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Trifarotene in skincare
4th-generation retinoid; first FDA-approved for trunk acne; selectively targets RARγ.
PM use ONLY. Prescription retinoid (Aklief). First retinoid specifically designed and approved for trunk acne (back, chest, shoulders). Apply to dry skin at night. Mandatory SPF 30+ every morning.
What it is
Trifarotene is the first fourth-generation retinoid, selectively targeting RARγ (the most prevalent retinoic acid receptor in the skin). FDA-approved in 2019 as Aklief 0.005% cream for facial and trunk acne in patients 9+. Lower systemic absorption than other retinoids due to RARγ selectivity. Category X in pregnancy.
The facts
| Category | Synthetic Retinoid (4th Generation) |
| Typical use | Evening |
| Concentration YARAI treats as a full dose | 0.005% |
Why the amount matters, not just the presence
Most ingredient checkers tell you whether something is in the bottle. That is a smaller question than it sounds. Trifarotene at 0.005% and trifarotene at a trace level are not the same ingredient in any way that affects your skin.
An ingredient list is ordered by quantity, so position carries real information. YARAI reads that position and scores accordingly, which is why the same ingredient can land differently in two different products.
The honest limit: a list gives order, not percentages. Estimating concentration from position is an estimate. It is a better estimate than ignoring position, and it is still an estimate. We would rather tell you that than let a number look more certain than it is.
Using it with something else
Trifarotene appears in 5 of the pairs YARAI checks. Each page gives the severity, the chemical mechanism, the evidence tier and the source:
- Can you use retinol and glycolic acid together?
- Can you use retinol and salicylic acid together?
- Can you use retinol and lactic acid together?
- Can you use retinol and mandelic acid together?
- Can you use benzoyl peroxide and retinol together?
Common questions
What does trifarotene do in a skincare product?
4th-generation retinoid; first FDA-approved for trunk acne; selectively targets RARγ.
How much trifarotene should a product contain?
YARAI treats 0.005% as a full dose for this ingredient. Below that, the ingredient is present but is scored as contributing less. An ingredient list gives you the order of ingredients, not their percentages, so this is an estimate read from position rather than a measurement.
When should I use trifarotene?
PM use ONLY. Prescription retinoid (Aklief). First retinoid specifically designed and approved for trunk acne (back, chest, shoulders). Apply to dry skin at night. Mandatory SPF 30+ every morning.
Check your own products
Point your camera at a product. YARAI identifies it from the label, finds that product's full ingredient list from published sources, and scores it. No barcode and no box needed, which is how it handles imported and small-brand products.
Concern level, category and thresholds on this page are read directly from the same data the YARAI app scores with, so this page and the app cannot disagree. EU figures cite Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Last built 2026-10-12. Nothing here is medical advice.