irregularities, and signs of aging, while also unclogging pores to reduce breakouts and enhancing overall skin hydration.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of adding a retinol serum or retinoid cream to your routine and find out how often to use retinol for the best results. 

Targeting Signs of Aging: How Retinol Boosts Collagen Production

One of the key benefits of retinol is its ability to stimulate collagen production in the skin.¹ Collagen is a crucial structural protein in the body that provides elasticity to the skin, keeping it firm and supple. As we age, collagen production naturally declines, leading to the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. Retinol and retinoids counteract the aging process by promoting the production of new collagen fibers, helping to restore skin elasticity, thicken skin, and smooth out wrinkles.

Retinol’s Impact on Achieving an Even Skin Tone

Along with increasing collagen production, retinoids also accelerate cellular turnover, which refers to the process of replacing old skin cells with new ones. Not only does this improve skin texture, but it also helps to reduce hyperpigmentation.² 

Another way that retinoids help fade hyperpigmentation, like photodamage, scarring, and melasma, is by reducing tyrosinase activity.³ Tyrosinase is an enzyme that controls the production of melanin, or pigment, in the skin. Sun damage, aging, and hormonal fluctuations can all contribute to the up-regulation of this enzyme and retinol works its magic by inhibiting this process.

The Acne-Fighting Power of Retinol

In addition to fading acne scarring, retinoids may also help prevent acne breakouts by unclogging pores and reducing oil secretion.⁴ Retinoids also have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which helps by calming current breakouts and associated redness and irritation.⁵ 

Seeing results may take some time, but don’t be discouraged. When you first start using retinoids, you may notice that your acne isn’t clearing up. You may even notice a few more pimples than usual. This is a temporary process called the “retinol purge” which may last several weeks.⁶ As your skin acclimates, you will have noticeably clearer skin with far fewer breakouts.

If you are using Foundation Skincare's Night Renewal Cream, we recommend using three nights per week and building up slowly to daily use (applied only at night). This will help your skin adjust to the product and reduce the likelihood of peeling and irritation (although some peeling is expected and normal when starting the product). We also recommend using the cream alongside Foundation Skincare’s Hyaluronic Acid Lotion to help keep skin hydrated.  

Additional Benefits of Retinol 

Due to retinol’s many qualities–accelerating cell turnover, boosting collagen, and reducing inflammation–you may see other additional benefits. These include:

• Fewer fine lines and wrinkles
• Smaller pores
• Plumper skin
• Fewer blackheads
• Softer skin

Many people steer clear of retinoids because of their potency. But this ingredient is highly adaptable depending on the type of retinoid you use. For instance, Granactive Retinoid found in the FS Night Renewal Cream is a high-performance retinoic acid that is suitable for all skin types and known to cause less peeling and irritation compared to other retinoids. This dermatologist- and chemist-formulated product also contains peptide growth factors to increase collagen and elastin and soothing ingredients like shea butter and aloe leaf juice. 

How Retinol Addresses Skin Hydration & Sensitivity 

Though many prescription retinoids are associated with dryness, peeling, and irritation, there are also hydrating qualities you should know about.

By clearing away dead skin cells (cellular turnover), retinoids may help hydrate skin, as the buildup of dead skin cells can dry out skin. Using a gentler (yet equally potent) retinoid product like FS Night Renewal Cream can also help to boost skin hydration due to the presence of plant-based botanicals, making it suitable for all skin types.  

Foundation Skincare’s Night Renewal Cream is so gentle and versatile, it works well in combination with other products in the FS collection, including the FS Niacinamide Lotion 10%, which helps to calm skin and contributes to DNA repair, and as we mentioned above, FS Hyaluronic Acid Lotion, which works like a magnet for skin hydration.

When using this product, you may start to notice results within 30 days, and if you’ve experienced any peeling, this should calm down around this mark. If you have oily skin, you will likely notice that you have less oil in your T-zone. After 90 days, the results are most apparent–a more radiant and youthful complexion, fewer breakouts, and softer skin. 

Learn more about the power of using retinoids daily and find more tips and resources on healthy skin and hair in the FS Journal.

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References: 

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23293-retinol

2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8776661/ 

3. https://jddonline.com/articles/topical-retinoids-for-pigmented-skin-S1545961611P0483X 

4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605215/ 

5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5574737/ 

6. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23293-retinol