Retinol, vitamin A, and tretinoin – what’s the difference? What do these ingredients do? Should I be using them? What are the benefits? Any risks? Let us help you choose the right vitamin product for your skin.

Retinol and tretinoin are both forms of topical vitamin A. Depending on their active form, they will have slightly different effects on the skin. Vitamin A serums can be good for antioxidant protection, sun damage correction, pigment correction, smoothing skin texture, improving fine lines, boosting collagen production, strengthening the skin’s immunity, and helping to make your skin look younger- brighter and more radiant with less fine lines. GREAT! So which one should I use?

You can use vitamin A serums that are combined with other ingredients, like Allmedic’s Complete Repair Serum (30ml $110). This product is designed to be an all-in-one serum with antiaging benefits. The vitamin A in this product offers antioxidant protection and is great for aging, sensitive skin, breakout, and sun damage. Once you finish your Complete Repair Serum you may choose to progress to a stronger vitamin A product. Apply 1 pump to the face, or 2-3 pumps to face, neck and chest every evening under your moisturiser.

Mesoestetic’s Post-peel 1% Retinol Concentrate (100mL $198) is a straight vitamin A serum containing retinol. Retinol is a strong form of topical vitamin A that offers so many benefits to the skin. This ultra-concentrated serum prevents and corrects sun damage, improves pigmentation and fine lines, stimulates new collagen production, strengthens the skin’s immunity, increases cell turnover for smoother, brighter skin, and helps combat acne and aging. We recommend retinol to most of our clients as part of their homecare routine because it offers so many benefits to the types of skin we see here in our Cairns clinic. Apply 1 pump to the face every other night under your moisturiser, build up to every night. You must use SPF50+ every day and only use this serum at night.

Tretinoin is the strongest form of vitamin A cream on the market. It is only available with a prescription. It offers all of the same effects of retinol serums, but because it is a stronger form of vitamin A, it does everything more efficiently and faster. This product is great for sun damage and acne, as well as aging skin. Because it increases cell turnover, your skin becomes more sun sensitive than other forms of vitamin A. You must wear sunscreen every single day, and only use tretinoin at night time. Lower percentages can be used on the neck and chest, while stronger percentages can be used on the face with caution. You may notice some flaking on your skin when you first start using tretinoin, and sometimes even some pinkness. This resolves as your skin gets used to the ingredient. Tretinoin is especially fantastic for ace, aging, and sun damaged skin. It can help to clear clogged skin, fade pigmentation, and improve fine lines. This product is prescription only, and we will discuss all the details with you during your consultation. 50g, $140.

There are many forms of vitamin A and therefore many different products to choose from. Strongest isn’t always best when it comes to vitamin A, because you can end up with irritation. Often beginning with a milder form of the ingredient and building up your skin’s tolerance is the best way to go. We love vitamin A because of the many benefits it offers our client’s skin. Need more info? Drop in and chat to one of our experienced staff about which product is right your you.