Retinol can also make your skin sensitive to the sun, so it’s essential to always wear sunscreen when using retinol products and for a week after (actually, you should wear sunscreen every day!). Don’t mix retinol with AHAs or BHAs because using too many active ingredients, too frequently, can spark sensitivity. For this reason, also be careful if using a cleanser with actives. Retinoic acid is the strongest type of retinoid and the active form that our skin cells can interpret. Retinoic acid products such as tretinoin (Retin-A) are available only through prescriptions.

Retinol 1% in Squalane offers a water-free solution containing 1% retinol—an ingredient that improves the appearance of fine and dynamic lines that arise from a loss of collagen and elastin, while evening skin texture and tone. What’s more, this expert-level formula is supported with squalane, a moisturizing agent naturally found in your skin that enhances surface-level hydration and helps combat the dryness that can be associated with retinol use. This retinoid is a nice step up from Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane if you’re looking for great results with minimal irritation. See this post for my experience with this retinoid serum. Just keep in mind that everyone’s skin is different, so you may need to experiment a bit and find what works best for you. NOTE: The Ordinary instructs that all 6 of the following retinoids should be refrigerated after opening. The Ordinary Retinol Prices The Ordinary Retinol/Retinoid Serum Granactive Retinoid is a complex of Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR), which breaks down to 0.2% HPR and 1.8% solvent.Granative retinoids can provide similar results as retinol but without any or with minimal side effects. The Retinol Body Oil also contains fatty acids and vitamins. Like other products that contain retinol, it has antioxidant properties that improve the overall health of your skin. The result is a reduction in the look of wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and sun spots, a more even skin tone, and improved skin texture. The reason Retinol is less effective is because it has to go through two conversions for our skin to be able to use it. So when retinol is applied, it doesn’t do anything until those conversions happen. The conversion itself takes some time, which is why retinol is considered less effective than other forms like tretinoin. It also means its more gentle.

As previously mentioned, retinol can be irritating to your skin, and newer retinoid technologies like Granactive Retinoid mimic the visible effects of retinol without causing unwanted skin irritation.

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Retinoids speed up cell turnover, which can help unclog pores, treat acne, plump skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and so much more. They are mainly used for acne and anti-aging, but have tons of other benefits too. Feels slight-greasy on the skin (you can mix with your moisturizer prior to application to curtail the slight-greasy feeling). Triglyceride, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato Fruit Extract): Incredible for its skin soothing potentials which will help calm the skin of redness and dryness thereby minimizing or possibly preventing the irritation effect of retinol. Retinoids have been studied extensively, and the results are in: they work to reduce the signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, thanks to their ability to stimulate collagen production and increase cell turnover.

If you want to try a retinoid from The Ordinary, your first decision will be whether you want to go with the tried and true retinol or go with the new, potentially less irritating Granactive Retinoid technology. Retinol needs to be converted to retinaldehyde and then retinoic acid before our skin can use it, so this retinoid is not as strong as retinaldehyde. The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid is not a retinol, it’s a type of retinoid. Retinol and Granactive retinoid are both types of retinoids, but retinol is weaker and less stable. Many people compare their Granactive Retinoid Vs. Retinol but they’re not the same at all! Is retinoid and retinol the same? The biggest difference between retinol vs retin-a is strength. Prescription only retinoids like tretinoin or retin-a are much stronger than OTC options.

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At the time of using The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane on my skin, I had no existing acneat that moment, so I can’t tell for sure its efficacy on acne, but at the time of usage I never had any iota of acne breakouts, unlike me who usually use to have some new acne mostly on my cheeks area. I guess the retinol serum prevented future occurrence. Performance On Skin Tone. Fortunately, squalane, the plant-derived version of squalene, comes to the rescue. It helps replenish the skin’s protective barrier and promotes skin health. Increases skin hydration