Low % tret = high strength retinol?

[itsnothingoriginal]

I'm using Skin & Me for tret but like others on here have found, it's taking ages to get up to the higher strength and I just can't afford to keep going with it.

I'm currently on 0.018% and wondering if I'd still get the same results with higher strength retinol/retinal? I've noticed some improvement in my pores from tret but still have issues with texture (early 50s with open pores and sun damaged orange peel skin)

i know there's lots of knowledgeable people here and hoped someone could advise? 🙏

Try switching over to medik8 crystal retinal or visit tretinoin world for tret.

Unfortunately, even a high strength retinol would not be as effective as the lowest strength tretinoin.

Tretinoin is a form of retinoic acid which acts directly on your skin. Whereas retinol needs to be converted by your skin into retinoic acid in order to start working. This conversion means it’s less effective but also less irritating, so better for some people and the reason it’s sold over the counter without prescription.

Medik8 retinal is stronger than retinol (one less conversion needed), but quite expensive so if the cost is an issue then you might be better off trying to source tretinoin cheaper from somewhere else.

This may help:

Tazarotene 0.1% (Prescription-only)
• Equivalent to: Stronger than all other retinoids, including Tretinoin 0.1%.
• Notes: Highest potency; used for severe conditions like acne and psoriasis.
Tretinoin 0.05% (Prescription-only)
• Equivalent to: Comparable in efficacy to Adapalene 0.3% Gel.
• Notes: The "gold standard" prescription anti-aging and anti-acne retinoid.
Adapalene 0.3% (Prescription-only)
• Equivalent to: Comparable in efficacy to Tretinoin 0.05% Cream.
• Notes: Highly effective for acne and photoaging with a potentially lower risk of irritation than Tretinoin.
Adapalene 0.1% (Over-The-Counter, e.g., Differin Gel)
• Equivalent to: Comparable in efficacy to Tretinoin 0.025% Cream.
• Notes: The strongest retinoid available OTC; a first-line treatment for acne.
Retinaldehyde (Retinal) 0.1% (Over-The-Counter)
• Equivalent to: Stronger than Retinol 1.0%.
• Notes: Requires only one conversion step to become active, making it highly potent among non-prescription options.
Retinol 1.0% (High-Strength Over-The-Counter)
• Equivalent to: Approximately 1/20th the potency of Tretinoin 0.05%.
• Notes: The highest concentration commonly available OTC. Requires two conversion steps to become active.
Retinyl Esters (Over-The-Counter, e.g., Retinyl Palmitate)
• Equivalent to: Significantly weaker and milder than Retinol.
• Notes: Requires three conversion steps; best for sensitive skin or first-time retinoid users who want minimal irritation.

so you could try:
*ADAPALINE 0.1 OTC like Differin which whilst equivalent to TRETINOIN .025 is often less irritating
*RetinAL 0.1 which weaker than ADAPALINE 0.1 but is stronger than RetinOL 1.0

before you drop to Retinol 1.0. ADAPALINE 0.1 is available OTC as is Retinal but you have to do some research to find the brands that sell these formulations

This is really helpful thanks all 🙏

Am looking at tretinoin world as an alternative source but will check out ADAPALINE and Retinal options too.

I have been using tretiwell 0.1% for sometime now. I will share my routine with that if that helps:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
LRP spf50
Evening:
Merit or LRP moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel

You should request a higher strength. When I used Skin & Me I went from 0.025% up to 0.1%