Retinaldehyde

What it is

Retinaldehyde (retinal) is a vitamin A derivative and one of the most potent non-prescription retinoids. It sits just one conversion step from active retinoic acid in the skin, so it acts faster than retinol while typically irritating less than prescription tretinoin.

Benefits

Improves wrinkles, skin texture, and signs of photoaging while supporting epidermal thickness and elasticity; clinical studies use creams in the 0.05-0.1% range, with 0.05% shown to increase epidermal thickness and elasticity.

When to take it

Apply at night to clean, dry skin, starting a few times per week and building tolerance; always pair with broad-spectrum SPF in the morning.

Side effects

Can cause dryness, redness, and mild peeling, though typically less than prescription retinoids at comparable strength. It increases sun sensitivity.

Sources

• Efficacy of topical 0.05% retinaldehyde in skin aging by ultrasound and rheological techniques (Dermatology, 1999)
• Efficacy and safety of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for photoaged skin: RCT (J Cosmet Dermatol, 2018)

Products containing Retinaldehyde

No products in our database contain this ingredient yet.