Retinoid vs Retinol: What's the Difference?

"Retinoid" and "retinol" are often used as if they mean the same thing, but they don't. This short explainer is based on the American Academy of Dermatology's (AAD) guidance, which is linked below.

At a glance

Feature	Retinoids (umbrella term)	Retinol
What it means (AAD)	Catch-all term for vitamin A-based skin products	One type of retinoid
Examples (AAD)	Tretinoin, tazarotene, trifarotene (prescription); adapalene (prescription and OTC); isotretinoin (oral, prescription)	Found in many over-the-counter products
Common uses (AAD)	Acne; fine lines, tone and texture	Uneven skin tone, pigmentation and texture
How to start (AAD)	Least-intense formula, every other night, build up	Use the lowest formulation you can find

What is a retinoid?

The AAD says "retinoids" is now a catch-all term for vitamin A-based products used on the skin. The first, tretinoin, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a topical acne treatment in 1971. Dermatologists then noticed it also helped with signs of aging. For acne, adapalene is available both on prescription and over the counter. Tretinoin, tazarotene and trifarotene are prescription topicals, and isotretinoin is a prescription-only oral medication for severe acne.

What is retinol?

According to the AAD, retinol is a type of retinoid that's routinely used to improve uneven skin tone, pigmentation and texture, and it's available over the counter in many products. The AAD also notes that over-the-counter products don't have to disclose their retinol percentage on the label.

Who should be careful

The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy.
People with skin allergies, dryness, or a lot of redness or inflammation are probably not good candidates and should ask a dermatologist (AAD).
For darker skin tones, the AAD notes that irritation can trigger dark marks (hyperpigmentation), so start slowly and use a moisturizer.
Retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun. The AAD advises using them at night and protecting your skin every day.

Verdict: which should you choose?

For most people starting out, the AAD's advice is to use the least-intense formula they can find, every other night at first, building up slowly and with daily sun protection. An over-the-counter retinol fits that. The AAD suggests that people with moderate or severe acne scarring, or acne linked to periods or other hormonal changes, see a board-certified dermatologist before trying a retinoid. Compare specific drugstore retinols in RoC vs L'Oréal and RoC vs Neutrogena.

Sources

Retinoid or retinol? (American Academy of Dermatology), checked 2026-10-26

How we wrote this: this explainer summarises the AAD page linked above. It is general information, not medical advice.