A Simple Guide to Retinoids (and Retinoid Alternatives)

The different types, how they work, and why they’re great for your skin (and what to use if your skin can’t tolerate them).

Welcome to Glow Notes! A newsletter that’s equal parts skincare wisdom and a peek inside everything new and noteworthy in the beauty world, written by me, Simone Gannon - an aesthetic practitioner, skincare educator, and beauty journalist of over 15 years.

Here, you’ll find a mix of practical skincare advice, interviews with beauty founders, expert how-tos, deep dives into products, treatments, and the weird stuff that actually works.

Would you like custom product recommendations for your skin? Book a consultation with me here. Want to know what my favourite skincare products are? Click here.

If you read and enjoy this piece, please hit the heart button and consider subscribing – and I’ll see you next week!

---

Why We're All Obsessed With Retinoids

Ah, retinoids. The obsession is deep, and for good reason.

Retinoids are the literal gold standard in anti-ageing, clinically proven to improve overall skin health. They boost collagen production, stimulate cell turnover, and strengthen the skin barrier, while smoothing fine lines, fading dark spots, improving texture, reducing acne scars - and overall greatly improve the health and appearance of our skin.

But what the hell are they exactly? And why do they have different names? Is retinol the same thing as a retinoid?

I’ve broken it all down here - so you know exactly what you’re putting on your face.