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Best over the counter retinoids
16
items As someone who now uses tretinoin I'm really picky about retinoids so these are the higher strength ones you can get without prescription
Sections
3
Adapalene
Retinal
Granactive Retinoid
Adapalene
This is great for acne and it does an amazing job, it's also more stable than tretinoin. It isn't as well tested as the other tretinoin derivates for anti aging, that's why I'll add more options
Adapalene Retinoid Acne Treatment - Differin Gel
Retinal
This serum has a 0,2% retinal concentration, the highest you can get over the counter. It's great for acne but also wrinkles and it doesn't get much better than this.
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
This serum contains both retinaldehyde and bakuchiol, which is a plant based retinol alternative, making it less irritating but really potent
ByWishtrend - Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream - 30ml
We can't forget our body so I added this lotion which contains retinal, bakuchiol, aha and bha to deal with acne and skin texture but also beta-glucan, urea and niacinamide to make your skin glow
ByWishtrend - Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Body Lotion - 150g
Retinaldehyde is only one conversion step away from tretinoin, which makes it 11 times stronger than retinol yet it's also less irritating. This serum with 0,05% retinaldehyde is a great option for beginners
A-Game 5 - Geek & Gorgeous US
This serum is a step above the last one bringing it to 0,1% retinal
A-Game 10 - Geek & Gorgeous US
This serum is the highest retinal strength you can get without prescription so it's better for advanced users
A-Game 20 - Geek & Gorgeous US
This is an amazing line, it has different strengths for people who can tolerate less or more retinal and it also contains various vitamin c derivatives to help with hyperpigmentation
Crystal Retinal - Medik8-US
This is one of the first retinal serums I found and it's absolutely amazing
RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream | Avène USA - Avene
This is a super gentle retinal eye cream to target fine lines
Beauty of Joseon - Revive Eye Serum - YesStyle
eye version of the medik8 line
Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye | Vitamin A Serum - Medik8-US
Granactive Retinoid
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate is a retinoic acid ester which means it's just as active as tretinoin, that's why I think it's a great ingredient in retinoid serums
This is a great retinoid serum if you're on a budget! It's super cheap but highly effective
Retinol | Revolution Skincare
Dr Sam usually has super formulations since she's an expert, this product in particular shines not only for the granactive retinoid but also the azelaic acid, niacinamide and bakuchiol
Flawless Nightly 2% Retinoid Serum - Dr Sam's
I love this serum cause it isn't your typical retinol serum, it also contains Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Retinol Serum to Reduce Wrinkles - 30ml - The Inkey List
Advanced formula but with lower side effects
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
similar to the ordinary one
Granactive Retinoid 02% - Minimalist Global