Why not just use a retinol from Sephora?
Because OTC retinols are roughly 1/100th the potency of prescription tretinoin — that's regulation, not marketing. If your over-the-counter retinol was going to smooth your fine lines and even your tone, it would have done it by now. Tretinoin is the same active your dermatologist would prescribe in-office, calibrated to your tolerance and supported with niacinamide, Centella asiatica, and ceramides so you can actually stay on it. The strength difference is the entire point.
Should I start with The Anti-Aging Solutionᴿˣ or the Advanced version?
The Anti-Aging Solutionᴿˣ is our first-line prescription anti-aging formula — built around tretinoin, ideal for people starting to notice fine lines, early texture changes, dullness, or uneven tone. The Advanced Anti-Aging Solutionᴿˣ is the maximum-strength tier — built around tazarotene, a next-generation retinoid, for deeper wrinkles, loss of firmness, and more visible photoaging. If you're not sure, take the assessment. A board-certified dermatologist on your care team will tell you which one matches where your skin actually is — not where you think it should be.
Will I 'purge' on tretinoin if I don't have acne?
If you don't have active breakouts, you typically won't experience the breakout-style purge that acne patients see on tretinoin. What you may experience instead is a short adjustment period: mild dryness, peeling, or sensitivity as your skin gets used to the increased cell turnover. This usually lasts 2 to 6 weeks. The ceramides and Centella asiatica in the formula are included specifically to keep this phase manageable. If it gets uncomfortable, message us and we'll adjust your ramp-up or your formula.
Can I use this with my current skincare routine, or do I have to start over?
Most of your routine can stay. Gentle cleansers, hydrating serums, broad-spectrum SPF (especially important on tretinoin), and barrier-supporting moisturizers all pair well with The Anti-Aging Solutionᴿˣ. What you should pause: other topical retinoids (additional tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene, retinol), strong exfoliants like glycolic acid or salicylic acid at high concentrations, vitamin C serums at night (use them in the morning instead), and physical scrubs. A board-certified dermatologist on your care team will review your current products during your assessment and tell you exactly what to keep, what to drop, and what to add.
Is The Anti-Aging Solutionᴿˣ safe with pregnancy, nursing, or other medications?
The assessment specifically asks. The Anti-Aging Solutionᴿˣ contains tretinoin, which is not safe during pregnancy or while nursing. If any of these apply to you, a board-certified dermatologist on your care team will route you to a safer alternative. If we can't safely prescribe for you, we'll tell you before charging you. We don't write prescriptions that shouldn't be written.
When will I see results?
Most people start noticing a real shift between weeks 6 and 12 with consistent nightly use. Weeks 1–2 are the adjustment period. Weeks 3–6, your texture starts to smooth and your tone begins to even out. Weeks 6–12, fine lines look softer and your skin looks brighter overall. Beyond 12 weeks, the collagen-building work compounds over months and years. Tretinoin treatment is steady, not dramatic — but the results hold, and they're the closest thing in topical skincare to actually slowing the visible aging process.