The terms “retinol cream” and “retinoid cream” are often used interchangeably, however it’s important to understand the difference. Retinol is a type of retinoid, and the main difference between a retinol cream and retinoid cream is potency, which is related to the amount of “conversion” required within the skin to reap these ingredients’ benefits. The ultimate goal of applying any retinol or retinoid cream is providing the skin with retinoic acid. Retinoids deliver retinoic acid directly to the skin, while retinol is biologically converted to retinoic acid by the skin after application.