Can retinol make wrinkles look worse?Updated a year ago
Retinol, especially stronger forms of it like retinoic acid, can make wrinkles look worse initially. Usually, this is a side-effect of irritation and skin peeling, which may make wrinkles more pronounced.
We don’t think that’s a desirable effect, though - while retinoic acid will still ultimately fade wrinkles in the long term, any temporary irritation actually compromises the process. We think it’s best to choose options like retinal, which are less likely to cause irritation and often reduce wrinkle visibility very quickly.