Retinol vs Retinal: What’s the Difference?

No. Retinal (retinaldehyde) and retinol are both forms of vitamin A, but they sit at different points in the conversion chain the skin uses to produce retinoic acid.

Retinal is one step closer to retinoic acid than retinol, which means the skin has less work to do.

Independent research has shown retinaldehyde to be substantially more active than retinol at equivalent concentrations, with a lower risk of the dryness and irritation associated with conventional retinol use.

Retinaldehyde is more active than retinol at equivalent concentrations. Retinol must convert to retinaldehyde inside the skin before it can convert to retinoic acid, the form the skin actually uses.

Retinaldehyde skips that first conversion step entirely. The result is a more direct, more efficient form of vitamin A that does not require the same concentration to achieve the same effect.

Conventional retinol and retinoic acid are typically recommended for evening use only, given the sensitivity they cause at higher doses.

Encapsulated retinaldehyde is different. The encapsulation slows the release of the active across 8 to 12 hours, which means the skin receives a sustained, lower-intensity delivery rather than a single concentrated peak.

The Rejuvaus Repair & Refine ABC Serum contains 1% encapsulated retinaldehyde and is formulated for twice-daily use, morning and evening, including for sensitive skin.

Topical retinaldehyde does not enter the bloodstream in the way that oral vitamin A supplements do. It is converted to retinoic acid within the skin itself and does not reach systemic circulation at levels of concern.

That said, the standard medical guidance is to avoid all forms of topical vitamin A during pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution.

Consult your GP or obstetrician before continuing use.

Retinaldehyde works across several skin processes simultaneously. It stimulates collagen and elastin production in the dermis, which addresses fine lines and loss of firmness.

It accelerates cell turnover in the epidermis, which improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of sun spots and post-inflammatory marks. It regulates sebum production, which helps with congestion and enlarged pores. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that reduce redness and protect against further UV damage.

At 1% in the Rejuvaus Repair & Refine ABC Serum, it is delivered via slow-release encapsulation to allow all of these processes to run twice daily without the irritation associated with conventional retinol.