Following on from our recent beauty & skincare award we wanted to share this.
We are always happy to offer a free no obligation consultation with our medical doctor to discuss your skincare needs.
Vitamin A skincare can be confusing – especially when products use different names and percentages.
The simple version? Retinoid is the umbrella term for the vitamin A family. Retinol, retinal and retinoid complexes are different types or formulations within that family.
RETINOL
Retinol is probably the most familiar form of vitamin A in skincare.
It needs two conversion steps in the skin before becoming the active form. This makes it a popular choice for gradually introducing vitamin A into your routine.
It can help with:
✨ Fine lines and wrinkles
✨ Skin texture
✨ Uneven skin tone
✨ Collagen production
✨ Overall skin health
RETINAL
Retinal is one step closer to the active form, so it needs one conversion step.
It can be a step up from retinol and is often chosen by people looking for a little more from their vitamin A skincare, particularly for texture, tone and signs of ageing.
RETINOID COMPLEX
This is where things can get a little confusing!
A retinoid complex isn’t necessarily one single retinoid. It can contain a blend of different retinoid ingredients, often formulated to provide the benefits of vitamin A while aiming to keep the product comfortable and well tolerated.
The percentage on the bottle isn’t necessarily comparable with the percentage of retinol in another product – 5% retinoid complex, for example, does not mean 5% retinol.
So which is best?
There isn’t one answer for everyone.
The best retinoid is one that your skin can tolerate and use consistently. More isn’t always better, and introducing vitamin A gradually is usually the best approach.
For those new to retinol we recommend Noon Aesthetics Retinol Charisma 0.3% as a gentle introduction to retinol. (This is actually the one I still use over a year later- it just works!)
And whichever vitamin A product you use, remember the essentials: start slowly, moisturise well and wear SPF every morning.
If you’re unsure which type is right for your skin we’re always happy to help you choose.
⚠️ A note about oral retinoids ⚠️
You may also see isotretinoin (Roaccutane) mentioned online. Isotretinoin is also a vitamin A derivative (retinoid) but it is a powerful oral prescription onlybmedicine POM, primarily used for severe acne when other treatments haven’t worked.
It is not simply a stronger version of your skincare retinoid and should only be prescribed within an appropriate specialist dermatology led pathway, with careful assessment and ongoing monitoring including blood tests and mental health monitoring.
For anyone who could become pregnant, there are strict pregnancy prevention requirements, as isotretinoin is teratogenic (can cause serious harm to an unborn baby).
Please don’t buy isotretinoin online or take it without appropriate specialist assessment and monitoring. The risks of an oral retinoid are very different from those of topical retinoids used in skincare.