You don't have to be well versed in the skincare world to know that retinol is a big deal. It's common knowledge that the product has a lot of benefits, especially anti-aging powers . "Retinol is a topical form of vitamin A," explains board-certified dermatologist Roberta Del Campo, MD . "It is technically a form of a retinoid, which helps to promote collagen production, which improves the firmness of the skin. It also brightens skin by speeding up cell turnover and is also used to treat acne and minimize pores." Joyce Imahiyerobo-Ip , MD, FAAD, owner of Vibrant Dermatology and SkinBar MD , says that there are different types of vitamin A derivatives: retinyl palmitate (weakest), retinol (stronger), retinaldehyde (even stronger), and finally retinoid (strongest). "In our 20s and early 30s, our skin cells turnover every 28-30 days. This explains the dewy, youthful appearance of skin in these age groups," she says. "However, as early as our ...