Retinal vs Retinol: Differences and Which Is Better for Your Skin

In the world of skincare, retinoids play a key role thanks to their powerful action against skin ageing.In this post, we look at the differences between retinol and retinal, their benefits and the products where you can find each one.

Differences between retinal and retinol: which one is better?

The most famous and widely known one is retinol, but retinal, also known as retinaldehyde, is gaining more and more ground. Although they belong to the same “family”, each has key features that make it more suitable depending on the situation or your skin type.

What is retinol?

Retinol is one of the most widely used forms of vitamin A in cosmetics. It is so well known because its effectiveness is supported by many studies; it is one of the few ingredients with scientific evidence for its action against skin ageing. Its main functions include:

• Stimulating cell renewal.
• Supporting collagen production.
• Reducing wrinkles.
• Fading dark spots.

However, it is not all upside. If it is not used properly and according to guidelines, it can be too irritating for the skin, causing flaking, dryness or redness.

In addition, for retinol to become the active form used by the skin, meaning retinoic acid, it has to pass through two metabolites. In other words, the retinol you apply turns into retinal once it is in the skin, and then into retinoic acid. This process makes the effects somewhat gentler and the results take a little longer to become visible.

What is retinal?

In this case, as mentioned above, retinal is another vitamin A derivative. The difference compared with retinol is that retinal only needs one step to transform into the active molecule, that is, retinoic acid. This means it is more potent and faster-acting in terms of its effects. But without being as irritating as retinoic acid, which requires a prescription. The main advantages of retinal are:

• It works faster than retinol.

• It has antimicrobial action, so it is more suitable for acne-prone skin.
• There is less risk of irritation, as it is better tolerated than other molecules such as retinol or retinoic acid.

So, what is better: retinol or retinal?

• Younger skin or beginners who have never used retinoids: retinol would be a very good option to get started with these active ingredients.
• Mature skin, with marked wrinkles, resilient skin or dark spots: in this case, retinal will help achieve visible effects in less time.
• Skin with adult acne: as mentioned above, because of its antibacterial properties, a product with retinal would be the better option to achieve a double action: skin renewal and antibacterial action.

That said, it is always important to follow the right advice when introducing it into your routine without causing damage, such as starting with low concentrations, using it on alternate nights or two nights a week and, above all, wearing daily sun protection. Patience and consistency are key with this kind of treatment if you want to see results without damaging your skin.

How can we fit them into a facial skincare routine?

If you want to boost your facial skincare routine, you can introduce retinoids and also combine them with other active ingredients that support hydration, skin repair and protection. Here is a list of recommended products:

• Avene Hyaluron Activ Procedure, formulated with retinal, pure hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. The products in this range provide the benefits of retinal while also improving firmness, helping to plump the skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
• Endocare Serum + Eye Contour Retinol Pack, a starter retinol pack that helps reduce wrinkles, improve skin texture and radiance, and rejuvenate the eye contour with a sustained-release formula.
• Medik8 Retinal Rewind Pack, high-efficacy retinal products that work quickly and are suitable for acne-prone skin, while also offering hydration and renewal.
• Darphin Stimulskin Plus Sculpting, a nourishing and firming cream that is ideal for normal skin and complements retinoid treatment by providing hydration and improving firmness.

In conclusion, choosing the right products is just as important as knowing how to use them correctly. If you want to learn more about this product range, visit our online pharmacy.