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Retinal vs. Retinol vs. Tretinoin: How Are They Different?

Article Overview

Retinoids are specific forms of vitamin A used in skincare to address breakouts, skin texture and ageing skin concerns. These forms, including retinol, retinal, and tretinoin, vary in strength, conversion process and efficacy, with not all forms suitable for every skin type. So how do these retinoids compare to one another? Below, we'll breakdown three well-known retinoids, how they differ to one another, and how to choose the right option for your skin needs.

What are retinoids?

Retinoids are a class of chemical compounds derived from Vitamin A. They're widely used in skincare for their ability to increase skin cell turnover, promote collagen production, and unclog pores. This leads to a variety of benefits, particularly for mature skin and blemish-prone skin, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, and manage breakouts.

What are the different types of retinoids?

There are several forms found in the retinoid family, but the most commonly used in skincare are: retinol, retinal and tretinoin. All retinoids convert to retinoic acid, a vitamin A form that is able to interact with cells in the body, and all retinoids help in promoting collagen production and skin cell turnover.

What is retinol?

Retinol is an over-the-counter form of vitamin A, used in serums and creams to promote collagen production and skin cell turnover, retinol provides a number of anti-ageing and anti-breakouts benefits. The conversion process from retinol to retinoic acid (the form that actually interacts with cells in the body) is two steps, meaning it’s not as strong as other forms and may show slower results. It is, however, a more stable form of vitamin A, which makes it more commonly used in skincare. Like all retinoids, it can still cause irritation and should be gradually introduced into your skincare routine.

What is retinal?

Retinal, also known as retinaldehyde, is a more effective, more potent over-the-counter retinoid. It promotes skin cell renewal and collagen production like retinol, but only requires one step to convert to retinoic acid, leading to faster, more noticeable results. Despite being a more potent retinoid, retinal is less irritating on the skin compared to retinol, so may be better for more sensitive skin. However, retinal can degrade quickly and be difficult to stabilise, which is why most over-the-counter products are formulated with retinol.

What is tretinoin?

Tretinoin, or retinoic acid, is one of the most potent retinoids available. It’s an active form of vitamin A that’s only available with a prescription, being much stronger, faster-working and more effective than retinol or retinal. Its strength makes it best suited to those with serious blemish-prone skin or for significant anti-ageing needs. Because of its strength, it’s not recommended for those with milder skin concerns, and not recommended for sensitive skin types. There is also an increased risk of side effects like skin purging, but these should subside over time.

Retinal vs Retinol vs Tretinoin: A breakdown

Retinoid form	Retinol	Retinal	Tretinoin
Suitable for	Individuals new to retinoids and more sensitive skin types	Individuals looking for faster results	Serious, persistent skin concerns, , more significant ageing skin concerns
Targets	Breakouts, early signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin texture and tone	Breakouts, moderate signs of ageing, hyperpigmentation	acne-prone skin, significant signs of skin ageing, deep wrinkles and age spots
Conversion process	Two steps	One step	Active form, no conversion steps
Prescription or OTC	OTC	OTC	Prescription
Strength	Mild strength	Mild-medium strength	Very strong
Side effects	Skin irritation, dryness	Mild dryness or skin irritation	Skin irritation, dryness, skin purging
Effectiveness	Noticeable results in 4-6 weeks	Noticeable results in 2-4 weeks	Noticeable results in 6-10 weeks

What is tretinoin?

Choosing between retinol, retinal and tretinoin will depend on a few factors. A few questions to ask yourself are:

How significant are your skin concerns?

If you want to address milder signs of ageing like fine lines and wrinkles, or address persistent but mild breakouts, start with retinol. More significant skin concerns will require a stronger form.

What retinoids have you used before?

Anyone new to retinoids should start with retinol being the milder form. If you have used retinol and haven’t seen benefits, you may want to look for stronger options.

What are your lifestyle commitments?

Stronger retinoids require more commitment, including more careful application and monitoring. Retinol, while monitoring is still necessary, doesn’t require as much time and commitment.

Have you spoken to a healthcare professional?

The best way to determine which retinoid is suitable for you is by speaking to a dermatologist, as they can recommend a more tailored skincare routine for your needs. Both retinol and retinal are over-the-counter, but tretinoin should only be used with a prescription.

Incorporating retinoids into your skincare routine

No matter the strength or formula, retinol, retinal and retinoic acids should be gradually introduced into your routine. The retinisation process causes dryness, irritation and possible skin peeling, even in milder forms, so it's important to restore hydration with a moisturiser or hydrating serum, and use a broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen every day. With the right personalised skincare routine, retinoids can help with visible signs of ageing, blemish-prone skin and unwanted discolouration or skin texture.