This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll earn a commission should you choose to make a purchase through one of these links. This is at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclaimer here.
Retinal might just look like a misspelling of retinol, but did you know they’re actually two different things?
Well, kind of.
Retinal and retinol are both members of the topical retinoid family, so they both fight signs of ageing and improve your complexion. They just take different amounts of time to have an effect on the skin.
If retinal and retinol are both retinoids, then, and they both work in a similar way, which one should you choose? Keep reading this post for a full breakdown!
What do topical retinoids do?
Retinoids are compounds that are derived from vitamin A. They’re one of the few topical agents that have been scientifically proven to have anti-ageing effects on the skin. Studies show that topical retinoids, tretinoin in particular, can significantly improve fine lines and wrinkles and reduce the appearance of post-inflammatory marks or age spots.
Because they increase cell turnover, retinoids are also often prescribed as an acne-fighting treatment. They help remove dead skin cells and oil from the surface of the skin, preventing clogged pores from forming.
The retinoid chain
It’s probably helpful to break down the stages of retinoid conversion before we jump right into our retinal vs retinol comparison!
Retinoid is an umbrella term for all vitamin A derivatives. This includes retinol, retinal and retinoic acid (i.e. tretinoin and isotretinoin), to name just a few.
Retinoic acid is the most bioavailable retinoid, meaning it doesn’t need to be converted in order to become active. All other topical retinoid forms must first be converted into retinoic acid by the skin to have any effect.
The number of conversions it takes to reach retinoic acid usually indicates the strength of the vitamin A derivative. Retinyl esters, for example, are the weakest because they take three steps to convert into retinoic acid; retinal is considered one of the strongest forms since it only takes one.
What is retinal?
Retinaldehyde (retinal for short) is one step below retinoic acid in the retinoid chain, so it only requires one conversion.
What does this mean exactly?
Because of the short conversion process, retinal is one of the most potent (and most effective) over-the-counter forms of vitamin A. It gets to work quicker than retinol, meaning visible results in a shorter amount of time.
What is retinol?
Retinol is one of the most common retinoids and can be found in many drugstore products. It’s considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid and so it can take longer to deliver results.
Retinol is two conversion steps away from retinoic acid. The skin must first convert it to retinaldehyde (retinal), and then into retinoic acid.
What’s the difference between retinal and retinol?
There may only be a letter’s difference between them, but retinal and retinol work and act in fairly different ways. Here’s how:
Potency – Retinal is closer in the conversion process to retinoic acid, so it’ll take less time to see results compared to retinol.
Stability – Retinal is difficult to stabilise which means that there are fewer retinal products on the market. Retinol tends to be more widely available, both online and in the drugstore. Though the number of retinal products is slowly picking up!
Acne-fighting power – Retinal is the only retinoid which has been shown to have antibacterial properties. This makes it a great choice for blemish-prone skin.
Irritation potential – Retinal is said to be less irritating than retinol but often this has more to do with the way retinal products are formulated, than the actual ingredient itself. Generally, retinol is a better starting point for those with sensitive skin or retinoid newbies.
Which one is right for your skin?
Realistically, there is no right or wrong option when it comes to choosing between retinal or retinol. Both deliver visible results, it just depends on how long you’re willing to wait for these results and how much irritation you’re prepared to withstand.
Retinol is great for first time retinoid users. It’s more widely available than retinal because it’s slightly more stable (and therefore easier to formulate). And it’s generally less irritating than retinal, though some people actually find the reverse to be true!
Retinal is better if you’re looking for quicker results, and your skin is already accustomed to retinoid use. It’s more potent than retinol and can sometimes cause more irritation because of this. Nonetheless, its irritation potential is still lower than its big brother tretinoin!
How to incorporate retinol or retinal into your skincare routine?
Introducing a retinoid into your skincare routine may take some time. Many retinoid-producing skincare brands suggest that you add it into your skincare routine gradually, so as to avoid irritation.
Start by applying it once a week then, as long as you’re not experiencing any side effects, up the usage each week.
You should also avoid using any chemical exfoliants during this time since they can increase sensitivity, and you really don’t want to damage your skin barrier if you can help it!
A good retinal or retinol nighttime skincare routine should ideally consist of a gentle cleanser (containing no AHAs or BHAs), a hydrating toner or essence, your retinoid of choice and then a rich moisturiser. If your skin is oily, you can probably get away with skipping the last step though.
Oh, and of course don’t forget to apply sunscreen in the morning to protect your skin!
Retinals to try
Medik8 Crystal Retinal – This is the gold standard of retinal products and it comes in a bunch of different strengths, from 0.01% right up to 0.2%. Medik8 claims that their retinal products work up to 11 times faster than retinol. They’ve also managed to stabilise their retinal formulas by using encapsulation technology which slowly releases over time.
Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum – At 0.05%, this is a moderately potent formula which is most suited to regular vitamin A users. It’s powered by sustained-release retinaldehyde, which presumably means that, like the Medik8 Crystal Retinal, it’s also encapsulated.
Geek and Gorgeous A-Game – Effective and affordable, Geek and Gorgeous have really nailed it with their A-Game formula. This comes in two strengths, 0.05% and 0.1%, both of which are priced under £20.
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion – This launched just weeks ago so it’s one of the newest retinal products on the market. It’s a high strength formula which is targeted at experience retinoid users. If you want to build your tolerance before trying this one, The Ordinary suggests their Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion instead.
Resources
Motamedi, Melika et al. “A Clinician’s Guide to Topical Retinoids.” Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery vol. 26,1 (2022): 71-78. doi:10.1177/12034754211035091
Ganceviciene, Ruta et al. “Skin anti-aging strategies.” Dermato-endocrinology vol. 4,3 (2012): 308-19. doi:10.4161/derm.22804
Pechère, M et al. “The antibacterial activity of topical retinoids: the case of retinaldehyde.” Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 205,2 (2002): 153-8. doi:10.1159/000063903
Leave a Reply