noun

retinol

RET-in-ol

Retinol (noun) means a form of vitamin A used in skincare products, belonging to the family of compounds called retinoids, which act on skin cells and are commonly included in creams and serums sold without a prescription. Example: “The label said the night cream contained retinol, so she started with it twice a week.”

noun

A form of vitamin A used in skincare products, belonging to the family of compounds called retinoids, which act on skin cells and are commonly included in creams and serums sold without a prescription.

"The label said the night cream contained retinol, so she started with it twice a week."

"He asked the pharmacist whether the retinol in the moisturiser was strong enough to notice."

In nutrition and biochemistry, the alcohol form of vitamin A itself, a nutrient the body needs for vision and for maintaining skin and other tissues.

"Liver is unusually high in retinol compared with most foods."

How to Use Retinol

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA form of vitamin A that gets put into face creams.

When to use it

Everyday word in cosmetics marketing and consumer press; also a precise term in biochemistry, where it refers to the vitamin itself rather than a product ingredient.

Memory tip

Note the ending: retinol with an L is the ingredient; retinal with an A is a related but different compound, and the retina is part of the eye.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

retinoid tretinoin retinal → retinyl palmitate

Common pairings

retinol serum retinol cream pure retinol retinol percentage encapsulated retinol

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The label said the night cream contained _____, so she started with it twice a week.

Etymology

From retina plus the chemical suffix -ol, used for alcohols.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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vitamin A retinoid

Rhymes for retinol

luminol

See all rhymes for retinol →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between retinol and tretinoin?

Both are retinoids, meaning both are derived from vitamin A, but they are different compounds. Retinol is the milder form found in products sold over the counter, while tretinoin is a stronger prescription-only compound. They are not interchangeable and are not the same ingredient under two names.

Is retinol the same as a retinoid?

Not quite. Retinoid is the umbrella term for the whole family of vitamin A derivatives; retinol is one specific member of that family. So every retinol is a retinoid, but not every retinoid is retinol.

Why is retinol usually used at night?

Retinol degrades when exposed to light and air, which is why it is typically packaged in opaque containers and included in night-time formulations. This is a fact about the ingredient's stability rather than a rule about how anyone ought to use it.