Hey Healthy Hottie,
Someone mentioned you were asking for the difference between retinol and retinoids. We’ll give you a quick rundown.
Let’s make it clear (literally).
Retinoids are GREAT for clearing skin up or reducing fine lines. They work by accelerating cell turnover, which helps to shed dead skin cells and promote the growth of new, healthy ones. Talk about a glow up from the inside out!
So what’s the diff between retinoids and retinol?
(Confusing, we know.) Retinol is a specific type of retinoid.
Retinol is a gentler, over-the-counter version that you’ll often find in skincare products. It’s less potent than its prescription counterparts but is still highly effective at improving skin texture, tone, and overall appearance. Because of its gentler nature, retinol is a great starting point for those new to retinoids.
Most people who use retinol see changes within 2-4 months. On the other hand, if you use prescription retinoids, you may get results more quickly, often within a few weeks to months.
Oh, and because it sounds like such a tempting solution to dive into, we wanted to warn you that the overuse of retinoids (even retinol) can cause irritation, dryness, and redness, so just be careful. Start using retinol slowly to build up your skin’s tolerance—about 2 nights per week, then eventually every other night if your skin can handle it. Our skin needs time to build up what are called ‘retinoid receptors’. These receptors are proteins that are naturally found in skin, and they help retinol work its magic. And as always, don’t forget to follow up with sunscreen for daytime usage!
Alright, that’s retin-ol for now… glad we cleared things up ;)
XO,
BiotechBeauty
