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Tretinoin

Ingredient · In our Midlife Skin Formula and Skin Renewal Formula

Tretinoin (prescription vitamin A)

Tretinoin is prescription vitamin A, and one of the most studied ingredients for fine lines, texture and uneven tone. It's FDA-approved to help soften fine facial wrinkles.1,2

Abstract sunrise glass gradient, illustrative ingredient artwork
Tretinoin

Photos are illustrations, not the medicine. Tretinoin is made in a lab.

FDA-approved ingredient

A tretinoin cream is FDA-approved to help soften fine facial wrinkles alongside sun protection and good skin care. Its label is refreshingly honest that it doesn't erase wrinkles or reverse sun damage.1 Our creams are compounded by a licensed pharmacy, and compounded versions are not FDA-approved.4

FDA-approved for this useWell studied, used off-labelEarly evidenceLittle or no human data

The studies below used FDA-approved products or other forms. Our compounded version hasn't been studied in trials, and results may differ.

What it is

Tretinoin is a retinoid, a form of vitamin A. Used over months, it can improve the look of sun-aged skin and dark patches.2,3

Why it's in this product

Fine lines, rougher texture and dark spots tend to show up together in midlife. Tretinoin has been studied for all three, and it's the backbone of our Midlife Skin Formula and Skin Renewal Formula.

Midlife Skin FormulaSkin Renewal Formula

What the studies in people show

  • Randomized trial14 of 15 faces improvedIn a 16-week double-blind trial, 14 of 15 people using tretinoin on their face saw improvement in sun-aged skin, compared with none of those using a plain cream.2
  • Systematic reviewHelps melasma tooIn a Cochrane review, tretinoin reduced the severity of melasma on objective measures in two placebo-controlled studies.3

What we don't know yet

Many of the classic tretinoin trials were small. In the larger approval studies, a lot of people using a plain cream with sunscreen also improved, which is a good reminder that sun protection does heavy lifting too.1

Safety, in plain English

Irritation was the main side effect in trials,2 which is why the advice is to start slow. Its approval assumes daily sun protection, so sunscreen matters. Don't use it if you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant.1

A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether this cream is appropriate for you. Exploring it here never means you'll get a prescription.

Curious about tretinoin?

Start with a free assessment. A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether treatment is appropriate. No pressure, and no prescription unless it makes sense for you.

See Midlife Skin FormulaHow care works

Sources

  1. U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Renova (tretinoin cream) 0.02%: prescribing information. DailyMed
  2. Weiss JS, et al. Topical tretinoin improves photoaged skin. A double-blind vehicle-controlled study. JAMA. 1988;259:527-532. PubMed 3336176
  3. Rajaratnam R, et al. Interventions for melasma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(7):CD003583. PubMed 20614435
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers. FDA

Sources checked November 8, 2026. This page is general education, not medical advice, and it doesn't mean any treatment is right for you. Photos: Unsplash (Martin Brechtl, Robert Anderson).