topic Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question in Beauty

Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

skh47 — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:14:10 GMT

Why do people buy expensive retinols (example Dr. Gross) when you can buy generic Retin A for about $15.00 a tube? Don't they do the same thing?

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:29:27 GMT

Retin-A is much stronger than retinol. Some people believe they do the same thing, but others are of the opinion that due to the weakened state of the retinol and the chemical conversions is has to go through before it can be absorbed, that it's not all that helpful. Some people like the weaker form because they think the prescription product is too harsh. Some people like the idea of buying a name or system. Everybody's different and they do what they believe in and what they're comfortable with. I've never seen Retin-A for $15 a tube though, unless you're talking about the stuff that comes from foreign online pharmacies.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

CrystalBlue1 — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:52:02 GMT

I use retin a with an antibiotic for acne (it is a new product cream mix) and I just got it filled and had I not had insurance would have cost 700.00 so beware of a 15.00 retin a

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

suzyQ3 — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 23:53:17 GMT

I don't use Retin-A because my derm advised against it for MY skin. She said to stick with OTC if I want to incorporate retinol. I use Paula's Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair retinol serum, which is moderately priced.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

Tricolor — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:17:55 GMT

I am surprised that you can find Retin A for $15. Never have found it that cheap.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

jlkz — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:40:09 GMT

Years ago I had a retin A prescription filled at Giant pharmacy -- It was for a much lower dosage, thus the cheaper price.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

jlkz — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 00:41:46 GMT

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

NickNack — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 01:18:01 GMT

On 9/12/2014 jlkz said: Years ago I had a retin A prescription filled at Giant pharmacy -- It was for a much lower dosage, thus the cheaper price.

Was this filled with insurance? I've never known it to be that cheap at any dosage. It might be possible with insurance, though that would be surprising, too, for Retin A.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

skh47 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 04:27:24 GMT

On 9/12/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
Retin-A is much stronger than retinol. Some people believe they do the same thing, but others are of the opinion that due to the weakened state of the retinol and the chemical conversions is has to go through before it can be absorbed, that it's not all that helpful. Some people like the weaker form because they think the prescription product is too harsh. Some people like the idea of buying a name or system. Everybody's different and they do what they believe in and what they're comfortable with. I've never seen Retin-A for $15 a tube though, unless you're talking about the stuff that comes from foreign online pharmacies.

I absolutely purchased my generic Retin A from a prescription from my derm for $15. I have 2 more refills. I was surprised too, that it was so affordable!

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

skh47 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 04:31:39 GMT

On 9/12/2014 jlkz said: Years ago I had a retin A prescription filled at Giant pharmacy -- It was for a much lower dosage, thus the cheaper price.

I'm not sure what Giant pharmacy means? I filled mine at Walgreen's. That's where I fill all my meds. I am using the 0.25 dosage. Next time I go to the derm I am going to ask her for the 0.5 dosage. But for now, this seems to be okay on my skin. I'm not peeling or anything.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

Auntie Goose — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 04:34:08 GMT

Mine is $20 at CVS. The strongest .1

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

skh47 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 04:35:02 GMT

On 9/12/2014 CrystalBlue1 said:
I use retin a with an antibiotic for acne (it is a new product cream mix) and I just got it filled and had I not had insurance would have cost 700.00 so beware of a 15.00 retin a

I didn't ask what it would have costed without my insurance. I was just happy that I was able to get it for such an affordable price. I don't feel like I have to beware since it was an actual RX from a doctor.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

NickNack — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 12:54:48 GMT

The problem is that for many people insurance doesn't cover RetinA. Unless it's prescribed for acne my Blue Cross won't cover it. My friend's insurance will cover it for her daughter (as prescribed for acne) but not for her since it's cosmetic. That makes it way too expensive.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

BigBro6 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 13:03:27 GMT

Last time I purchased Retin A at pharmacy it was $100 in New Jersey. Its worth every penny. You can see the difference with it and Vitamin C.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

cassiem — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 13:22:36 GMT

On 9/12/2014 skh47 said:
On 9/12/2014 CrystalBlue1 said:
I use retin a with an antibiotic for acne (it is a new product cream mix) and I just got it filled and had I not had insurance would have cost 700.00 so beware of a 15.00 retin a

I didn't ask what it would have costed without my insurance. I was just happy that I was able to get it for such an affordable price. I don't feel like I have to beware since it was an actual RX from a doctor.

You're one of the lucky ones. Most insurance companies won't cover Retin-A for people over 35 because they consider it cosmetic, rather than a medical necessity.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

CrystalBlue1 — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 13:33:38 GMT

On 9/12/2014 skh47 said:
On 9/12/2014 CrystalBlue1 said:
I use retin a with an antibiotic for acne (it is a new product cream mix) and I just got it filled and had I not had insurance would have cost 700.00 so beware of a 15.00 retin a

I didn't ask what it would have costed without my insurance. I was just happy that I was able to get it for such an affordable price. I don't feel like I have to beware since it was an actual RX from a doctor.

oh good, I thought at first you were saying you got it online, sorry for the misunderstanding on my part. It is nice when insurance pays because I would not have been able to get mine without it at that cost

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

jlkz — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 15:43:10 GMT

With insurance and filled at the pharmacy counter at our local Giant supermarket in PA.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

JeanLouiseFinch — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 16:22:24 GMT

On 9/12/2014 skh47 said:
On 9/12/2014 JeanLouiseFinch said:
Retin-A is much stronger than retinol. Some people believe they do the same thing, but others are of the opinion that due to the weakened state of the retinol and the chemical conversions is has to go through before it can be absorbed, that it's not all that helpful. Some people like the weaker form because they think the prescription product is too harsh. Some people like the idea of buying a name or system. Everybody's different and they do what they believe in and what they're comfortable with. I've never seen Retin-A for $15 a tube though, unless you're talking about the stuff that comes from foreign online pharmacies.

I absolutely purchased my generic Retin A from a prescription from my derm for $15. I have 2 more refills. I was surprised too, that it was so affordable!

Wow, that's great. When I first got my prescription is was for a legit medical reason, but insurance wouldn't cover it. I needed it so I paid out-of-pocket around $35 or so, if I remember correctly. I liked the results so I've just kept paying myself, but I've backed off of how often I use it so I haven't refilled for a long time. I'm down to just 2-3 nights a week and sometimes that's even sketchy.

Re: Retin A or Retinol - price difference question

OCGurl — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 03:12:03 GMT

$10, my insurance pays for it.