Retinol vs. Tretinoin: Which One Is More Effective?

You can basically get any over-the-counter products for common skin problems. Acne? Try Centella Asiatica. Dry and flaky skin? You can try the famous snail mucin. Booster for your skincare routine? Beauty devices such as facial cleansers, LED light tools, and facial massagers will bring your skincare game to the next level. Aging skin, wrinkles, acne, sun damage, uneven skin? Well, retinol and tretinoin might help with those.

Retinol and tretinoin are the two stand-out heroes to help your skin fight uneven and textured skin. So if retinol and tretinoin are similar ingredients, that treat similar skin problems, with a similar-sounding name, what makes them different?

What is retinol?

Retinol is one of the retinoids and a naturally derived chemical compound from vitamin A. Retinol is widely used for its anti-aging and brightening benefits in the form of serum or cream. It works by promoting dull skin turnover and revealing the healthier one underneath.

Before retinol works its magic in your skin, it will convert to retinal (retinaldehyde; and yes, retinol and retinal are different) first, and then it will be activated by becoming retinoic acid (such as tretinoin and Retin-A). So, it can be concluded that retinol takes more time to fully work, compared to tretinoin which takes no conversion.

What is tretinoin?

Tretinoin, or all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), is also one of the retinoids family. However, it is a synthetic and significantly more concentrated version of topical vitamin A. While both retinol and tretinoin work the same way by promoting skin cell turnover and stimulating collagen production, tretinoin’s advantage is in its pre-activated state. It is already in its active form, allowing it to work directly in your skin, making it more potent and delivering faster results than retinol.

Because of its higher potency, tretinoin requires a prescription from a dermatologist, unlike retinol which is available over the counter. Tretinoin is usually topically used to treat acne, fine lines, and sun-damaged skin.

So, what’s the difference between retinol and tretinoin?

• Conversion within the skin: retinol requires a two-step conversion process (becoming retinal and then retinoic acid) before it can finally work beneath your skin. Whereas tretinoin doesn’t need any more conversion because it is already a form of retinoic acid.
• Potency: due to its need for longer conversion steps, retinol is considered gentler than tretinoin. This means it has a slower activation time and potentially milder side effects. Tretinoin, rich in a more concentrated formula, can be up to 20 times more potent than retinol.
• Availability: the accessibility of these retinoids is another key difference. Retinol is readily available to purchase by everyone in various skincare products such as serums and creams. Tretinoin, however, is not available over the counter and needs a prescription.
• Suitability: retinol is a good option for beginners in retinoids. Tretinoin, often prescribed by dermatologists, is usually reserved for those with more severe skin concerns such as persistent acne.

Which one gives better results, retinol or tretinoin?

Ultimately, deciding between retinol and tretinoin doesn’t have a straight-up answer to the “Which one is better?” question. There’s generally no better option between retinol and tretinoin. Each of these chemical compounds is available in different ways to treat different levels of skin conditions. If you are new to retinoids, use retinol in gentle concentration (0.1–0.5%) first! Anyway, you have to know that retinol products in serum and cream forms also have different effectiveness and suitability (learn more about them here). However, if you seek quicker results, you can consult with your dermatologist about tretinoin!