What does retinol do for your skin?

Retinol is the most searched skincare ingredient in the UK, and for good reason. It's one of the most studied ingredients in skincare. But it also comes with a lot of questions. Here are the answers, simply.

What is retinol?

Retinol is a form of vitamin A. Once it's on your skin, your skin converts it into retinoic acid, the form it can actually use. That gradual conversion is why retinol is gentler than prescription retinoids, and why it's available without a prescription.

What does retinol do?

• Speeds up skin renewal. Retinol encourages skin to shed old surface cells and replace them faster, so skin looks smoother and brighter.
• Supports collagen. Over time, it helps the skin produce collagen, which improves the look of fine lines and firmness.
• Evens tone. Faster renewal helps fade the look of dark spots and uneven patches.
• Refines texture. It can help with rough texture and the look of enlarged pores.

What is retinol good for?

Fine lines, loss of firmness, uneven tone, dullness and rough texture. In other words, it's a problem-solver, not an "age" product. It works on the same science at 30 as at 60.

How to use retinol

1. Use it at night. Retinol breaks down in sunlight, and it works while you sleep.
2. Start slowly. Two or three nights a week for the first few weeks.
3. Use a pea-sized amount for your whole face, on clean, dry skin.
4. Moisturise afterwards. Depending on which retinol you use and the formulation, you may need to follow up with a moisturiser.
5. Wear SPF every morning. Retinol makes skin more sensitive to the sun. Shield SPF 50 is a moisturiser and SPF in one.

How often should you use retinol?

Start with two or three nights a week. If your skin feels comfortable after two to three weeks, build up to every other night, then every night if your skin is happy. There's no prize for rushing.

How long does retinol take to work?

Be patient. Most people notice smoother, brighter skin within a few weeks, but changes to fine lines usually take around three months of regular use. Consistency matters more than strength.

Is it normal for retinol to make skin dry or flaky?

Yes, at the start. Some dryness, flaking or tightness in the first few weeks is common while your skin adjusts. Use it less often and moisturise well. If you get lasting redness, burning or swelling, stop and speak to a pharmacist.

That's why we use liposomal retinol. The retinol is wrapped in tiny lipid spheres called liposomes, which release it into the skin gradually rather than all at once. This helps reduce the risk of dryness and flaking, so your skin can get used to retinol more comfortably.

Can you use retinol while pregnant?

No. Retinol isn't recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you're pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, choose retinol-free products and check with your doctor or midwife.

What can you use with retinol?

• Hyaluronic acid: yes, any time. It's a great partner for retinol.
• Vitamin C: yes, at different times of day. Use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night.
• Exfoliating acids (AHA/BHA): yes, but not on the same night while your skin is getting used to retinol. Use them on alternate nights (for example, an exfoliating cleanser like Refine one evening and retinol the next), or use the acid in the morning and retinol at night.

Which Syro retinol is right for me?

• New to retinol? Start with Renew, a 0.5% retinol night cream with peptides.
• Already used to retinol? Move up to R+, our higher-strength liposomal retinol night serum. Alongside the retinol, R+ contains ceramides and cholesterol, the same lipids that naturally hold your skin barrier together. They help keep skin strong and comfortable, so it can handle a stronger retinol with less dryness and sensitivity.

Both are for adults only, and neither is recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Questions? See our FAQs or email tara@syroskin.com.