Retinol, Retinal, Retinoid – What's What?

All three terms belong to the retinoid family, the derivatives of vitamin A. The difference lies in how many conversion steps the skin needs before the ingredient becomes active. Retinol has to convert into retinoic acid in two steps, retinal (retinaldehyde) in just one. That makes retinal faster and more potent, yet still well tolerated.

Put simply: retinal sits between gentle retinol and prescription retinoic acid. It combines a noticeable effect with better tolerability, making it an ideal step when retinol no longer delivers enough but pure retinoic acid would be too aggressive.

How Vitamin A Works in the Skin

Retinoids stimulate cell renewal and support collagen production. The result is smoother skin texture, finer-looking pores and less visible fine lines. At the same time, they help even out skin tone and make the skin look fresher and firmer overall.

Because vitamin A works so deeply, results don't appear overnight but over weeks and months of consistent use. That's exactly why patience and a slow build-up are the keys to success.

Why Retinal Is on the Rise in 2026

For a long time, retinol was considered the gold standard for at-home use. In 2026 retinal is coming more into focus, because modern, stabilised formulas have significantly reduced its former drawbacks like instability and irritation potential. Retinal is often combined with soothing, balancing ingredients like niacinamide or panthenol.

This combination is typical of the Korean approach: high efficacy, but always with the skin barrier in mind. It makes this potent ingredient accessible even to people who previously struggled with retinoids.

Who Vitamin A Is For

Vitamin A suits anyone who wants to target fine lines, uneven texture or a dull complexion. Beginners are best starting with a low retinol concentration, while experienced users can move on to retinal or higher concentrations.

Important: retinoids are not advised during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A gentle alternative is bakuchiol, a plant-based ingredient with retinol-like effects that is considerably milder.

How to Start Without Irritation

Start with one or two applications per week, always in the evening, and slowly increase the frequency once your skin tolerates the ingredient well. Apply vitamin A to dry skin and combine it with a rich, barrier-strengthening care to prevent dryness.

During the day, sun protection is a must: retinoids make the skin more light-sensitive, and without SPF you're working against your own progress. If you react sensitively, you can apply the serum over your moisturiser first, known as buffering, to soften the effect.

Our Retinol & Retinal Picks

These three products from our range cover the path from a gentle start to more potent retinal.