No, retinol does not make you age faster. In fact, it works by helping to minimize and prevent signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. When first starting using retinol, your skin may go through an adjustment period where it looks and feels drier, which may make signs of aging look more prevalent (particularly fine lines and wrinkles). This should subside within a few weeks as your skin adjusts to the new ingredient. It should also be noted that retinol makes the skin more photosensitive, so you should always wear sunscreen to combat the negative effects the sun has on the skin.