Tretinoin vs Retinol vs Retinoid: Defining the Differences

Even among skincare novices, retinol has gained prominent status as an anti-blemish and anti-aging ingredient. But while researching retinol, you might have also come across terms like ‘retinoids’ and ‘tretinoin’ – and this is where things start to get a little more complicated.

So, what is tretinoin vs retinoids vs retinol? Before introducing any one of these powerful vitamin A derivatives into your skincare routine, it’s important to know what type of ingredient you’re dealing with, along with its benefits and drawbacks.

Join us as we embark on a fact-finding mission to understand the differences between retinol and retinoids and tretinoin in this expert guide.

The Ultimate Anti-aging Skincare Routine

Tretinoin vs retinol vs retinoids: key points

We know there is a lot of information to absorb when it comes to tretinoin vs retinol vs retinoids overall, so we find it helpful to start with these key points:

A retinoid is the umbrella term for vitamin A-derived compounds formulated in skincare products and doctor-prescribed medication.
Tretinoin is the strongest type of retinoid and is available by prescription-only – you’ll often see this ingredient formulated in a cream or gel product.
Retinol is formulated in over-the-counter products like serums and moisturisers.
All types of retinoids can heighten skin sensitivity, so ensure you incorporate moisturisers and SPF into your routine to mitigate these side effects. We recommend the Rénergie H.P.N. 300-Peptide Rich Cream, which plumps, brightens and hydrates.
There are many retinol benefits for skin , and retinoids in general can be highly effective when it comes to improving skin clarity and combatting aging concerns.

Now, we’ll take you through each of these potent vitamin A derivatives.

What are retinoids?

Retinoids are a category of vitamin A derivatives used in skincare and oral medication to manage mild to severe blemish-prone skin and aging concerns like wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

Both topical and oral retinoids vary in strength. Some are available over the counter in skincare products, while others – like isotretinoin, which you may recognise as ‘Roaccutane’ – are prescription-only.

Whether we’re talking about tretinoin, retinol or retinoid, all three ingredients fall in the vitamin A family, but we can think of retinoids as the ‘parent’ of retinol and tretinoin.

What is retinol?

Retinol, which you are probably already familiar with, is a milder type of retinoid, and one used widely in skincare products to target blemishes and visible aging concerns.

Unlike stronger vitamin A derivatives, retinol is only available in lower concentrations of 0.1% to 1.0%. Anything higher will fall into the prescription-only category.

While retinol is considered gentler than its other retinoid counterparts, it is still a powerful ingredient that can cause redness, tightness and dryness, as well as increased photosensitivity.

What is tretinoin?

Tretinoin is a synthetic form of vitamin A and a very powerful type of retinoid. Like retinol or retinoids, tretinoin is used to address:

Blemish-prone skin
Dark spots and other hyperpigmentation
Surface fine lines and wrinkles
Loss of skin elasticity

However, unlike milder retinoids, it is available as a topical prescription-only cream or gel. Tretinoin generally has fast-acting effects on mild to severe blemish-prone skin – although tingling and itching sensations, as well as redness, are common on the areas where it is applied.

Retinoids vs retinol vs tretinoin: what are the differences?

Remember, a ‘retinoid’ is the blanket term for all topical and oral vitamin A derivatives – so, think tretinoin or retinol. For a retinoid to be effective, it goes through an enzyme reaction on the skin to convert to retinoid acid – its ‘active form’¹
Let’s compare tretinoin vs retinol:

Retinol is converted to retinoic acid through a two-step oxidation process.
Tretinoin is pure retinoic acid in topical form – it doesn’t need to be converted.

This means:

Retinol goes through two conversions to retinoid acid. While this makes it less potent than tretinoin, it also has fewer side effects – so it is generally more tolerated.
Tretinoin goes through zero conversions, which makes it the most potent type of retinoid – but it can also cause redness, flakiness, peeling, and skin purging.

Retinol or retinoids or tretinoin: which one is right for me?

Retinoids, retinol, and tretinoin all perform a very similar function on the skin: stimulating skin cell turnover and collagen synthesis. In doing so, this helps promote smoother, brighter, clearer skin – a huge asset in anti-blemish and anti-aging skincare routines. But since their concentrations and side effects vary, you’ll need to factor in the difference between retinol and retinoids and tretinoin before deciding which is right for you.

Lancôme’s Skincare Specialist, Brittany Hanchard, shares her suggestions:

“If you are dabbling in retinoids for the first time, retinol is usually the safest best. If you are new to retinol or your skin is on the sensitive side, always start slow when you are learning how to apply retinol and gradually increase usage. For anything stronger than an over-the-counter retinoid – like tretinoin – you will need to speak with a dermatologist first.”

Regardless of where you sit in your journey of retinoids vs retinol vs tretinoin, moisturiser and SPF should always be fixtures in your skincare routine. Because retinoids dry out the skin and make you more prone to sun damage, we suggest boosting hydration with a nutrient-rich moisturiser and applying daily SPF to keep your skin protected.

What is tretinoin?

If you’ve chosen to incorporate retinol or retinoids into your skincare routine, find out how to layer serums to ensure your skin stays hydrated and protected.

¹https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6791161/