If you’ve done any research on skin care, you’ve probably heard about retinol. A favorite of the skin-care industry for years, it’s true that retinol produces countless benefits for the skin. But retinol isn’t for everyone. For those with sensitive skin, it can cause irritation, flaking, and peeling; it can cause increased sun sensitivity; and most experts agree that it’s not suitable for use during pregnancy. Thankfully, there are some excellent alternatives out there, and the U.K.-based skin-care brand Facetheory makes several natural products that can deliver noticeable results without retinol’s harsh side effects.
As a reminder, retinol is a derivative of vitamin A that can penetrate deep into the skin to trigger cellular turnover and prevent the breakdown of collagen, which in turn promotes several skin benefits, including firming, brightening, and minimizing the appearance of hyperpigmentation and unwanted scarring. It’s popularly used as an effective acne treatment, too. But for some, the aforementioned side effects are insurmountable. So, there are good reasons to consider alternative products.
