Tell us your skin concerns, and retinol - also known as vitamin A - will almost always be the answer. Acne? Retinol. Fine lines? Retinol. Pigmentation? Retinol. Scarring? You guessed it…retinol.
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Most famous for its beauty benefits, vitamin A benefits also span to the entire body. It’s been found to help maintain healthy vision, organ function and immune system support. It’s essential for many processes in your body.
With regards to intake, its recommended that men get 900 mcg and women 700 mcg of vitamin A per day.
Benefits of Retinol for Skin
Vitamin A is the generic term for a group of fat-soluble compounds highly important for human health. Below we round-up the beauty benefits and reasons to consider implementing vitamin A into your daily routine, whether through supplementation or skincare.
It’s great for breakout-prone skin
Vitamin A has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties and anti-microbial properties, which is why dermatologists will often prescribe it to those battling with acne. In other words, it's a powerhouse. Interestingly, a vitamin A deficiency has also been linked to an increased risk of developing acne in the first instance, as it causes an overproduction of the protein keratin in your hair follicles.
Smooths skin texture
Retinol works over time to retexturise and resurface your skin. However, people won't notice an improvement for about two months, which is why you have to stick with the program.
Prevents premature ageing
There’s a reason its one of the most sought after ingredients in the skincare industry. It’s super effective when it comes to lessening wrinkles and scars: "With continued use, vitamin A slowly improves the skin's appearance. It smooths the skin's texture by lessening visible wrinkles, lines, acne scar indents, large pores, scarring, and brown spots," notes celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau.