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Mikrodermabrazja czy retinol - Co lepiej działa na Twoją skórę?
Tretinoin vs retinol: What’s the difference?
We’re here to share what we know — but don’t take it as medical advice. Talk to your medical provider if you have questions.
In this article
Topical retinoids, like over-the-counter retinol and prescription-strength tretinoin, help increase cell turnover, but each one works a little differently. Think of retinol and tretinoin as cousins—they’re both parts of the “retinoid” family as derivatives of vitamin A, but they’re not identical.
Here’s a look into what we know, based on the current research available to dermatology providers.
The key takeaways
What are the benefits of tretinoin vs. retinol vs. other retinoids?
Anti-aging and wrinkle-fighting
As we get older, our skin doesn’t bounce back the way it once did. It gets thinner, drier, and loses its stretchiness. A lot of this is due to sun exposure, which is the main reason our skin starts to show signs of aging.⁸ Enter retinoids, like retinol and tretinoin, to help!
Want to learn more about how Curology can help you reduce the visible signs of aging? Check out our customizable anti-aging formula Future-Proofᴿˣ.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is another common sign of aging. There are many different causes of these dark spots, such as sun exposure, melasma, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. By increasing the turnover of skin cells, topical retinoids can also help disperse excess melanin, reducing the appearance of darker areas.⁹
Acne treatment
As previously noted, only tretinoin is approved to help treat acne. By getting rid of dead skin cells and helping to clear out blocked pores, tretinoin has shown to decrease acne lesions and may reduce acne-related inflammation, too.¹⁰
If fighting acne is your skincare goal, check out Curology’s Custom Formulaᴿˣ for acne which can be customized with proven ingredients (like tretinoin) to help clear skin.
Our Verdict
The Olay 24 Retinol collection is effective and well worth trying out. The products are affordable, and you can frequently find them on sale, helping you save even more money. The Olay brand’s ingredients are all backed by research and are in packaging that prevents the retinol from deteriorating.
References
[1] American Osteopathic College of Dermatology “RETINOIDS, TOPICAL”
[2] The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology “How Much Do We Really Know About Our Favorite Cosmeceutical Ingredients?” Published February 3, 2010
[3] Oxford Academic Aesthetic Surgery Journal “Cosmeceuticals: The Evidence Behind the Retinoids” Published January 1, 2020
[4] National Library of Medicine “The vitamin A ester retinyl propionate has a unique metabolic profile and higher retinoid-related bioactivity over retinol and retinyl palmitate in human skin models” Published November 5, 2020
[5] US National Library of Medicine “Anti-Wrinkle Benefits of Peptides Complex Stimulating Skin Basement Membrane Proteins Expression” Published December 20, 2019
[6] National Library of Medicine “Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions” Published July 1, 2008
[7] Everyday Health “New to Retinol? A Complete Guide to the Skin-Care Ingredient” Published April 8, 2020
[8] Harvard Health Publishing “Do retinoids really reduce wrinkles?” Published October 22, 2019
[9] National Library of Medicine “Nicotinic acid/niacinamide and the skin” Published April 3, 2004
*All individuals are unique. Your results may vary.