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Firming & Aging

Retinal

Exfoliation / PoresFirmness / AgingBrightening
INCI: Retinal
In short · TL;DR
Category
Firming & Aging
Effect
Retinaldehyde. A retinoid one metabolic step further along than retinol
Concentration
Roughly 0.01-0.1% in cosmetics (a stabilizing formulation is required)
Effect
Retinaldehyde. A retinoid one metabolic step further along than retinol
Mechanism
Because conversion to retinoic acid is a single step, it is considered to work more efficiently than retinol
Typical concentration
Roughly 0.01-0.1% in cosmetics (a stabilizing formulation is required)
Onset
More noticeable with several weeks to several months of continued use
Cautions
Watch for retinoid reactions (dryness, redness). Unstable to light and oxygen. Use sunscreen during the day. Consult a professional during pregnancy. Drug-like efficacy claims are not permitted
Evidence & references
Kwon 2018 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29663701/ (0.05% and 0.1% cream, twice daily for 3 months) (checked 2026-10-20)
Journal

Related Journal

3
Aesthetic Medicine vs Home CareRetinol formulations vs prescription tretinoin -- the science of concentration and efficacySkin Longevity SeriesRetinol vs Bakuchiol: Is the "Natural Retinol" Claim Real?Skin Longevity SeriesA Century of Beauty Research
This page is reference information and does not guarantee efficacy. Figures vary by test conditions (in vitro / manufacturer / concentration). It does not indicate pharmaceutical efficacy.
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