Retinol is one of the most well-studied skin care ingredients for combatting signs of aging and improving overall skin wellness. Retinoids—the collective name for vitamin A derivatives, such as retinol— stimulate collagen production and speed up skin cell turnover, says Kunal Malik, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. As a result, they reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation issues, like sun damage, dark spots, and melasma. The likes of tretinoin (aka Retin-A), retinal, retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, and adapalene can also help banish blemishes, brighten skin, and even skin texture.
