Beauty
Behind the scenes of the multi-beneficial beauty ingredient.
According to studies, the activeincreases cellular turnover, which would seemingly imply that its anexfoliant.
Keep reading to see what the experts have to say about how the skin-boosting ingredient really works.
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Is Retinol An Exfoliant?
The anti-aging beauty MVP is a vitamin A derivative and an antioxidant, explainsDr.
Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist atLa Jolla Dermatology.
That said, they do accomplish much of what a true exfoliant would.
A proper exfoliant actually strips your skin of dead skin cells.
Mona Gohara, M.D., board-certified dermatologist.
It may have a similar result but it isnt technically [an exfoliant], she explains.
They use two different mechanisms of liberating skin cells.
What Is An Exfoliant?
And they’re broken down into three categories: chemical, physical, and enzymatic.
Our skin cells become lazy with age and our cell turnover slows down, Shirazi says.
This allows dead cells to hang around longer, which ultimately accentuates lines and makes your skin appear duller.
Should You Use Retinol?
Renee Moran Medical Aestheticsand founder of RM Skincare, says.
There is room for both an exfoliant and a retinol in your routine, too.Dr.
Besides retinol, it uses multiple peptides to strengthen your complexion pluswillow barkandlicorice extractsto reduce redness.
Studies referenced:
Mukherjee, S. (2006).
Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety.
Clin Interv Aging.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2699641/
Rodan, K. (2016).
Skincare Bootcamp: The Evolving Role of Skincare.
Renee Moran Medical Aesthetics
Dr. Marisa Garshick, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist
This article was originally published onDec.
