The real difference between Retinol and Retinal, and the best options to achieve results!
It’s easy to get lost in the world of Retinoids — the Vitamin A that’s supposed to do everything from preventing photoaging to healing acne. In this post, we go through the difference between Retinol and Retinal, and check out top Korean Retinal cream recommendations.
You’re probably familiar with Retinol — from serums to sheetmasks, it’s everywhere. The promise of baby-smooth skin is just too appealing.
But what about Retinal? It’s the Retinoid version that’s getting more and more attention, especially here in Korea. Why? Keep reading to find out why Retinal is the next big thing K-beauty.
Retinol vs. Retinal
Benefits of Retinol and Retinal are pretty much the same, the main difference is in the speed in which they work.
Retinal works 11 times faster than good ol’ Retinol!
Retinal delivers significantly faster and pronounced results than Retinol. It’s the closest thing you will get to a prescription strength Vitamin A without the prescription! Unlike Retinol, that has to convert twice before becoming the active Retinoic Acid that goes to work on our skin, Retinal only needs one conversion. But with speed comes the increased possibility of a skin reaction—particularly redness and irritation. But alas, give it to skincare scientists around the world to make the impossible possible with every year of R&D.
Until the recent years, there hasn’t been many Retinal skincare options without the high price tags. Medik8 from the UK showed us how Retinal can be done right, and so did Allies Of Skin from the US. But in 2021, the Korean skincare industry took the reins. K-beauty is now showing us how gentle Retinal can be even at higher concentration of 0.05% and up! And all within affordable price range!
HERE ARE TOP 3 RETINAL SKINCARE YOU NEED TO TRY
- By Wishtrend A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream: A beginner-friendly well-aging night cream with 0.03% Retinal and Bakuchiol. 0.03% is still a plenty when it comes to Retinal. Remember, Retinal works 11 times faster than Retinol. This cream also features Bakuchiol, a gentler Retinoid alternative with similar benefits. Glowing smoother skin is pretty easy achieve if you use this at least five nights a week.
- HSGN Retinally Liposomal Retinal Cream: We call this one the cream of the crop! It’s top notch when it comes to stable and powerfully effective Retinal. It firms, brightens, tightens, smooths– everything a solid Retinoid product should do. As a bonus, it also helps to repair the skin barrier. Lastly, it comes packed in a special tube with a built-in inner lock that guarantees its freshness till the last squeeze. With the affordable price tag ranging from $13.20 – $22 at bemusedkorea.com, we really can’t ask for much else. This contains 0.05% Retinal, and is your best intermediate product in your Retinal journey.
- Dr. Different Vitalift-A Forte: Move up to advanced OTC Retinoid skincare with this one. Formulated with 0.1% Retinal, we call this “advanced” but it’s still gentle enough for most skin types to handle. The price tag sits a little higher at $52. And the packaging is a bit weak, so try to use it up within the month of opening and try to keep it in the fridge.
With unbeatable price tags and gentle-yet-powerful formulas, Korean Retinal skincare is the biggest skincare trend. Shop our favorite, HSGN Retinally Liposomal Retinal Cream HERE or learn more about best Retinol skincare of 2023 HERE.
