Tretinoin is still the most effective anti-aging ingredient we have, but it's also the most irritating—which is why many people can't stick with it. Researchers looked at 25 studies comparing tretinoin to other vitamin A derivatives and anti-aging treatments: 7 alternatives worked better, 13 were equally effective, and 3 were weaker. The catch? Most alternatives were gentler on skin, but there's not enough high-quality evidence yet to declare any of them a reliable replacement for tretinoin.

Researchers systematically reviewed 25 peer-reviewed studies published through December 2023 that directly compared tretinoin to other topical anti-aging treatments, looking at visible results, skin structure changes under a microscope, and protein markers.

Funding not disclosed in abstract