If you’ve been enjoying (or simply laughing at) the return of the '90s styles of your youth, you probably want to consider adding a retinol to your grooming routine. If you're noticing deeper lines around your face or simply a less smooth texture to your skin, it can help. If you're annoyed at persistent breakouts, enlarged pores or dark spots, it can assist with that too.

Actually, there really isn't a skin issue that retinol, a popular vitamin A derivative, can't improve. And now's the perfect time to incorporate it into your nightly routine. (Yes, it does tend to make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so it's smart to put it on before bed.) “I love to ramp up exfoliation in the winter months to reduce dryness and flaky winter skin,” says Sofie Pavitt, the in-demand New York aesthetician. “Adding a retinol into your routine will speed up your cell turnover and diminish fine lines and wrinkles.”

While these products deliver miraculous results, they're not magic. And they don't work overnight. Experts advise that since the formulas work by augmenting the biology of the skin, it takes real time to transform the surface of your skin. You should start to see significant changes anywhere from eight to 12 weeks from the time you start using a retinol. But then it just keeps getting better.

But they do pack a punch. A lot of first-timers will notice some mild redness and/or dryness during their first week. That's why it's smart to start slow—only use it every few days and follow with a moisturizer to limit any unwanted side effects. Plus, it helps to choose the right product for you. We've pulled together some of the best for your needs.