R etinol is the buzziest ingredient in skincare – and for good reason. You’ve almost certainly heard of it, but are you actually using it? Some studies suggest topical retinol can improve the appearance of fine lines and other signs of skin ageing . I’ve been using it to smooth the look of wrinkles and rejuvenate my complexion for years, and here’s why it’s worthy of a place in your routine, too.

Let me first point out that when I say retinol, I’m really talking about a wider family of retinoids – vitamin A derivatives that include retinol itself. Retinol is just one member of the family, but it’s become well known thanks to its widespread use in over-the-counter skincare.

The benefits of retinoids, from accelerating cell turnover to stimulating collagen production , are well evidenced.…