Retinoid or retinol, which should I use?

Retinoid and retinol are easy to mix up, so the first thing to check is which one is actually in your hand. Cleveland Clinic draws the line in terms of strength and access.

Retinol is the one you can buy off the shelf

Cleveland Clinic says: "Products containing retinol are widely available over the counter, and stronger concentrations of retinoids are available by prescription." Retinol is the over-the-counter product, and retinoids are the stronger concentrations that need a prescription.

Retinoids are the higher-strength group

The same guide adds a second line on retinoids: "Retinoids are made at higher concentrations, and are available by prescription only with one notable exception." The exception is not named in that sentence, so the label and a provider are the places to confirm where a given product sits.

Which to use

Going by that line, the choice begins with access. If you are choosing from a shelf, you are choosing among retinol products. If you want a stronger concentration, the route Cleveland Clinic describes runs through a prescription. For broader skin care reading, the Cleveland Clinic newsroom has Dermatologist-Approved Tips for Healthier Skin, the AAD offers skin care secrets, and Houston Methodist covers a skin care routine for your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond.

Reading the bottle you already own

Read the label on the product you already use and note whether it says retinol or names a prescription retinoid. Readers in St. Johns, Florida, who are unsure can bring the bottle to a provider and ask which side of that line it falls on.