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In the most basic terms, retinol is the whole vitamin A molecule, which is one of the best vitamins for your skin. Vitamin A is a potent antioxidant, and works to protect your skin from free radicals, generates cell growth, and repairs damaged cells.
However, retinol is not as effective as prescription retinoids because itâs a less powerful form of vitamin A. 1  Getty Images Avoid Irritation Retinoids can be irritating, especially when you first add them to your skin care routine.2  So, you may want to start with an over-the-counter retinol to build up your tolerance.etinoids vs. Retinols. Retinoid is the prescription-strength form of vitamin A. Topical prescription retinoids such as tretinoin (Retin-A and Renova) work as an irritant, resulting in a more rapid turnover of skin cells.