Curious about retinal? You’re not alone in wondering about this radiance-enhancing, skin-smoothing retinoid (that also happens to be the hero ingredient in our Super Retinal Vitamin A Serum). What is retinal? What’s the difference between retinal and retinol? Where does it fit into my routine?
Help is here! Below we answer your most-asked questions about retinal and the retinoid family.
Q: What does retinal actually do?
A: Retinal is a skincare marvel, renowned for reducing fine lines and wrinkles, enhancing skin texture and tone, and may also be effective in assisting acne. It's an all-in-one solution for a youthful, radiant complexion.
Q: What's the difference between retinol and retinal?
A: Both are part of the retinoid family and derivatives of vitamin A. Vitamin A helps to boost cell turnover but first it needs to be converted to retinoic acid, which happens naturally when applied to the skin. Retinal is further along the vitamin A pathway than retinol - it's just one step away from becoming retinoic acid. This means retinal not only acts faster on your skin compared to retinol, but it also offers additional benefits. Want more info? You got it!
Q: Is retinal better than retinol?
A: We certainly think so! Retinal can work up to 11 times faster than traditional retinol, delivering next-level anti-aging, radiance-enhancing and skin-smoothing benefits. Because retinal converts to retinoic acid faster than retinol, it’s also the more potent option.
Q: Are there any side effects of using retinal?
A: Retinoids are powerful and may initially cause dryness or irritation for new users - that's why we recommend a gradual introduction. Super Retinal Vitamin A Serum was meticulously formulated to be as gentle as possible; it contains a gentle yet clinically effective percentage of retinal and is packed with a host of soothing skincare ingredients like willowherb. It also includes peptides for extra anti-aging benefits without the risk of added irritation.
Q: Can I use Super Retinal Vitamin A Serum if I have sensitive skin?
A: Absolutely! Our formulation is designed to be gentle, ensuring that even delicate skin can enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of retinal without irritation. If it’s your first time using a retinoid, we always suggest gradually introducing it into your nightly routine. You can learn more here.
Q: Where does retinal fit into my skincare routine?
A: Super Retinal is a nighttime serum, best applied after your cleansers and before oils and moisturiser. Always use broad-spectrum sunscreen the following morning.
Q: How do I use retinal with my other actives?
A: Retinal plays well with hydration boosters like niacinamide - that’s why we’ve included it in Super Retinal Vitamin A Serum. Because retinal and vitamin C are powerful ingredients and can cause irritation when used together at once, we recommend using Daybreak Vitamin C Serum in the morning and Super Retinal Vitamin A Serum at night if you’d like to use both.
Q: Can I use retinal during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
A: No, retinoids are not recommended when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Q: What should I look for when choosing retinal products?
A: When it comes to selecting the best retinal skincare, we suggest looking for products that contain soothing, hydrating ingredients (like willowherb, chamomile and niacinamide in Super Retinal Vitamin A Serum) plus those that support retinal’s anti-ageing properties such as peptides (you guessed it, also found in Super Retinal). Seek out airless packaging that isn’t transparent (this protects the retinal’s stability) and a gentle yet clinically effective percentage of retinal in the formulation.
