What Is Retinol?
Retinol is one of the most researched texture refining ingredients used in topical facial skincare with decades of clinical research and real-world results. Found in some of the most trusted wrinkle creams and texture refining serums, this vitamin A derivative possesses a multitude of benefits for the skin, including:
- Smoother skin texture + radiant skin tone
- Supports natural skin renewal for healthy-looking skin barrier + helps reduce the appearance of sensitivity
- Increased exfoliation to help keep pores clear and reduce the appearance of blemishes + skin congestion
- Visibly improved appearance of skin evenness
- Diminished appearance of fine lines + wrinkles
What To Expect From Retinol
As one of the most effective skin resilience ingredients, retinol can help visibly improve the look of your complexion. Even so, results take time. Whether you need a retinol cream for beginners or are an experienced retinol user, it is essential to gauge your skin’s tolerance for it and gradually increase use. A ZO® retinol skincare routine ideally balances skin comfort with results you can see.
Common Retinol Reactions
Most skin types can benefit from retinol. The key to attaining visible results is to gradually build your skin’s tolerance for it. Depending on your ability to tolerate retinol, you may experience temporary redness, flakiness, dryness and other common signs of irritation. Due to its potency, moderate sensitivity may occur.
How to Build a Tolerance for Retinol
As one of the most effective texture refining ingredients, some sensitivity when using retinol is common. You may ask yourself, “how long does it take for skin to tolerate retinol?” The truth is it varies from person to person. However, how your own skin reacts can be managed by adjusting product strength and usage frequency. Over time, your skin can become accustomed to retinol, helping to reveal a smoother, more even-toned and youthful-looking complexion.
How Much Retinol to Use as a Beginner
If you are new to retinol, ZO® recommends starting with a lower concentration and limiting usage to your PM routine, 2-3x per week. As your skin adjusts, you may increase frequency to every other day. Once your skin’s tolerance has reached an optimal level for you, you may choose to increase the concentration of your retinol product. Always wear an effective facial sunscreen, especially the morning after you have used a retinol cream, serum or product of any kind. If you have specific concerns, consult a skincare professional for personalized guidance.
What to Pair Retinol With
ZO® has decades of expertise in the use of topical retinol for facial skincare. To moderate signs of sensitivity, we recommend pairing your retinol face cream or serum with one of our functional hydrators and an SPF to help protect skin from sun exposure.
ZO® FUNCTIONAL HYDRATORS
ZO® SUNSCREENS
Which Retinol Is Right for Your Skin?
ZO® Skin Health provides highly effective and clinically tested retinol products in a variety of strengths to address the appearance of lines + wrinkles, uneven skin tone and rough texture. Our proprietary delivery technologies help optimize the texture-refining benefits of retinol and enhance the product experience to support regular use and skin comfort over time.
Retinol Skin Brightener
Our popular Retinol Skin Brightener is available in three retinol strengths to meet your skin’s tolerance level and address your unique skin concerns, including the intensity and visibility of dark spots and other forms of complexion discoloration.
Product Benefits
- Promotes exfoliation to help reduce the look of uneven skin tone and improve skin smoothness
- Helps support skin’s resiliency against environmental discoloration aggressors
- Specially encapsulated to deliver a targeted, controlled release of retinol to help brighten the complexion
- Contains calming + soothing ingredients for improved product experience
A Guide to Strengths
Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25%
- For beginners
- For users with very sensitive skin
- Consider stepping up to Retinol Skin Brightener 0.5% once your skin is comfortable
Retinol Skin Brightener 0.5%
- For regular retinol users
- Consider stepping up to Retinol Skin Brightener 1% when tolerated
Retinol Skin Brightener 1%
- For advanced retinol users
Wrinkle + Texture Repair
Our recommended retinol face serum for the appearance of moderate signs of aging, Wrinkle + Texture Repair helps visibly improve the appearance of wrinkles, smooth the look of skin texture and help support skin’s natural hydration.
- Featuring a microemulsion delivery system, it is formulated with 0.5% retinol
- Targets the appearance of deeper lines + wrinkles
- Helps refine skin texture
- Helps improve skin barrier function to support natural hydration
Radical Night Repair
One of our highest strength retinol creams for at-home use, Radical Night Repair is formulated for advanced retinol users with 1% retinol to help improve the appearance of skin texture, uneven pigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles.
- Features 1% microencapsulated retinol
- Helps accelerate superficial exfoliation for advanced results
- Helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Visibly improves skin complexion
Before + After
Wrinkle + Texture Repair
Protocol: A 12-week independent third-party clinical study of 43 participants to assess the benefits of Wrinkle + Texture Repair. Participants were females, ages 42–67, with Fitzpatrick skin types II–IV. Supported with the use of Gentle Cleanser, Broad-Spectrum SPF 50 and Hydrating Crème during the study. Results may vary.
Before + After
Retinol Skin Brightener
Protocol: A 12-week independent, third-party clinical study of 46 participants to assess the benefits of Retinol Skin Brightener. Participants were females, ages 40-64, with Fitzpatrick skin types II-IV. Supported with the use of Gentle Cleanser, Sunscreen + Primer Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 and Hydrating Crème during the study. Results may vary.
FAQs
When will I see results from retinol?
The visible effects of retinol will depend on the strength of the product, the consistency of usage and the overall skin condition.
Based on independent clinical studies, Wrinkle + Texture Repair and Retinol Skin Brightener were both clinically studied to show visible improvements such as smoother-looking skin texture and improved skin barrier in as little as 2 weeks. Maximum visible benefits, such as improved appearance of lines + wrinkles in Wrinkle + Texture Repair clinical study and visible improvement in skin tone in the Retinol Skin Brightener clinical study, were observed at 12 weeks 1-2
- Protocol: a 12-week independent third-party clinical study of 43 participants to assess the benefits of Wrinkle + Texture Repair. Participants were females, ages 42–67, with Fitzpatrick skin types II—IV. Supported with use of Gentle Cleanser, Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 50 and Hydrating Crème during the study.
- Protocol: a 12-week independent third-party clinical study of 46 participants to assess the benefits of Retinol Skin Brightener. Participants were females, ages 40-64, with Fitzpatrick skin types II—IV. Supported with the use of Gentle Cleanser, Sunscreen + Primer Broad-Spectrum SPF 30 and Hydrating Crème during the study.
What if I'm not new to retinol, but haven't used it in a while?
Only you know your skin. As with a beginning user, it is essential to monitor your skin’s reaction and tolerance daily. The key to attaining the best results with retinol is consistent use. If you have taken a break, consider either starting with a lower-strength product like the RETINOL SKIN BRIGHTENER .25% and/or limit your use of retinol to 2-3x weekly.
What are common retinol reactions?
Redness, flakiness, dryness, burning, or stinging are common and temporary reactions when starting retinol. With regular product use, skin may acclimate, helping to reveal a smoother, more even-toned and youthful-looking complexion.
How do I minimize retinol reactions?
You can use the following recommendations to reduce reactions to suit your lifestyle:
- If you are new to retinol, start with a lower strength retinol serum such as Retinol Skin Brightener 0.25%
- Start use slowly: 2-3 times/week. Then increase frequency as skin becomes more acclimated
- Incorporate an exfoliant such as ZO’s Exfoliating Polish or Enzymatic Peel to gently sweep away dead skin cells + help with dryness
- Add a soothing + hydrating product, such as Hydrating Crème, to help relieve the feel of very dry skin while helping to calm the look of visible irritation
- It is important to wear a daily sunscreen the morning after retinol use to to help protect skin and reduce the look of redness and irritation. If possible, apply sunscreen every day, whether or not you have used retinol the night before. We recommend a sunscreen from our Triple Spectrum Protection® portfolio.
- Stop retinol usage if irritation persists or becomes pronounced
How long will my reactions last?
It takes about 2-6 weeks of regular retinol use for visible improvements to begin. The temporary reactions may peak during the first few weeks and then gradually subside. By around week 12, the temporary reactions may significantly diminish as skin health is improved.
How long does retinol sun sensitivity last?
One of retinol’s many benefits is that it helps support cell turnover, bringing new skin cells to the surface. These cells may be more sensitive to sun exposure, so it’s important to limit time in the sun, use a broad-spectrum sunscreen and re-apply it every 2 hours and wear protective clothing.
Which retinol strength should I use?
If new to retinol, start with a lower concentration 2-3 times per week. You may consider increasing strength and/or frequency as skin becomes more acclimated to achieve more noticeable benefits.
What are some reasons people shouldn't use retinol?
Although retinol is one of the most effective + widely studied skincare ingredients, it may not be right for everyone, at every season in life. Some common reasons include but are not limited to:
- Not wanting to experience the initial retinol acclimation period
- If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult a healthcare professional before use
- If you have very dry or redness-prone skin, or a pre-existing skin condition (e.g., eczema), consult a healthcare professional
- If you spend extended periods of time in the sun as retinol may increase sun sensitivity
Does ZO® offer texture refining products that don't include retinol?
Yes, ZO® offers many non-retinol, clinically studied alternatives for people looking to address the appearance of premature signs of skin aging. Options include:
Does ZO® offer brightening products that don't include retinol?
Yes, ZO® offers several non-retinol alternatives for people looking to help achieve a brighter, more even-looking complexion. Options include:
