Retinol: it’s the ingredient in anti-ageing products. If you pick up a bottle that says it’ll reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, sun damage, and dull skin, Retinol will be at the top of the ‘made with…’ list.

It has great power in connecting almost any cell receptor site, instructing it to act like a healthy, younger skin cell. It also interrupts the free-radical damage that causes wrinkles, while also boosting collagen production. Retinol is youth.

But, what most people don’t know is that there’s more than one Retinol used in skincare. This can make it hard to pick the solution that’s best for your skin.

Retinol and retinoids: Are they identical?

Retinol and retinoids may sound like the same thing, but they aren’t. Most over-the-counter products contain a form of retinol in ester forms (vitamin A derivatives) like retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate or retinyl linoleate. For it to be useful, the skin must convert them into retinoid acid at the cellular level. In other words, it’s a weaker version due to the added conversions it takes for it to get to reach the retinoic acid form.

Retinol and retinoids do the same thing. One just takes longer to see results. If you’re continuously using either ingredient, you’ll notice an improvement in fine lines, wrinkles, skin tone and texture, as they strengthen your skin barrier and make it more able to handle environmental assaults.

If you’re a Retinol newbie, start slowly and let your skin adjust. Some skin types struggle with side effects, such as redness. Choose a product that’s been recommended for your skin and apply it only at night.

Sunlight deactivates retinoic acid, so it’s best to incorporate it into your evening skincare regime. Let your skin adjust to it and mix it with your usual moisturiser to minimise the redness or flaking that can occur using retinol. Typically, you should only use a pea-size amount for each application for your whole face.

Neora’s product are created with ingredients that complement retinol’s anti-ageing benefits while reducing the side effects. Aloe extracts, leaf juice, bran oil, seed oil and vitamin E are just a few of the powerful ingredients in our Day and Night Creams that help balance out the skin for holistic benefits. In addition there’s SAL-14, our powerful proprietary antioxidant that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and CoQ10, which supports natural, healthy collagen production.

We hope that demystified the retinol / retinoid / anti-ageing ingredients mystery for you, and made it easier for you to choose the products that are best for your skin in your journey to more youthful skin. Still have questions about retinol, retinoids and Neora’s own anti-ageing ingredients? Let us know in the comments below!