Retinol
Definition
Vitamin A in its topical form. The most evidence-backed anti-ageing active in skincare. Retinol must be converted to retinoic acid by skin enzymes to exert effects — making it gentler but slower than prescription tretinoin. 0.025–0.1% for beginners; 0.3–1% for experienced users. Must be used at night; degraded by UV light.
Why it matters for dupe shopping
Retinol potency hierarchy: Retinaldehyde (retinal) is 11× more potent than retinol, and close to tretinoin without prescription. Granactive Retinoid (retinyl retinoate) is gentle and stable. Budget dupes that use retinyl palmitate are essentially inactive — it requires so many conversion steps that measurable skin effect is negligible. Always check INCI: 'retinol', 'retinal', or 'retinaldehyde' are the active forms.