What is tretinoin in skincare?
Tretinoin is all-trans retinoic acid – the biologically active form of vitamin A, and the only one that binds directly to retinoic acid receptors without needing conversion by the skin. It is available on prescription rather than over the counter.
It was the first topical treatment proven to reverse signs of photoageing, and remains the benchmark against which every other anti-ageing active is measured. Common strengths are 0.025%, 0.05% and 0.1%.
What skin concerns does tretinoin treat?
It treats acne at every severity by normalising how follicles shed, and it is extensively documented for photoageing – fine lines, wrinkles, roughness, sallowness and mottled pigmentation.
A vehicle-controlled comparison found 0.025% delivered improvement similar to 0.1% with markedly less irritation, so higher strength is not automatically better.
What ingredients are best paired with tretinoin?
Support the barrier hard: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, panthenol and squalane make the retinisation period far more tolerable. Applying moisturiser before tretinoin (the sandwich method) reduces irritation without eliminating benefit.
Use at night, start two or three times a week, and never skip morning SPF. Do not combine with AHAs, BHAs or benzoyl peroxide in the same application, and do not use it if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Take our Skin Quiz.
What is dullness?
Healthy skin reflects light evenly, which is what reads as bright and glowing. Dull skin does the opposite – it looks flat, ashy, grey or sallow, and makeup tends to sit on top of it rather than blend in.
Dullness is not a condition in itself but a visible symptom: a build-up of dead cells, dehydration and reduced microcirculation that together stop light bouncing cleanly off the skin’s surface.
What causes dull skin?
Dead skin cells that do not shed naturally accumulate on the surface and scatter light unevenly. Dehydration flattens those cells so they no longer sit plump against one another, and overly dry skin can damage the follicles and slow the production of collagen and sebum – all of which make the complexion look duller or ashier.
Lifestyle and environment do the rest. Sun exposure, pollution, smoking, alcohol, broken sleep and stress all accelerate free-radical damage, while cell turnover naturally slows with age, so skin loses the reflectivity it had in your twenties.
What ingredients are best for dullness?
Brightening dull skin comes down to three things: gentle exfoliation, consistent hydration and antioxidant protection. Vitamin C, alpha-hydroxy acids such as glycolic and lactic acid, salicylic acid, retinol and vitamin A, niacinamide, green tea extract, coenzyme Q10 and rosehip oil all help resurface, even out tone and defend against free radicals.
Hyaluronic acid and hydrolysed collagen plump the skin so it reflects more light, and daily broad-spectrum sunscreen prevents the UV damage that dulls the complexion in the first place. Take our Skin Quiz to find the exact combination your skin needs.
