Meet Retinol Oils

November 23, 2023 By Thea Off
Meet Retinol Oils

The Anti-Aging Product You Should Use To Look 10 Years Younger

Finding the perfect anti-aging product can be a struggle. The promised results play a big factor in our decision making when choosing a product. However, some of us are concerned about the ingredients, too! Thankfully, there are natural and organic anti-aging products out there that promise to turn back the clock and downplay your skin’s imperfections. In fact, there’s one ingredient that skin docs truly swear by and will make you look 10 years younger!

IMAGE: pinterest

Yep, we’re talking about retinol, the over-the-counter vitamin-A derivative that has long been lauded for its anti-aging properties. Traditionally delivered to the skin via creams, the anti-wrinkle ingredient is commonly used to give your skin a healthy boost by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing texture, and diminishing dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Dermatologists swear by retinol, counting it as a must-have for just about everyone, even for those people with sensitive skin. And, research over the past 30 years has shown that retinol can help in softening and preventing creases. It also helps speed cell turnover, brighten skin tone, increase collagen, and minimize the appearance of pores and likelihood for blackheads or breakouts. But it can also cause irritation for people with sensitive or dry skin types. This means that those people don’t stick to a strict retinol regimen.

This is where retinol oils come in. As both a face oil advocate and retinol devotee, I found this new breed of anti-aging products immediately intriguing. Retinol oils basically caress your skin while pummeling it with retinol, decreasing the irritation and flakes that usually come with retinol.

However, this isn’t really a new technology. “The active ingredients of all retinol products are similar, it’s just the base that’s different,” explains Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. “Oils tend to be advantageous for people with drier skin because of the natural hydrating properties of oils.”

And, dear reader, let me assure you that Dr. Joshua Zeichner is right. As someone who has the skin resilience of a Fabergé egg I was able to tolerate retinol oils without any horror stories, a first for me and retinols. It’s important to note that switching from a retinol cream to an oil might mean you’ll also need to change up the order in which you use your skin-care products. “A retinol oil can be easily integrated into their routine; however, since they’re oils, applying one would be a later step in the routine, since retinol oils aren’t water soluble and therefore don’t penetrate as rapidly,” says  Dr. Jeannette Graf, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. She suggests using them on top of water soluble products, like essences or hydrating serums (assuming they aren’t also oil-based).

If you’re still worried about irritation, use retinols every third night for three weeks, then every other night for two weeks, and then nightly, if your skin tolerates it. And remember, the key is in consistency. If you use them consistently, you should notice smoother skin, reduced fine lines, and smaller pores within three months.

Let’s take a closer look at eleven standout retinol oils currently available on the market at every price point, shall we?

 

#1 Retinol Anti Aging Facial Oil

A great oil with so many five-star reviews! It improves the way your skin looks, day and night and your skin will look moisturized, soft and glowing.

at Amazon

 

#2 Retinol R1 Anti-Aging Face Night Oil By Alana Mitchell

It works while you’re asleep and repairs aging overnight. It helps plump up the skin, provides your face with so much moisture and you’ll wake up glowing.

at Amazon

 

#3 Tata Harper Skincare Replenishing Nutrient Complex

This restorative skincare treatment is light, easily absorbed and helps transform irritated skin. It also acts as a multivitamin for your skin.

at Nordstrom or Amazon

 

#4 PHILOSOPHY Ultimate Miracle Worker Multi-Rejuvenating Retinol

This amazing product helps protect and defend your skin so completely, it can naturally rejuvenate itself better than ever before. This ultimate miracle worker enlists the help of superfood oils, including argan, pomegranate, olive, and Amazonian sacha inchi oils, to help counteract any irritation and dryness the retinol may cause.

at Sephora or Amazon

 

#5 Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM

This serum is actually oil- and fragrance-free, and provides maximum results with minimal irritation. It regenerates and renews skin tone and texture, and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

at Sephora or Amazon

 

#6 Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

A cruelty-free product, this retinol oil boosts the look and feel of skin plumpness, while improving the appearance of wrinkles, pores, and redness, for visibly younger-looking skin. This amazing product has a ton of positive reviews on Sephora.

at Sephora or Amazon

 

#7 Pestle and Mortar Superstar Retinol Night Oil

Not only is this one made in Ireland and contains a superior blend of organic oils, it’s 100% free of animal derived raw materials and organic solvent remnants, paraben free, propylene glycol free, fragrance free, not tested on animals and more.

at Pestle and Mortar or Amazon

#8 Ren Bio Retinoid Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate Oil

This amazing product includes a unique extract – Brazilian white beggar’s stick flower, and does wonders without damaging the integrity of your skin. It helps boost collagen and it’s great for people who battle with dry skin. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles and helps repair sun damage. Kate Hudson uses it on her chest to prevent creppy skin.

at Dermstore or Amazon


#9 Verso Skincare Super Facial Oil Set

This product contains no dyes, mineral oils, or other harmful substances. It’s gentle, no breakouts and really delivers results (product users reported an 100% overall improvement and 86% improvement in eye wrinkles). Not bad, right?

at Sephora or Amazon

#10 111Skin Celestial Black Diamond Retinol Oil

This highly concentrated night treatment helps to rapidly resurface uneven skin texture by diminishing the appearance of age spots, wrinkles and fine lines.

at Bloomingdale’s or Amazon

 

#11 Ever Overnight Facial Cellular Renewal Oil

This highly effective, yet gentle formula will help you wake up to visibly younger, firmer, smoother and brighter-looking skin. There’s Teprenone in this particular product, which is thought to prolong cell life.

at Ever