Tretinoin is still the most proven anti-aging ingredient out there, but it's also the most irritating—which is why a lot of people can't stick with it. Researchers reviewed 25 studies comparing tretinoin to other anti-aging ingredients: 13 found alternatives worked just as well, 7 found them better, and only 3 found them worse. The catch? Most alternatives were gentler on skin, but there's not enough solid evidence yet to call any of them a real replacement for tretinoin.

Researchers searched two major medical databases for studies published through December 2023 that directly compared tretinoin to other topical anti-aging treatments. They followed strict guidelines for what counted as quality research and excluded animal studies and non-topical treatments.

Funding not disclosed in abstract