Retinol serum

[Fer0409]

iIf I use The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid and want something stronger which can I use?

[WinglessOne]

@Fer0409  Which of The Ordinary's granactive retinoid products do you use? They make 3, though Sephora US currently only sells one ( The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion for Wrinkles and Uneven Texture 1 oz/ 30 mL ). You can learn about the other 2 at The Ordinary's site. 

Granactive retinoid, aka HPR, is an ester of retinoic acid. (Pure vitamin A is retinoic acid; that's what's in Rx tretinoin.) There's not much research on HPR yet, compared to all the studies on retinoic acid/tretinoin and retinol. Plus, HPR products sometimes contain a blend of HPR and retinol, and brands don't often specify how much of both ingredients are in their products, so... it's kinda hard to say what product(s) might be "stronger" than an HPR product. Besides, "stronger" isn't necessarily better. 

Having said all that, I'll toss out a few suggestions: 

• The Ordinary makes a 5% granactive retinoid serum. Check their site for more info. 
  
  
• Retinaldehyde might work faster than HPR. Retinaldehyde, aka retinal (note the A instead of O), is the precursor of retinoic acid. It works slower than tretinoin because skin has to convert it to retinoic acid. But it's faster than retinol, less irritating than tretinoin, and claimed to be less irritating than retinol. There are a few different retinal products on the market. I use one of Avene's. Maelove now makes a less expensive retinal product (Maelove Moonlight) you may want to consider, if your skin's not sensitive to essential oils. 
  
  
• Adapalene is a retinoid that's available both OTC and by Rx. It's primarily used to control acne, but it might also do some of the things other vitamin A relatives can (boost collagen, reduce wrinkles, fade hyperpigmentation, etc.). Adapalene's sold in drugstores as Differin, but La Roche Posay also makes an adapalene product, and I've even seen some generic store versions. 
  
  
• Tretinoin and other Rx retinoids will work the fastest, but the tradeoff is a greater chance of irritation. Talk to your primary care doctor or a dermatologist to see if a retinoid prescription is right for your particular skin. 

Note that no vitamin A product is an overnight miracle, not even tretinoin. It takes several (3 - 6) months of consistent use to see gradual results from any of them. Patience is key with vitamin A. 

[Fer0409]

The one you mention is the one Im using