Retinal VS Retinol Which one is for me? How to introduce them in the routine?

By now you have probably started to hear the word Retinalheido, better known as Retinal, and the first questions about which product is best for your skin - products with Retinol or with Retinal?

Well then! Today we're going to take the guesswork out of it. We tell you which one to choose according to your skin type and the importance of how to gradually introduce it into your routine. But first...

What are Retinal and Retinol?

Both come from the same family called Retinoids and are forms of Vitamin A. They are one of the best known cosmetic active ingredients for their great anti-aging action, and stand out for their great ability to slow down aging thanks to activate the cell renewal of our skin, a natural mechanism, which over time becomes slower resulting in the signs of aging, such as wrinkles, lack of firmness, irregularities in texture, therefore, Retinoids will improve fine lines and wrinkles, elasticity and elasticity, irregularities in texture, therefore, Retinoids will improve fine lines and wrinkles, elasticity and texture of the skin, prevent transepidermal water loss improving hydration, also promote collagen production, have an antioxidant action and help to treat hyperpigmentation improving tone.

However, there are differences between them, each one behaves differently when in contact with our skin, so they have different nuances and with it also, to the type of skin to which it is recommended and needs.

So how do they interact in our skin?

When we apply any Retinoid topically, either Retinol or Retinal (Retinalheido) in this case, a chemical process is initiated upon contact with our skin that leads them to become a conformation called Retinoic Acid, this acid is solely responsible for triggering all the direct anti-aging actions in our skin.

If we apply Retinol it has to make two conversions in our skin until it becomes Retinoic Acid to perform the anti-aging action, let's say, it has to first become Retinal (Retinalheido) to finally become Retinoic Acid, needing to go through these two conversions to perform this action.

However, if we apply Retinal (Retinalheido) already in the first conversion, it is directly converted into Retinoic Acid to fulfill the anti-aging action. Therefore, the Retinal costs less steps, being faster in conversion action. That is why products with Retinal usually have lower levels of concentrations compared to those of Retinol.

Nothing yet indicates that Retinal is more potent than Retinol.

Retinol is the one that has the largest number of studies with more scientific evidence regarding its ability to transform the skin, and the most proven studies against Retinal is that it does not irritate and has antibacterial properties, being this what differentiates them.

When should we choose one or the other according to skin type?

THE RETINAL

It is ideal for skins that want to work the signs of aging, and that are:

1. Sensitive skin, Retinal is better tolerated in this type of skin, as it has been shown to be less irritating and does not cause desquamation.
2. Blemished, combination, oily and even acne-prone skin, as Retinal has been shown to have direct antibacterial properties that help fight acne-causing bacteria and balance sebum overproduction for blemish-free, radiant, glowing skin.
3. For all skin types that are not directly tolerant to Retinol.
4. It can be an option to advise beginner skins, we refer to those who have not used any Retinoid before and want to get started.

RETINOL

It is ideal for all skin types resistant and tolerant to this active ingredient that want to work on the signs of aging, such as expression lines or wrinkles, lack of firmness, blemishes and irregular texture.

Retinol is able to penetrate to the innermost layers, so it is more irritating to some skins, which is why it is very important to retinize the skin.

The retinization process is the period that our skin needs to get used to this active ingredient, so we will start with products from lower concentrations and progressively move up to higher concentrations.

How to introduce them into our routine?

In general, retinoids can cause some slight irritation if applied to the skin for the first time, which is why we must gradually introduce them into our routine by using them at night, avoiding the eye contour area, starting two or three nights a week for the first fifteen days and then progressively increasing to alternate nights, until finally every night.

Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a Retinol or Retinal product is not only to look at the amount of concentration, but also what active ingredients are formulated in its composition, as these extra ingredients will always help to enhance and complete the action.

We help you choose the right product

Products with Retinal in concentrations of 0.05 and above are sufficiently effective to act as an anti-aging agent. It is the best ally for sensitive skin, as it is less irritating, and for oily, acneic and even seborrheic skin due to its antibacterial and sebum-regulating action.

Retinal, however, is a more difficult asset to formulate, requiring advanced technologies to ensure its stability and efficacy.

We highlight three Retinal products designed with advanced technologies:

Allies of Skin 's Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream is a patented encapsulated formulation of Retinaldehyde with time-release technology.

A-Game 5 from Geek & Gorgeous an ideal starter for this active, with medium potency, which corrects all signs of aging, being very soft and gentle on the skin, ideal for oily and acne-prone skin. And for an accustomed skin that needs more power, we recommend A-Game 10.

HoliFrog 's Moonbeam serum is a combination of encapsulated and patented Retinal that provides the most bioavailable form of Vitamin A for effective stability, helping to prevent irritation.

Retinol is the anti-aging star if you have resistant and tolerant skin. If you want a super complete anti-aging treatment you can incorporate products with Retinol for your skin care. We highlight:

Activ Retinol 0.5 from Dermaceutic is a medium-grade concentration that helps generate cell renewal by improving the appearance of skin texture, eliminating marks and reducing all signs of aging, lack of firmness, deep wrinkles, fine lines, past acne marks, blackheads and dull, blotchy skin. If your skin is already used to it and needs more power, we recommend Activ Retinol 1.0

Retinol + Marula from Current State of Skin a potent in impressive skin results with an encapsulated Retinol along with Kojic Acid, a depigmenting agent, helps to powerfully smooth fine lines, lighten visibly uneven skin tone and help fade the appearance of blemishes.

If you are looking for a specific treatment to treat hyper-pigmentation spots, melasma or sun spots, Mela Cream from Dermaceutic contains Retinol + 40% depigmenting active ingredients which visibly fade hyperpigmentation spots and even out skin tone, as well as eliminate red marks from past acne.

Also, do not forget the importance of protecting your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day before leaving the house.

We hope we have helped you