Four steps: the original, what makes it special, the parts we use, and how to get closer.
SkinBetter Science
$145 · 1 fl oz (30 ml)
A higher-strength version of AlphaRet Overnight Cream: the same ethyl lactyl retinoate base with glycolic acid listed ahead of sodium glycolate, indicating more free glycolic acid.
Prices and listings checked Oct 28, 2026. Amazon prices change; the link shows today's price.
The defining active: a retinoid bonded to lactic acid, meant to work as retinoid and AHA together with less irritation.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 40% of these points.
Exfoliates the surface for smoother texture and a brighter look.
A stable vitamin C form that helps with uneven tone and dullness.
Signal peptides aimed at lines and firmness.
Supports barrier and even-looking tone.
Barrier lipids, hydration and an antioxidant that make a strong retinoid easier to tolerate.
Mid-tier retinol + glycolic toner
IllustrationPart 1 · Paula's Choice
Retinol + peptides + THD ascorbate (PM)
IllustrationPart 2 · The Ordinary
Glycolic toner (PM, separate night)
IllustrationPart 3 · CeraVe
Adds: Niacinamide; Ceramide NP, hyaluronic acid and CoQ10
IllustrationPart 4 · The Ordinary
Adds: Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and tetrapeptide-7
How to use. PM only. 1% retinol 2 nights/week; glycolic toner once weekly on a different night. Patch test. SPF 30+ every AM. Add CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum: Closest budget serum for the stronger Intensive version: a true retinoid plus niacinamide and ceramides. It has no AHA, so add lactic acid separately. Ethyl lactyl retinoate (AlphaRet) is proprietary and not sold in any dupe, so every match is a functional approximation. Add The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1%: Carries the same two signal peptides (plus others) in one serum.
Partial credit means the part only partly matches that standout.
61 / 100. We have not found a shelf product that closes more of the gap yet.
82 is our ceiling. Proprietary conjugate: no retail product uses ethyl lactyl retinoate. Retinol or HPR retinoids give partial credit only.
One bottle instead of a build. Sorted by match score; scores use the same standouts as above.
Paula's Choice
No close match yet — we show the nearest formulas.
Why it is close. Mid-tier option with retinol, peptides and THD ascorbate, matching the vitamin C and peptide side of AlphaRet. Costs less than half as much.
Olay
Why it is close. Retinol plus niacinamide and a peptide in a moisturizing base. No exfoliating acid, so add one separately.
RoC
Why it is close. A night cream that also combines retinol, glycolic acid and vitamin C, the nearest active mix at drugstore price. Texture is heavier and irritation risk is likely higher than AlphaRet.
CeraVe
Why it is close. Closest budget serum for the stronger Intensive version: a true retinoid plus niacinamide and ceramides. It has no AHA, so add lactic acid separately. Ethyl lactyl retinoate (AlphaRet) is proprietary and not sold in any dupe, so every match is a functional approximation.
The Ordinary
Why it is close. Cheapest way to get an ester-type retinoid. Low-irritation HPR is the nearest chemical cousin, but it has no AHA or supporting actives.
A double-conjugated retinoid/AHA cream was noninferior to 0.025% tretinoin in most categories over 12 weeks, with less irritation, in a 48-woman split-face study.
McDaniel 2017 · J Cosmet DermatolAn antioxidant plus double-conjugated retinoid/AHA cream was evaluated in participants with Fitzpatrick skin types IV-V.
Grimes 2024 · J Cosmet DermatolTopical niacinamide (5%, 12 weeks, split-face) improved fine lines, hyperpigmented spots, redness and sallowness in aging facial skin.
Bissett 2005 · Dermatol SurgAqua/Water, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Glycolate, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Ceresin, Glycol Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide NP, Hyaluronic Acid, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Superoxide Dismutase, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium PCA, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Linolenic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Steareth-2, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Hydrated Silica, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
We split Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream into 6 standout parts worth 100 points in total. The build earns 61 of a possible 82. 82 is the most we claim, because some standouts have no close retail equivalent.
CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment by Paula's Choice is our closest single-product match at 34 out of 100 for ~$65 (1 fl oz). It shares Retinol, Peptides, THD ascorbate (vitamin C), Licorice.
Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream costs $145 for 1 fl oz (30 ml). The closest dupe costs ~$65, a saving of about $80. Prices change, so check the seller page.
No. Dupes share the key actives but can differ in concentration, vehicle and supporting ingredients. Missing from this one: AHA, Ethyl lactyl retinoate. See our methodology for how we score.
