One step closer: why retinal is the vitamin A upgrade your skin has been waiting for
Every vitamin A ingredient is on the same journey. Before your skin can use it, it has to be converted into retinoic acid, step by step. Retinyl palmitate, the gentle retinoid in Skin Protein, takes the long road. Retinol takes a shorter one. Retinal is just one step away.
Fewer steps mean faster results. That's why we built our newest serum around it.
Meet Retinal + Peptides
We paired retinal with peptides, the skin-supporting messengers that help maintain collagen. Retinal speeds up renewal for smoother, more refined skin, while peptides help it look firmer and more resilient. Together, they target the signs of ageing from two directions at once.
Put to the test
We wanted proof, so we put both strengths through 12 weeks of testing. By the end, 78% of participants noticed an improvement in skin texture and 73% saw improvements in both fine lines and firmness.*
Independent measurements told the same story:
| After 12 weeks | 0.06% Retinal + Peptides | 0.1% Retinal + Peptides |
| Average reduction in wrinkle length | 30.58% | 25.64% |
| Average reduction in wrinkle total area | 31.7% | 18.57% |
| Average reduction in wrinkle volume | 34.76% | 39.36% |
*Consumer results based on a perception questionnaire completed by 22 participants following 12 weeks of use in a study of Skingredients 0.06% and 0.1% Retinal + Peptides. 0.06% results from an independent volunteer efficacy study (N=19). 0.1% results from an independent volunteer efficacy study (N=12). Retinoids are not suitable during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Which strength should you choose?
- Skin Protein is where most people start. It's gentle enough for morning and night.
- Retinol + B3 comes next, when your skin is ready for more.
- Retinal + Peptides 0.06% is your first step into retinal. It's ideal if you've been using retinol comfortably, or if your skin is on the sensitive side.
- Retinal + Peptides 0.1% is for experienced users, once you've finished a bottle of 0.06% or are used to Retinol 1% + B3.
Your evening routine
After cleansing, apply your serums, including Skin Protein, then follow with Retinal + Peptides. Start two or three nights a week and build up as your skin adjusts. If your skin feels tight, finish with Skin Good Fats. Keep exfoliating acids for other nights while you acclimatise and wear SPF every morning.
FAQ's
Retinal vs retinol - what is the difference?
Retinal is one conversion step closer to retinoic acid than retinol, which means it can work more directly, often with less irritation than prescription-strength vitamin A.
| Retinol | Retinal | |
| Steps to the active form | Two (retinol → retinal → retinoic acid) | One (retinal → retinoic acid) |
| Speed | Gradual | More direct |
| Best for | A first step into vitamin A after Skin Protein. | Building on an existing vitamin A routine, or wanting more visible progress |
Is retinal good for skin in your 40s and 50s?
Yes. Retinal suits midlife skin especially well, because it targets the concerns that tend to appear together: fine lines, loss of firmness, uneven tone and dullness.
Collagen production slows with age, and falling oestrogen in perimenopause can speed that up and leave skin drier and more reactive. That's why this formula is about more than the retinal. The peptides support firmer-looking skin, and the barrier blend, with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and squalane, helps keep skin comfortable while it adjusts. In our trial, 73% of participants noticed an improvement in skin firmness after 12 weeks.*
If you're already investing in treatments such as microneedling or injectables, a consistent vitamin A routine at home helps you get more from them. Check with your practitioner about pausing it before and after any in-clinic treatment.
One step closer to retinoic acid and one step closer to your best skin.