Versus

Nizoral 2% Ketoconazole Cream Versus Retin-A (Tretinoin) Retin-A (Tretinoin) Cream 0.05%

Facial Treatment
Prescription
American Brand United States
South African Brand South Africa

Updated on January 15, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 3 ingredients in common

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Stearyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol from stearic acid. It is a white, waxy compound used to emulsify ingredients.

Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as solvent alcohols. FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

Learn more about Stearyl Alcohol
Emollient, Masking

Isopropyl Myristate is an emollient, thickening agent, and texture enhancer. It is created from isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid.

It is used to help other ingredients be better absorbed. It is also an emollient and may help soften and hydrate the skin.

The comedogenic rating of this ingredient depends on the concentration. Lower amounts results in a lower rating.

Isopropyl Myristate may not be fungal acne safe. It can potentially worsen acne prone skin.

Learn more about Isopropyl Myristate

When to use

123 Routines
40% use in am
60% use in pm
89% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
672 Routines
2% use in am
98% use in pm
65% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Nizoral 2% Ketoconazole Cream 9 ingredients

1.0 /5
from 1 rating
Broke Me Out (1) Drying (1) Heavy (1)
furosy's avatar

furosy

8 months ago
Review

it won't do much if you developed tolerance to Ketoconazole/Itraconazole; moreover it smells like rotten eggs, and the smell doesn't leave, extremely greasy and takes time to absorb into the skin. It doesn't even actually have Ketoconazole it's Itraconazole.

Better than the shampoo from the same brand though.

#drying
#broke me out
#irritating
#heavy

Retin-A (Tretinoin) Retin-A (Tretinoin) Cream 0.05% 9 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Works Well (2) Great Value (1) Heavy (1)
chlolands's avatar

chlolands

1 year ago
Review

Never gave me the miracle results I've seen all over TikTok but served me well for the 3+ years I was on this.

#heavy
#works well
hmmh's avatar

hmmh

1 year ago
Review

Been on this for 4 years. It does not perform miracles but it does keep your skin youthful to some extent sans procedures. Worked on reducing inflammation and acne but dried my skin out, even after a full year of consistent use. With this, sunscreen is non-negotiable.

#great value
#drying
#irritating
#sticky