I use a pricey .03% retinol cream on my face. would the benefits be the same if i mixed generic tretinoin cream with a moisturizer?

Difficult to say: Not all moisturizers are equal and you should use a non-comedogenic mositurizer. Furthermore not all delivery vehicles or preparations are equivalent. Microspheres allows a time release effect that is more gentle on skin. Furthermore separation of the two components allows you to increase the potency as you build tolerance. I am a fan of the component approach albeit the inconvenience.

Probably: For most patients, generics have similar effects to the pricier drugs. You probably don't need to mix it with a moisturizer unless it is too strong or irritating. It's best to put it on first, allow it to dry and then apply moisturizer if you need it.