I'm paranoid about using mine too. Not for redness but because it makes your skin more susceptible to sun damage and even though I wear suncream every day, I'm terrible at wearing hats.
Anyhow, retinoids are one of the only proven ingredients in face creams. Depending on the concentration, a chemist might be able to sell you a retinoid cream that is used for acne, and you can use it for wrinkles instead and pay $15 for it instead of $150 for a beauty cream with the same concentration. Bargain!
