{"id":10269,"date":"2021-12-22T12:59:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-22T20:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=10269"},"modified":"2023-10-12T16:13:03","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T23:13:03","slug":"retinol-vs-vitamin-c-for-skincare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/retinol-vs-vitamin-c-for-skincare","title":{"rendered":"Retinol vs. Vitamin C for Skincare: Know the Difference and What’s Right for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you’ve heard about the “skin-saving, life-changing” benefits of retinol and vitamin C but don’t quite know what they are or what the difference is between the two, you’re not alone. They’re both buzzy (and, we might add, legit) skin-care ingredients that offer many anti-aging benefits, but the science behind how each works is different. <\/p>

What is retinol, and what does it do?<\/strong><\/h2>

In your skin-care routine research, you may have come across words like retinol<\/em>, retinoid,<\/em> and Retin-A<\/em><\/a>. They all sound similar, which can lead to confusion.<\/p>

“‘Retinoid’ is a generic, umbrella term for any topical product that contains a vitamin A derivative,” explains New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shari Marchbein<\/a>. They can be available either over the counter, in skin-care products, or via prescription, from your doctor. Prescription retinoids include tretinoin (the key ingredient in Retin-A and Renova) and tazarotene<\/a>. <\/p>

Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

The most common over-the-counter retinoids that you find in creams and serums are retinol and retinyl palmitate, “with retinol being stronger and more effective than retinyl palmitate,” says Dr. Marchbein. <\/p>

For the purposes of this article, we’re focusing on retinol. <\/p>

Overall, retinol helps to unclog pores; stimulate collagen production, reduce fine lines<\/a>; increase skin cell turnover, smooth the skin; and even out pigmentation and discoloration<\/a>. “I believe that [retinol] has gotten very popular because, out of all the topical anti-aging ingredients out there, retinol is second only to sunscreen in its tried-and-true ability to combat skin aging—it’s been around for decades now, and we have lots of data to demonstrate its efficacy,” says New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King<\/a>. <\/p>

Unlike vitamin C (more on that later), retinols “are also very helpful in treating acne, especially comedonal acne [i.e., blackheads and whiteheads],” says New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jody Levine<\/a>. “Vitamin C is healthy for the skin … [but] isn’t as effective in collagen synthesis and antiaging as retinol is.”<\/p>

Related: Retinol: The Skincare Ingredient Your Future Self Needs Now<\/a><\/em><\/p>

What is vitamin C, and what does it do? <\/strong><\/h2>

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid,  is an antioxidant that works to neutralize free radicals (pollution, smoke, UV rays) that can break down the collagen in your skin, causing more visible signs of aging. “In general, a vitamin C serum helps to protect the skin from the effects of UV rays [but it is not a sunblock and should always be paired with an SPF of at least 30], reduce the appearance of sunspots and discoloration, refine skin texture and skin tone, reduce wrinkle formation, and lessen the appearance of existing wrinkles,” says Dr. Levine.  <\/p>

Vitamin C has been proven to help reduce UV damage, but you might not want to cast it aside when the sun starts to fade and temperatures start to drop. “Vitamin C also appears to benefit dry skin and support wound healing, but further research is needed,” says Dr. King. <\/p>

\n