3 ingredients · 1 active
Retinoid
Explore all 3 ingredients in the Retinoid category. Learn about their benefits and find products that contain them.
Retinal
Retinal (retinaldehyde) is a vitamin A derivative that sits one conversion step away from retinoic acid — the most active form of retinol used by skin cells. Because it requires only one enzymatic conversion (compared to retinol's two steps), it delivers retinoid benefits more efficiently while remaining better tolerated than prescription-strength retinoic acid. It stimulates collagen production, accelerates cell turnover, and has proven anti-acne and anti-ageing efficacy.
Learn more →Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin A and one of the most well-researched anti-ageing skincare ingredients. It is a cell-communicating ingredient that must be converted in the skin through two enzymatic steps (retinol → retinaldehyde → retinoic acid) before it becomes biologically active. It is approximately 10–20 times less potent than prescription tretinoin, making it more tolerable for OTC use.
Learn more →Retinyl Acetate
Retinyl acetate is an ester of retinol (vitamin A) and acetic acid, belonging to the retinoid family of ingredients. It functions as a cell-communicating ingredient that must first be converted by skin enzymes into retinol and then into retinoic acid (the biologically active form) before it can influence skin cell behaviour. Because it requires two conversion steps rather than one (unlike retinol), it is gentler but also less potent than retinol, making it a good entry point for retinoid beginners.
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