You don't necessarily have to get the straight vitamin A cream; the technology used in OTC products is becoming more and more advanced for better potency, efficacy and tolerance. Strivectin cream, for example, uses potent retinol, but they also pair it with a patented molecule called Nia-114; this molecule significantly increases the performance of whatever ingredients it's paired with. So, another cream can have the same amount of vitamin A, but because of the Nia-114, the vitamin A in the Strivectin cream is three times more effective.
