Retinol or Argan Oil: which one for your skin?

Retinol works on the skin's structure, while argan oil focuses on its comfort. They are not interchangeable and do not aim for the same result. The question is not about choosing between them, but understanding what each provides.

Two Different Natures

What Retinol Does

It is a derivative of Vitamin A, and the active ingredient with the most documented action on the signs of aging. Retinol accelerates the renewal of surface cells and supports collagen production.

Its results focus on established wrinkles, texture, and the appearance of pores. These results are real but slow: allow three to six months of regular application before assessing them.

Its downside is initial irritation—redness, flaking, increased sensitivity—which lasts a few weeks if introduced gradually.

What Argan Oil Does

Argan oil is extracted from the kernels of the argan tree, native to southwestern Morocco. Its composition is rich in oleic acid and linoleic acid, with a fraction of vitamin E.

This oil nourishes and softens. On skin that feels tight or lacks suppleness, argan oil produces a noticeable effect from the moment of application, something retinol never does.

It does not act on established wrinkles and does not deeply alter texture. It is a fatty substance, with the qualities and limitations of a fatty substance.

Why the Comparison Is Flawed

One works on structure, the other on the surface. Argan oil applied for ten years will not achieve what retinol does in six months for a wrinkle.

Conversely, retinol provides no lipids: on dry skin, it can even worsen the situation in the first few weeks. This is precisely where argan oil becomes useful.

Making Them Work Together

This is the most relevant use. Argan oil applied after retinol seals and limits initial discomfort.

The order matters: retinol first, on perfectly dry skin, then the oil as the final layer. An oil applied beforehand would form a film that would hinder the active ingredient's penetration.

Some also apply a thin layer of oil before retinol to cushion it further. Tolerance improves, but efficacy diminishes slightly: this is a compromise reserved for skin that cannot tolerate it otherwise.

Which to Choose if You Only Take One

For wrinkles and texture: retinol, with no plant-based equivalent.

For tight, inelastic skin: argan oil, for immediate results.

For very reactive skin: argan oil alone for one month, before considering a retinoid.

Limited budget: argan oil, whose liter costs much less than most serums.

Choosing an Argan Oil

Cold-pressed, un-deodorized, in a dark bottle. Cosmetic argan oil does not have the roasted scent of culinary oil, which comes from toasted kernels.

The ingredient list should be a single line: Argania spinosa kernel oil. Any addition dilutes the product without improving it.

Application, in Practice

Two to three drops of oil are enough for the entire face. Warm them between your palms and press onto the skin rather than spreading.

Retinol, on the other hand, requires a pea-sized amount, on dry skin. Applying more does not speed up results and increases redness.

Introducing Retinol Without Getting Discouraged

Two evenings the first fortnight, then every other evening the following month, and more thereafter if there is no flaking. Progression is adjusted based on what the skin shows, not on a fixed schedule.

Argan oil, meanwhile, can be applied daily without restriction, including on evenings without retinol.

Sun Exposure

Retinol increases sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Daily sun protection is part of the regimen. Argan oil, conversely, has no effect on photosensitivity—and also does not provide protection.

Before You Begin

These products are cosmetic and improve skin appearance without treating medical conditions. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, retinol is not recommended—consult a healthcare professional before use.

Nourishing is not renewing

Argan oil addresses a lipid deficiency; retinol acts on surface renewal. Dry and marked skin needs both approaches, and a bakuchiol oil serum provides the latter without the adaptation period required by retinol.