Posted by Jamie McGuire
on December 23, 2025
Why is Tretinoin treated like the gold standard of anti aging skincare?
The gaslighting is real. You are told:
Redness? Normal.
Peeling? Normal.
Burning? Normal.
Sensitivity? Normal.
WRONG: None of that is normal for healthy skin.
Let’s start with the obvious red flags, the ones people gloss over because they’ve been told “it’s just part of the process.”
🚩No. 01: It’s NOT pregnancy safe
That alone should make you question this.
Yes, it’s true that some products are labeled “not pregnancy safe” simply because there isn’t enough research, not necessarily because they’re harmful.
Tretinoin is not one of those products.
Tretinoin is a prescription retinoid with known developmental risk, which is why it’s medically contraindicated during pregnancy. It is known to cause birth defects.
Let's think about this logically. Why would we be applying something to our face that could potentially cause birth defects?
If a topical product is strong enough to interfere with normal cell development, that tells you everything you need to know about how biologically aggressive and system-disrupting it is.
This is not skincare.
It’s a drug.
🚩No. 02: You can’t go in the sun
Healthy skin is designed to interact with sunlight.
Sun exposure, in appropriate amounts, is part of normal human biology. Skin should be resilient, adaptive, and capable of protecting itself.
Tretinoin does the opposite.
It thins and weakens the skin barrier, making skin:
- photosensitive
- reactive
- prone to pigmentation
- dependent on constant protection
If a product requires:
- strict sun avoidance
- daily SPF dependency
- constant fear of pigmentation
…it’s not improving skin health.
It’s creating a weak fragile barrier.
🚩No. 03: It damages the skin barrier
Tretinoin works by forcing rapid cell turnover, not by supporting the skin’s natural function.
That forced acceleration leads to:
- a weakened lipid barrier
- increased transepidermal water loss
- chronic dryness
- sensitivity to nearly everything
A compromised barrier means the skin is constantly in a state of defense.
And here’s the part no one talks about enough:
Barrier damage = inflammation
Inflammation = accelerated aging
This is the opposite of what people are trying to achieve long-term.
🚩No. 04: It’s forced exfoliation
Your skin already knows how to exfoliate itself, naturally.
Tretinoin:
- overrides your skin’s natural process
- pushes cells to the surface before they’re ready
- leaves immature, fragile skin exposed
That peeling everyone calls “a phase”?
That’s not healing.
That’s damage and inflammation.
Healthy exfoliation is regulated, balanced, and calm.
Forced exfoliation is chaotic and inflammatory.
🚩No. 05: Redness and irritation are NOT signs that it’s “working”
This is one of the biggest lies in skincare.
Redness, burning, peeling, and stinging are not results. They are immune and inflammatory responses.
Your skin reacts because it’s being chemically stressed.
Chronic inflammation:
- breaks down collagen
- worsens pigmentation
- accelerates aging
- destroys the skin microbiome
Calm, regulated skin builds elastin.
Inflamed skin breaks it down.
🚩No. 06: What tretinoin actually is
Let’s be very clear.
Tretinoin is:
- synthetic retinoic acid
- derived from vitamin A but chemically altered
- not natural
- not bioidentical
- not skin-supportive
It is a prescription drug for your face, not skincare.
It does not nourish the skin.
It does not repair the barrier.
It forces a biological response through irritation and injury.
Calling that “anti-aging” is misleading.
🚩No. 07: It disrupts your skin microbiome
Healthy skin depends on a balanced microbiome of beneficial bacteria.
The skin barrier and microbiome work together to regulate inflammation, protect against pathogens, and maintain resilience.
Tretinoin:
- strips the protective environment
- makes skin hostile to beneficial bacteria
- creates chronic dysbiosis
This is why so many people eventually develop:
- perioral dermatitis
- rosacea
- “random” sensitivity
- acne that keeps coming back
They didn’t have bad skin.
They had over-treated skin.
🚩No. 08: Why people stay stuck on it
Tretinoin creates dependency: stop using it → skin looks worse
The skin never gets a chance to regulate itself.
That’s not healthy skin.
That’s skin dependant on a drug (like an addict).
The Truth No One Wants to Say
Tretinoin doesn’t create healthy skin.
It creates thin, inflamed, fragile skin that requires constant intervention.
Healthy skin should be:
- resilient
- calm
- hydrated
- adaptable
- able to handle sun, weather, and real life
If your skin can’t function without a prescription drug, something is wrong with the approach, not your skin.
Safe, Effective Alternatives (That Actually Build Healthy Skin)
If your goal is real skin health without damage, inflammation, or a weakened barrier, here are the alternatives I recommend, and why they work better than tretinoin:
Renew MD — 0.165% Retinaldehyde (Recommended Tret Alternative)
✔ More effective than tretinoin
✔ Works without damaging the barrier
✔ Supports natural exfoliation
✔ Improves texture, clarity, and firmness
✔ More gentle than tretinoin but powerful
Why it’s the best alternative:
Retinaldehyde sits one step closer to retinoic acid than retinol, so it delivers noticeable results without the inflammatory damage of tretinoin. It improves cell turnover without forcing it, supporting the skin’s natural rhythm instead of overriding it.
If you want retinoid-level results without irritation, fragility, and dependency, this is the strength and form I stand behind.
RENEW MD ADVANCED RETINAL SERUM
🌿 Correct & Correct MD — Beginner-Friendly Retinal Options
✔ Ideal for those new to retinal
✔ Lower concentration = easier tolerance
✔ Strengthens barrier over time
✔ Helps with texture & mild signs of aging
This is a perfect starting point if you want to work up to stronger retinal without redness, shedding, or barrier disruption.
CORRECT PREVENTATIVE RETINAL SERUM
CORRECT MD PREVENTATIVE RETINAL SERUM
🍃 Bio-Retinol — Safe & Natural Retinol Alternative
✔ Naturally derived form of retinol
✔ Great for sensitive skin
✔ Supports gentle cell turnover
✔ Adds antioxidant and skin-supportive benefits
Bio-retinol doesn’t fight your skin, it supports it.
This is ideal if:
- you’re highly sensitive
- you’ve experienced inflammation from stronger actives
- your skin barrier needs reinforcement
