What is Retinol?

You see it in every anti-aging beauty routine, but really -- what IS retinol?

A few months ago I met a girl with perfect skin. I asked her what her secret was, and she told me "retinol!" I decided to dig deeper into this topic to find out if I would be a good candidate for retinol, and it turns out, most women over the age of 25 are!

Retinol is basically a form of vitamin A. Retinoids were FDA-approved almost 40 years ago for the treatment of acne, however dermatologists soon noticed there were way more skin benefits happening to the patients. Retinoids were shown to "unclog pores, boost collagen to reduce fine lines, and speed cell turnover to even out discoloration and smooth the skin—sometimes in as little as four weeks." Retinoids/Retinol use results in brighter, acne-free skin.

What kind should you buy? Well, a dermatologist can prescribe more potent retinoids, but if you want to simply shop online for an over-the-counter product, definitely try Retinol. It takes about 12 weeks to see results (while the doctor-prescribed version takes 4) but it's worth the wait.

I did my research and after reading hundreds of reviews, I decided to buy Retinol Reform from Shani Darden. It's $95 per ounce but lasts for months. Described as a "cult favorite" among celebrities, this product really works. My skin is totally evened out and my acne has cleared for the most part. If you google "Shani Darden" you'll see that her products already have a huge following because they truly work. Her clients include Jessica Alba and Chrissy Teigen, who call Retinol Reform "the holy grail" of skincare products.

Retinol can cause dryness, so make sure you start using the product once or twice a week, in order to build up a tolerance. You only need a pea-size amount, and eventually, you'll work your way up to using the product every other night. Also, retinol makes your skin a bit more sensitive to the sun. So always apply at night (and use a sunscreen during the day!) Lastly, never use a retinol product while pregnant or breastfeeding.

You can buy Shani Darden's Retinol Reform here.  


BeautyBunny Hyde