INGREDIENT · RETINOID
Retinal (retinaldehyde) in skincare: strength and safety
Retinal, also written retinaldehyde, is one step closer to the active form of vitamin A than retinol. That makes it stronger, and it is why the pregnancy advice is the same as for the other retinoids.
You may see it written as
- Retinal
- Retinaldehyde
What retinal is and where it sits
Retinal is a form of vitamin A. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety explains that, apart from retinoic acid itself, topical retinoids have to be converted by the skin to retinoic acid to work, and that their strength depends on how many steps that takes. It ranks the effect after topical use as retinyl esters, much weaker than retinol, weaker than retinal, weaker than retinoic acid.1
So retinal is a step stronger than retinol, and a step weaker than the prescription retinoid. The strongest evidence for retinoids in photoageing is for prescription ones: a 2006 review says the only medical therapy with proven benefit from randomised trials is topical retinoids, particularly tretinoin, isotretinoin and tazarotene.2 Retinal is not one of the three it names.2 A 2006 overview adds that irritation limits how well patients accept retinoids, most with tretinoin and tazarotene, while retinaldehyde and retinol are considerably less irritating.3
What the studies found
A 2026 split-face study compared a stabilised 0.1% retinal with a 0.05% one in 56 women aged 30 to 58. After 24 weeks, ultrasound showed denser dermal tissue, elasticity improved, and wrinkle measures dropped, most clearly with the 0.1% strength. Side effects were minimal and the authors describe the treatments as generally well tolerated.4
A 2025 study of 66 people after cosmetic procedures found that a cream with retinal, niacinamide and a plant extract improved wrinkles, firmness and tone against a control side at one month.5 Because the cream had three active ingredients, it cannot tell you what retinal did on its own. The study was funded by a cosmetics company, and some of its authors work there.5
Both are small, short studies of particular products, so neither tells you what a retinal product off the shelf will do for you.
Using retinal with other products
We did not find a controlled study of layering retinal with other actives. Add one new product at a time, and stop if your skin reacts.
Retinal in pregnancy and breastfeeding
Avoid during pregnancy and lactation: retinal is a topical retinoid, a class contraindicated in pregnancy as a precaution.
Retinal is a form of vitamin A, and the EU safety committee states that the teratogenic effect of excessive intake of vitamin A or of specific retinoids is well documented in animals and humans.1 That is the background to the advice above.
That evidence is about excessive intake, and we found no study of retinal creams in pregnancy. It is why the sensible step, if you are pregnant or trying, is to ask before you use it.
Evidence on cosmetic products in pregnancy is limited overall, so ask your doctor or midwife about the specific product you use.6
What you will see on the label
The names to look for are Retinal and Retinaldehyde. In Snifff, it reads as High risk. For the rest of the formula, see what the score means and how to read the list.
As Snifff shows itRetinal
Pregnancy and nursing
Avoid during pregnancy and lactation: retinal is a topical retinoid, a class contraindicated in pregnancy as a precaution.
Wording as it appears in the extension, which can change between releases.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Common questions about retinal
Is retinal stronger than retinol?
Yes. The EU safety committee ranks topical retinoid-like activity as retinyl esters, then retinol, then retinal, then retinoic acid.1
Is retinal the same as retinoic acid?
No. Retinoic acid is the active form, and retinal has to be converted to it by the skin.1
Does retinal reduce wrinkles?
In a 24-week split-face study of 56 women, stabilised retinal at 0.1% and 0.05% both improved skin density and elasticity, with larger wrinkle reductions at 0.1%.4
Is retinal safe in pregnancy?
Snifff's advice, quoted above, is to avoid retinal during pregnancy and lactation. The EU safety committee notes that teratogenic effects of excessive vitamin A and specific retinoids are well documented.1 Ask your doctor or midwife.
WHERE THIS COMES FROM
Sources
- Revision of the scientific opinion on vitamin A (retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate)Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, European Commission · 2022 · SCCS/1639/21, adopted 24-25 October 2022
- The use of retinoids in the treatment of photoagingSingh M, Griffiths CE · Dermatologic Therapy · 2006
- Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safetyMukherjee S, Date A, Patravale V, Korting HC, Roeder A, Weindl G · Clinical Interventions in Aging · 2006
- Comparative evaluation of topical stabilized retinaldehyde 0.1% vs. 0.05% on skin biophysical and biomechanical parametersDeda A, et al. · Skin Research and Technology · 2026
- Enhancing facial rejuvenation outcomes with a novel retinaldehyde-based cream: a comparative randomized intra-individual studyMonteil C, et al. · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2025
- Cosmetic dermatology in pregnancy and lactation: a risk-benefit framework for clinical practiceKovacs T, et al. · International Journal of Dermatology · 2026
This page explains an ingredient. It is not medical advice, and it is not an assessment of any product. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a skin condition, ask your doctor or pharmacist.