Retinal V.S. Retinol

I have recently worked with Dr. Different, and was introduced to Retinal! 

I knew about Retinol and have used it in my routine before, but had no IDEA that Retinal was even a thing!

In this blog post, I will be breaking down the difference between the two, and letting you know which one you should be using in your routine!

Also, let me know in the comments down below if you have ever tried Retinal! 

What Is Retinol? 

Retinol is one of the best-known skin care ingredients on the market. An over-the-counter (OTC) version of retinoids, retinol is derived (made from) vitamin A and is primarily used to treat mature-looking skin concerns as well as acne. Once in this middle layer of skin, retinol helps neutralize free radicals. This helps boost the production of elastin and collagen, which creates a “plumping” effect that can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores. 

(Healthline) 

"Retinoids not only increase the cellular turnover rate of keratinocytes (cells on the outermost layer of our skin), keeping younger, plumper cells closer to the surface, but they also help exfoliate older keratinocytes at an increased rate, which helps to unclog pores and keeps your skin refreshed without the need for harsh friction. Over a long period of use, retinoids also help increase the production of collagen and elastin in the dermis—the second, deeper layer of skin. Not many products work on so many aspects of skin health all at the same time." says Jessica Krant, M.D., a dermatologist at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York. 

What Is Retinal? 

“Retinal is the first step retinol undergoes in its transformation to retinoic acid. By using topical retinal, you may be able to see faster results with your topical treatment, as one step in the conversion process has already happened.” says Dr. Matthew Elias, a board-certified dermatologist in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  (Harper's Bazaar) 

What Are Retinoids? 

Retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives that change cellular function and reduce inflammation, leading to smoother skin, smaller-looking pores, and an overall clearer, brighter, healthier complexion. Aside from SPF, topical retinoids are dermatologists’ most frequent recommendation.

So.... What's The Main Difference Between Retinol and Retinal? 

 Retinal is the closest thing you can get to prescription-strength vitamin A, which in its mildest form is tretinoin. Retinal can be more effective than retinol, but it can come with increased likelihood of skin sensitivity. Those who are already using retinol as part of their skin care routine, but aren’t quite seeing the results they’re looking for, should try Retinal. If you know that your skin can tolerate Retinol, you can try Retinal if you feel like you need an extra boost!

Also, when retinol is absorbed into the skin, it has to go through two processes in order to convert into active retinoic acid: retinol to retinal, then retinal to retinoic acid. Retinal, on the other hand, just needs one conversion before hitting the big time. (Southern Living)

Conclusion...

So... I tried Retinal and I feel like it is a bit too strong for my skin. I do feel like if you have aging skin, and you can tolerate Retinol products, Retinal is a great one for you! 

I tried a Retinal night treatment out and I just feel like my face doesn't need that strength yet. I did, however, enjoy how it did on my neck. 

All in all, it is good to know the difference, and I hope this post was helpful in really outlining the key differences in the two ingredients. 

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