Is retinol essential or not?

I need some advice because I'm a bit hesitant about retinol. I'm 24 and I've run out of the retinol serum I used to use occasionally, but I'm not sure whether I should buy it again. My skin is simply combination and sensitive, not particularly oily and without acne or any major problems. I'm trying to figure out whether retinol, from an anti-aging/preventative perspective, is truly "essential" or not. In your opinion, from what age does it really make sense to use it consistently? And above all: would you consider it necessary even for skin with no particular needs at 24?