Why retinol is bad for you

Retinol in skin care products are marketed as a great ingredient but it may not be all that.  Why retinol is bad for you may come as a surprise.

What is retinol?

Retinol is actually Vitamin A.  We know vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin.  In skin care products, it is helpful for acne and anti-aging, according to The Cleveland Clinic.  It can help acne because it can aid in getting rid of excess dead skin cells.  Exfoliation does the same thing.  Retinol can also help your cells turnover quicker and more efficiently.  This is helpful as we age because the natural process actually slows down so sometimes, we need some help.

Sounds great, doesn’t it?  Vitamins are good for us, right?  Of course they are.  But, are they always?  Why retinol is bad for you may surprise you.

Why retinol is bad for you

The benefits of retinol are great – acne fighting and anti-aging!  Awesome.  We all need that at some point.  The problem with some retinol products is that it can cause tumors so it shouldn’t be used in sunscreen.  If you find any sunscreen with retinol or Vitamin A, you should stay away from it, according to the Environmental Working Group.

The Marketing!

Unfortunately, companies often only worry about their bottom line.  Adding ingredients that sound like they’re good for us is a tactic they sometimes use.  This is exactly why you need to be vigilant to stay healthy.  Vitamin A / Retinol is fine but not when it’s in sunscreen.  Use it in skin care products when you won’t be in the sun.  For example, use it in your night cream but not in your day moisturizer or sunscreen.