Manna Sol Wellness

Retinoids are hailed as the ultimate anti-aging ingredient. So many dermatologists and skincare enthusiasts recommend adding them to your daily skincare routine, calling it the gold standard for fine lines, acne, and dull skin. But I’m just not convinced that it’s safe to use long-term, especially on a daily basis and here’s why.

The Mechanism of Action

The reason retinol is such a powerful skincare ingredient is because it speeds up your skin’s natural cell turnover process. This means your skin sheds dead cells faster and generates new ones more quickly. In the short term, this can lead to smoother texture, more even tone, and even boosted collagen production. Sounds great, right?

But here’s the thing: anything that forces your body to work in overdrive has a cost.

The Risks No One Talks About

Everyone is quick to rave about the glow, the bounce, the “baby skin” results. But few people pause to question the potential risks.

When you increase cell turnover too aggressively, you’re not giving your skin the time it needs to naturally regenerate and repair. One of the known long term usage risks of retinol is skin thinning which can leave your skin more susceptible to damage. Constantly pushing your skin to produce new cells can lead to inflammation, irritation, and in my opinion premature depletion of your skin’s own resilience.

And let’s not forget that accelerated cell division can theoretically increase the risk of mutations. While research hasn’t confirmed a direct link between retinoids and cancer in humans, the concern isn’t entirely far-fetched especially when you consider that retinoids make your skin significantly more sensitive to UV damage, one of the biggest contributors to skin aging and skin cancer in the first place.

Not to mention, the effects of retinoid usage coupled with our already toxic exposures of modern day such as blue light, poor eating habits, toxic beauty products, and polluted air have yet to be studied. Our cells are already under so much stress as it is, why add more fuel to the fire?

Is It Really Anti-Aging, Though?

Here’s the part that doesn’t sit right with me: our skin already regenerates at its own natural pace. Aging happens because, over time, our cells divide more slowly, and eventually they make more mistakes — that’s just biology. So if you’re constantly forcing your skin to regenerate faster than it’s meant to, doesn’t that risk using up your skin’s resources sooner? Retinoids might make skin look fresher in the short term, but in my view, that’s not true anti-aging — that’s just acceleration. And I’d rather age slowly, naturally, and support my skin’s pace, not override it.

Short-Term Tool, Not a Lifelong Crutch

To be clear, I’m not saying retinoids are evil. They can be incredibly helpful in short-term, targeted settings — like treating acne flare-ups, fading stubborn hyperpigmentation, or even supporting certain types of skin cancer treatments. In these contexts, the benefits can outweigh the risks. But what doesn’t sit right with me is the idea of using something this strong every single day, indefinitely, on otherwise healthy skin. That feels less like prevention and more like burnout. To me, long-term use of an ingredient that accelerates cellular turnover just seems counterintuitive to what true skin longevity is about. Why would we want to age faster in the name of looking younger?

What I Use Instead

Rather than force my skin into overdrive, I prefer to support it gently with ingredients that nourish, protect, and strengthen my barrier.

Here’s a list of natural anti-aging ingredients:

• Bakuchiol – Often called the “natural retinol alternative,” it offers many of the same benefits as retinol (like increased collagen production and smoother skin) without the irritation or sun sensitivity. It’s also antioxidant-rich and safe for sensitive skin.
• Rosehip Seed Oil – A rich source of vitamin A in a natural form, this oil helps improve skin tone and texture while delivering essential fatty acids to keep the skin barrier intact. When I was using this daily in high school my acne ridden skin improved so much!
• Sea Buckthorn Oil – Full of carotenoids, omega-7, and antioxidants. It helps the skin repair and regenerate in a much more nourishing, non-aggressive way.
• Niacinamide – Supports barrier function, evens out skin tone, and reduces inflammation — all without triggering peeling or flaking.
• Low-dose natural vitamin A (from food or oil sources) – I prefer to support my skin from the inside out with nutrient-dense foods that help my body naturally regulate its skin health and hormone balance.

My Takeaway

I get it — retinoids work for a lot of people, and I’m not here to shame anyone who loves them. But for me, anti-aging is about support, not premature acceleration. I want to work with my body, not against it.

If you’re someone who’s felt overwhelmed or irritated by the pressure to use retinoids, let this be your permission slip to opt out. There are other paths to healthy, radiant skin that don’t require you to stress out your skin barrier or rely on harsh actives forever.