The Real Retinol Reminisces: Cream, Serum, Benefits, How To Use, As Told By My Friend

Retinol: A Game Changer in Skincare Journey

Smriti vividly recollects the day she learnt about retinol. It was during a casual conversation with a friend who had just attended a skincare workshop, brimming with sheer delight. As she heard the glowing reviews about this incredible skin-enhancing ingredient, Smriti felt a twinge of envy. Suddenly, it seemed like she’d been living under a rock, oblivious to this magical ingredient that pledged to reduce the signs of ageing.

Curious and eager, she plunged into an online investigation about Retinol that night. To her surprise, every beauty influencer on the internet was raving about its benefits. The promise of glowing skin, reduction of fine lines, diminished hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles, along with the allure of youthful radiance, captivated her attention. Now a 32-year-old, Smriti was beginning to realise the ageing effects on her skin. Her usual skincare regimen, which had worked wonders in her 20s, now felt inadequate against the fine lines gradually appearing on her forehead and around her eyes.

Primed with both intrigue and intimidation, Smriti ventured deeper into the realm of retinol. While on one hand, she found it widely touted as a skin rejuvenation miracle, on the other, she stumbled upon numerous cautionary tales. These accounts detailed potential side effects like redness, peeling, and irritation, causing her to question whether her sensitive skin could handle it given her history of acne.

Undeterred, Smriti felt the pull to give it a shot to provide her skin with the much-needed rejuvenation. After considerable research, she decided to start with a beginner-friendly retinol serum with a low concentration—0.3% retinol appeared to be a safe starting point. With a mix of exhilaration and a hint of nervousness, she decided to incorporate it into her nightly skincare routine.

The subsequent weeks of using the retinol serum were quite a rollercoaster. Initially, her skin felt overly tight and dry, marked by a phase notoriously known among retinol users as “the purge”. This phase often leads to temporary breakouts due to the accelerated shedding of dead skin cells. Although she was prepared for it intellectually, experiencing it physically was a different story. Despite feeling worried, Smriti reminded herself that patience is the essence of skincare.

Persisting with her nightly routine, she complemented it with hydrating serums to counteract the dryness. At the end of the month, she finally began noticing a remarkable difference: smoother skin, visible reduction in acne marks, and a fading dullness.

A month into using retinol, she decided to enhance its application to thrice a week. That’s when she noticed a real transformation. Her skin started to clear up more than ever before. The lingering fine lines around her eyes began to lessen, her complexion appeared more even and radiant, acne breakouts reduced significantly, and the overall texture of her skin improved significantly. Dermatologists often say that it can take several weeks before you notice significant improvements, and they’re right.

Along this journey, she also learned the importance of sunscreen the hard way, as Retinol can sensitize the skin to sunlight. Realising this, she vowed to apply a broad-spectrum SPF diligently every morning and incorporated a quality sunscreen into her routine to prevent sun damage.

Navigating through trials and triumphs, Smriti’s retinol journey has been nothing short of transformative. From timid beginnings to radiating with confidence, this powerful ingredient has taught her the significance of patience, self-care, and attentiveness to her skin’s requirements. After rewarding Smriti with rejuvenated, youthful, and healthier skin, retinol has unquestionably become a staple in her skincare regimen.