Retin-A (Tretinoin) Retin-A 0.025% (Tretinoin) Ingredients Explained

Name: Retin-A 0.025% (Tretinoin)
Brand: Retin-A (Tretinoin)
Rating: 5.0 (3 reviews)

5.0 from 3 ratings

Published on August 10, 2021 Submitted by bradley_gilbert

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Overview

What it is

Prescription with 9 ingredients that contains retinoid

Cool Features

It is reef safe

Suited For

It has ingredients that are good for fighting acne, anti aging and brightening skin

Free From

It doesn't contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

Fun facts

Retin-A (Tretinoin) is from South Africa. This product is used in 668 routines created by our community.

We independently verify ingredients and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Does this product need an update? Let us know.

Ingredient List (9)

Tretinoin 0.03%, Stearic Acid, Isopropyl Myristate, Peg-8 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Sorbic Acid, BHT, Water

You should know

Here's our breakdown of the notable ingredients, benefits, and concerns we determined from the ingredients in this product. Click any item to learn more.

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid

Benefits

Anti-Aging

Acne Fighting

Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)

Acne Trigger

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

Ingredients Overview

Here's our quick-to-read summary of the ingredients in this product. Keep scrolling if you'd like to learn more about what each ingredient does!

Ingredient

Com. / Irr. Rating

Features

Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking

2-3 / 0

Emollient, Masking

3-5 / 3

Emulsifying, Humectant

3 / 1

Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking

2 / 2

Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Preservative

Antioxidant, Masking

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Ingredients Explained

This product contains 9 ingredients. Click on any ingredient to learn more about it

Tretinoin 0.03%

What it does:

Community Rating: Loved

Tretinoin is a form of Vitamin A. It is stronger than retinol and only available with a prescription in many countries.

Research on tretinoin has found it to be effective in anti-aging the skin. It helps improve damage from the sun, even the skin tone, and smooth out wrinkles.

Tretinoin has also been found to be an effective acne treatment by reducing sebum production in pores.

Tretinoin, like other forms of Vitamin A, increases the turnover cycle of skin cells. This helps the skin create newer and healthier skin cells faster. Due to its strength, it can cause irritation, redness, and dry skin. Those with sensitive skin should consult a professional about using tretinoin.

Using retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.

Read about Retinol

Learn more about Tretinoin

Stearic Acid

What it does: Cleansing, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Stearic Acid is a fatty acid. It is an emollient, emulsifier, and texture enhancer.

As an emollient, stearic acid helps soften skin. It aids the skin's protective barrier by preventing water loss. It also provides a gentle cleansing effect without stripping away natural oils.

Stearic acid may also be used to enhance the texture of products. It can add volume and stabilize ingredients such as water and oil. This can help water and oil ingredients from separating.

Sources of stearic acid include animal or vegetable fats/oils such as coconut or shea. It can be naturally found in butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, vegetable fats, and animal tallow.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Stearic Acid

Isopropyl Myristate

What it does: Emollient, Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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

Peg-8 Stearate

What it does: Emulsifying, Humectant

Peg-8 Stearate is an emulsifier and humectant.

This ingredient comes from stearic acid, and the 8 represents the number of ethylene oxide monomers.

This ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne safe.

Learn more about Peg-8 Stearate

Stearyl Alcohol

What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

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

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

Sorbic Acid

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sorbic Acid is a preservative. It is the most commonly used food preservative in the world.

Sorbic Acid is a natural antibiotic and highly effective at preventing the growth of fungus. It is less effective against bacteria.

Potassium Sorbate, another commonly-used preservative, is the potassium salt of Sorbic Acid.

Sorbic Acid may worsen eczema. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.

Learn more about Sorbic Acid

BHT

What it does: Antioxidant, Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

BHT is a synthetic antioxidant. As an antioxidant, it helps your body fight off free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells.

BHT also helps stabilize products and prevent them from degrading. Many products are sensitive to air and light. BHT prevents them from breaking down when exposed.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Embed Ingredients

Here's what our community thinks of the 9 ingredients in this product ✨

22% are loved or liked

0% have mixed ratings

67% are disliked or very disliked

11% have no rating yet

When to use

We've created a guide with info on when you should use Retin-A (Tretinoin) Retin-A 0.025% (Tretinoin). We've also included some recommended products to use it with, as well as some routine inspiration!

Read our guide on when to use Retin-A 0.025% (Tretinoin) ->

Verified by SkinSort

We're dedicated to providing you with the most up-to-date and science-backed ingredient info out there.

The data we've presented on this page has been verified by a member of the SkinSort Team.

Latest Reviews

Review by SpaceyTrxsh

Jan 9, 2024

Retinol did nothing for my skin. After using different kinds of strengths and seeing no results I decided to give up on retinol and start using tretinoin and it was the best decision ever. My skin is becoming clearer and clearer every day.

Great Value

Drying

Strong Scent

Works Well

Like review