Love retinol but want something stronger? A tretinoin skincare routine might be your perfect solution. Tretinoin (also called all-trans retinoic acid) is a powerful retinoid—a vitamin A derivative like retinol, but far more effective. “Tretinoin outperforms retinol in every way,” says dermatologist Richard Bottiglione. This single ingredient delivers multiple benefits, which is why skin experts often recommend routines built around it.
### How to Build a Tretinoin Skincare Routine:
– **Evening Cleanser:** La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser ($15)
– **Tretinoin Treatment:** Musely The Anti-Aging Cream ($34)
– **Renewing Serum:** Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP ($92)
– **Nighttime Moisturizer:** SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 ($155)
– **Morning Cleanser:** Garnier Micellar Water With Hyaluronic Acid + Aloe ($8)
– **Vitamin C Serum:** Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C Serum ($65)
– **Light Moisturizer:** The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA ($7)
– **Sunscreen:** Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 ($40)
Tretinoin works by speeding up skin cell turnover, making it great for treating acne, wrinkles, dark spots, and sun damage. “It sheds dead skin, unclogs pores, and boosts collagen for firmer, smoother skin over time,” explains dermatologist Anetta Reszko.
### Why Tretinoin Beats Retinol
Unlike retinol, which your skin must convert to retinoic acid, tretinoin is already in its active form—so it works faster and more powerfully. However, this strength comes with side effects like dryness, peeling, and redness (often called the “retinoid uglies”). “Many mistake these for allergies and quit too soon,” says facial plastic surgeon Babak Azizzadeh.
The key to success? Consistency, patience, and a supportive skincare routine.
### Your Evening Routine:
1. **Cleanse:** Start with a gentle, hydrating cleanser to remove impurities without stripping your skin.
2. **Apply Tretinoin:** Use your prescribed tretinoin cream on dry skin.
3. **Hydrate & Repair:** Follow with peptides and a rich moisturizer to soothe and strengthen your skin barrier.
Since tretinoin increases sun sensitivity, always use it at night and never skip sunscreen during the day. With the right approach, you’ll see brighter, healthier skin over time.Here’s your rewritten text in clear, natural English:
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**Prepare Your Skin for Tretinoin**
To ensure your skin is as comfortable as possible before applying tretinoin, start with a gentle cleanser.
**La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser** – $15 (Amazon)
This lightweight, creamy cleanser contains hydrating glycerin, nourishing ceramides, and soothing niacinamide to support your skin’s barrier while maintaining its natural pH.
**CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser** – $15 (Amazon)
Though it effectively removes excess oil, this foaming formula won’t strip your skin, thanks to ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
**PM Step 2: Apply a Pea-Sized Amount of Tretinoin**
After cleansing and patting your skin dry, apply a pea-sized amount of tretinoin to your face, avoiding the eyes, mouth, and any broken skin. It may seem like a tiny amount, but that’s all you need for results.
“Avoid over-applying—more product doesn’t mean better results,” advises Dr. Reszko. Let the tretinoin absorb for a few minutes before moving to the next step, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the skin.
**Nurx Tretinoin Cream** – $30 (Nurx)
**Musely The Anti-Aging Cream** – $34 (Musely)
**PM Step 3: Use a Skin-Renewing Serum**
While you sleep, your skin repairs itself. Boost this process with a repair serum after tretinoin. A good serum enhances skin renewal and soothes irritation.
**Nocturnal Polar Night Renewal Serum** – $178 (Nocturnal)
This lightweight yet deeply nourishing serum contains peptides that stimulate collagen production, along with niacinamide, evening primrose oil, and oat-derived lipids for added repair.
**Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP** – $92 (Amazon)
Packed with hydrators like hyaluronic acid and peptides that smooth fine lines, this serum pairs perfectly with tretinoin.
**PM Step 4: Support Your Skin Barrier with a Rich Moisturizer**
Since tretinoin can dry and irritate skin, lock in moisture with a barrier-supporting moisturizer.
“Look for ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and fatty acids to boost hydration and repair,” says Dr. Reszko.
**EltaMD Barrier Renewal Complex** – $62 (Amazon)
Designed for dry, compromised skin, this strengthens the barrier with ceramides and squalane while reducing redness and fine lines.
**SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2** – $155 (Bluemercury)
Clinically proven to ease retinoid adjustment, this moisturizer restores the skin barrier with ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
**Morning Tretinoin Skincare Essentials**
Dr. Reszko recommends a morning routine with gentle cleansing, antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and strong sun protection.
**AM Step 1: Gently Cleanse Again**
Your skin won’t need much cleansing in the morning—just remove excess oil or leftover products with a mild, hydrating cleanser or micellar water.
**Garnier Micellar Water with Hyaluronic Acid + Aloe** – $8 (Amazon)
Apply this to a cotton pad and swipe over your skin to remove residue while hydrating with hyaluronic acid and soothing aloe.
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Let me know if you’d like any further refinements!**Morning Skincare Routine with Tretinoin**
**Step 1: Cleanse Gently**
Start with a mild, non-foaming cleanser like **Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser** ($19, Amazon). Its creamy formula uses micellar technology to remove impurities while soothing skin with niacinamide and panthenol.
**Step 2: Soothe and Protect with Antioxidant Serums**
Antioxidants are essential when using tretinoin, as it increases skin sensitivity to environmental damage.
– **Paula’s Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum** ($65, Amazon) – This serum brightens and evens skin tone with THD ascorbate (a gentle vitamin C derivative) and restorative glutathione. Its creamy texture absorbs quickly without irritation.
– **Neova SmartSkincare DNA Total Repair Serum** ($125, Amazon) – Packed with DNA repair enzymes and antioxidants, this formula helps heal oxidative damage while strengthening skin against future stressors. Safe for even sensitive skin.
**Step 3: Nourish with a Lightweight Moisturizer**
Combat tretinoin-induced dryness with a fragrance-free moisturizer containing ceramides, peptides, and squalane.
– **The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA** ($7, Amazon) – A fast-absorbing cream with urea, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and ceramide precursors to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier.
– **Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream** ($54, Amazon) – Features squalane, peptides, ceramides, and probiotics to calm and nourish dry, stressed skin.
**Step 4: Apply Sunscreen (Non-Negotiable!)**
Tretinoin increases sun sensitivity, so daily SPF is a must. Opt for broad-spectrum mineral sunscreen (SPF 30+).
– **Skinbetter Sunbetter Tone Smart SPF 75** ($75, Skinbetter) – A tinted mineral sunscreen that adapts to your skin tone, offering light-to-medium coverage while soothing with niacinamide and green tea.
– **Supergoop! Glowscreen Soft-Radiance Drops SPF 40** ($40, Supergoop) – A pearlescent mineral sunscreen with pea-flower extract to protect and enhance your skin’s glow.
**Choosing the Right Tretinoin Strength**
Tretinoin comes in concentrations ranging from 0.025% to 0.1%. Beginners or those with sensitive skin should start with a low strength (0.025%) in a cream base to minimize irritation, dryness, and peeling. Gradually increase potency as your skin adjusts.If you have dry or sensitive skin, your doctor will probably recommend starting with a lower concentration of tretinoin, says Dr. Azizzadeh. However, if you’ve been using 0.025% tretinoin without irritation for four to six weeks, have oily skin, or are experienced with retinoids, you can try a stronger formula. A 0.05% concentration offers more noticeable anti-aging and acne-clearing effects, while 0.1% provides even stronger results for deep wrinkles or severe acne.
Dr. Reszko advises monitoring your skin when switching to a higher strength. “If you experience irritation or excessive dryness, reduce how often you apply it or go back to a lower concentration temporarily before trying again,” she says. “The goal is to get the most benefits with the fewest side effects.” Some irritation is normal—don’t let it discourage you. Instead, adjust your routine by changing the strength, frequency, or both.
Dr. Bottiglione emphasizes the importance of understanding your treatment: “Tretinoin is a prescription-strength product, so knowing how to modify its use for your skin is key.”
### **Should You Apply Tretinoin Before or After Moisturizer?**
This depends on your skin type and tolerance. Dr. Bottiglione warns that applying moisturizer first can reduce tretinoin’s effectiveness by acting as a barrier. However, Dr. Azizzadeh suggests that those with dry or sensitive skin try the “retinoid sandwich” method: apply a thin layer of moisturizer, then tretinoin, followed by another layer of moisturizer. This buffers the treatment while still allowing some absorption.
### **What Should You Avoid Using with Tretinoin?**
Since tretinoin makes skin more sensitive, avoid harsh ingredients that can worsen irritation. Dr. Azizzadeh recommends steering clear of strong exfoliants (like AHAs, BHAs, and scrubs), potent actives (such as benzoyl peroxide, hydroquinone, and kojic acid), and drying products (like alcohol-based toners and clay masks). Also, don’t combine tretinoin with other retinoids—this increases irritation without added benefits.
You can still use exfoliants or other actives in your routine—just alternate them with tretinoin. For example, use tretinoin at night and exfoliants on different nights, or apply strong actives in the morning and tretinoin in the evening.
### **How Often Should You Use Tretinoin?**
Start slow, especially if you’re new to tretinoin. Dr. Reszko recommends applying it two to three nights a week for the first two to four weeks to let your skin adjust. If your skin tolerates it well, you can gradually increase to every other night or four to five times a week. Those with sensitive or rosacea-prone skin should be extra cautious—if irritation occurs, scale back to two to three times a week until your skin adapts.
Once your skin is consistently clear and irritation-free, you can consider nightly use. “Advanced users with fully tolerant skin can apply tretinoin every night for maximum acne-fighting, anti-aging, and texture-improving benefits,” says Dr. Azizzadeh. Just remember: patience is key. Building tolerance takes time, but the results are worth it.
### **Meet the Experts**Richard Bottiglione is a board-certified dermatologist based in Phoenix and the founder of Dermatologist’s Choice Skincare.
Anetta Reszko is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in New York.
Babek Azizzadeh is a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon located in Beverly Hills.