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Retinol vs retinal: which one should you start with?

Short answer: start with a low-strength retinol if you have never used a retinoid; move to retinal once your skin handles retinol without flaking. Retinal sits one conversion step closer to retinoic acid, so a smaller percentage does more.

A pool of golden oil and a swipe of pale-yellow cream separated by dried lavender on blush stone
Illustration (AI-generated; no real products shown).
By PickedSkincare Editorial TeamLast updated Prices checked: November 2026

Checked against brand ingredient lists on and against dermatology sources (American Academy of Dermatology, FDA, peer-reviewed studies). How we research · Editorial policy · 13 sources

Disclosure: PickedSkincare is reader-supported. “Check price” links may become affiliate links, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Commission never decides a pick, and we tell you when the cheaper bottle is the better buy. How we make money.

How this page was made: we compared what each brand publishes (actives, strengths, full ingredient lists, directions and prices) and checked the claims against dermatology guidance and published studies, all linked at the bottom. We haven’t tested these products on our own skin, we don’t publish star ratings, and a commission never decides a pick. Our methodology.

Not medical advice. This page compares cosmetic products. If you have a skin condition, use prescription treatment, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a dermatologist or your doctor before starting something new.

Short answer

start with a low-strength retinol if you have never used a retinoid; move to retinal once your skin handles retinol without flaking. Retinal sits one conversion step closer to retinoic acid, so a smaller percentage does more. Both are over-the-counter forms of vitamin A, sold as cosmetics.

Last updated Ingredient lists checked 2026-11-11Prices checked November 2026

The numbers side by side

Summary of this page’s sourced guidance
In brief
The rule of thumbstart with a low-strength retinol if you have never used a retinoid; move to retinal once your skin handles retinol without flaking. Retinal sits one conversion step closer to retinoic acid, so a smaller percentage does more.
Who should skip itIf you already use a prescription retinoid (tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene), don’t add an over-the-counter one on top. The Ordinary’s directions say not to combine its retinoids with other retinoids.
Spending lessThe cheapest stated-strength starter we found is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane at $8.10 for 30 ml. A retinal step-up costs more per ml: The Ordinary’s 0.2% retinal is $14.90 for 15 ml, and Naturium’s 0.10% retinaldehyde is $32.

Both are over-the-counter forms of vitamin A, sold as cosmetics. Your skin converts retinol into retinaldehyde (retinal), then into retinoic acid, the form that acts on skin cells. Retinal skips one of those steps. That is the whole difference, and it explains why retinal products use smaller numbers on the label (0.05% to 0.2%) than retinol products (0.2% to 1%).

We compared what brands publish for five products and read the studies behind the two ingredients. We haven’t tried them on our own skin.

Table of the 4 products on this page with brand price and key actives: The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, $8.10, Retinol 0.2% (brand-stated); The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, $14.90, Retinal (retinaldehyde) 0.2% (brand-stated); Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%, $32.00, Retinaldehyde 0.10% (brand-stated, “sustained-release”); The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, $12.10, “2% Granactive Retinoid” (brand name for its hydroxypinacolone retinoate complex); the ingredient list also includes retinol. The brand does not state the retinol percentage.
Products covered on this page, from each brand’s own product page (checked November 11, 2026).
Chart of brand-stated ingredient percentages on a log scale. The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane: Retinol 0.2%; The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion: Retinal 0.2%; Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%: Retinaldehyde 0.1%; The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion: no single-ingredient percentage stated.
Brand-stated percentages only. Different ingredients aren’t equal per percent, so compare like with like.

What’s in each bottle?

Copied from each brand’s own product page (or the sunscreen’s Drug Facts) on November 11, 2026. Brands reformulate, so the carton in your hand is the final word.

The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane

Key actives
Retinol 0.2% (brand-stated)
Base
Water-free squalane and plant-oil base
Brand price
$8.10 · 30 ml
Brand notes
Brand says to start here before 0.5% and 1%, refrigerate after opening and use within three months; avoid when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Full ingredient list

Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, BHT.

The Ordinary product page · Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion

Key actives
Retinal (retinaldehyde) 0.2% (brand-stated)
Base
Water-based emulsion
Brand price
$14.90 · 15 ml
Brand notes
Brand calls it a “very high strength” retinoid, recommended for experienced retinoid users; newcomers are pointed to Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion or Retinol 0.2%. The yellow color can tint skin and light fabrics.
Full ingredient list

Aqua (Water), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyapatite, Retinal, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, 4-t-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ergothioneine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Hexyldecanol, Maltodextrin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

The Ordinary product page · Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%

Key actives
Retinaldehyde 0.10% (brand-stated, “sustained-release”)
Base
Water-based cream-serum
Brand price
$32.00
Full ingredient list

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Propanediol, Triheptanoin, C13-15 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Carbomer, Faex (Yeast) Extract, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Soy Amino Acids, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris (Trimethylsiloxy) Silylethyl Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Olivine Extract, Dilinoleic Acid/Butanediol Copolymer, Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Retinal, Guanosine, Uracil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, PVM/MA Copolymer, Adenosine Phosphate, Castor Oil/IPDI Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Hexadecene, Sodium Benzoate, T-Butyl Alcohol.

Naturium product page · Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Key actives
“2% Granactive Retinoid” (brand name for its hydroxypinacolone retinoate complex); the ingredient list also includes retinol. The brand does not state the retinol percentage.
Base
Water-based emulsion
Brand price
$12.10 · 30 ml
Brand notes
Brand says it is less likely to cause irritation than retinol; avoid when pregnant or breastfeeding.
Full ingredient list

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ethyl Linoleate, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Bisabolol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinol, Tasmannia Lanceolata Fruit/Leaf Extract, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carrageenan, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Sucrose Laurate, Polysorbate 20, Isoceteth-20, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Disodium Edta, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

The Ordinary product page · Check price on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Why can a 0.1% retinal outwork a 0.5% retinol?

In a 1997 study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Duell and colleagues measured how much of each vitamin A form it took to switch on the same retinoic-acid-driven enzyme in human skin under occlusion. Retinaldehyde needed 0.01%; retinol needed 0.025%; retinyl palmitate needed 0.6%. Their test used a lab vehicle, not a shop product, but the ranking is the useful part.

Saurat[4] and colleagues (1994) found the same ranking for another marker of retinoid activity in skin: retinoic acid, then retinaldehyde, then retinol. In their volunteers, 0.05% and 0.1% retinaldehyde were well tolerated on the face, while a 1% preparation was tolerated by up to 70% of people.

What does the research say each one does?

  • Retinol: in Kafi[5] et al. (2007, Archives of Dermatology), 0.4% retinol lotion applied up to three times a week for 24 weeks improved fine wrinkling on the arms of 36 elderly volunteers compared with the base lotion alone. Small study, older skin, arms not faces.
  • Retinal: the Saurat[4] study showed measurable changes in the outer skin after 1 to 3 months of 0.05% to 0.5% retinaldehyde.
  • Both: a 2006 review by Mukherjee[6] and colleagues describes retinaldehyde and retinol as “considerably less irritating” than prescription tretinoin and tazarotene.
  • The caveat: a 2022 review in Advances in Therapy notes that cosmetic retinoids don’t need clinical efficacy studies to be sold, so most products have none of their own.

Which one suits your skin type?

  • Never used a retinoid: retinol at the lowest strength you can find. The AAD[1][2][8] advises exactly that, applied every other night at first. The Ordinary tells first-timers to start at its 0.2% and work up.
  • Dry skin: a water-free oil base (The Ordinary’s retinols sit in squalane and jojoba oil) or a creamy base is gentler on a dry face than an alcohol-heavy gel.
  • Oily or acne-prone: the two retinal products here are water-based (an emulsion and a cream-serum) rather than oils, which many oily-skinned people prefer. The AAD suggests looking for “non-comedogenic” on labels if your skin is oily.
  • Already comfortable on retinol: retinal is the next step up. The Ordinary calls its 0.2% retinal a “very high strength” formula and recommends it for experienced retinoid users.
  • Sensitive or easily red skin: the AAD says people with a lot of redness or inflammation should skip retinoids and ask a dermatologist. A gentler middle option is a newer retinoid ester such as The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid, which the brand says is less likely to irritate.

How do you find the percentage on the label?

The AAD[1][2][8] points out that over-the-counter products don’t have to state their retinol percentage. Of the products we checked, The Ordinary, Naturium and Paula’s Choice state it; CeraVe and RoC don’t. If a label hides the number, you can’t start low on purpose.

Decision diagram: Which retinoid should you start with? Used a retinoid before without irritation? No → Sensitive or easily red skin? No → Low-strength retinol (about 0.2–0.3%), every other night. Used a retinoid before without irritation? No → Sensitive or easily red skin? Yes → Gentlest start: a retinoid ester (Granactive) or encapsulated retinol, every other night. Used a retinoid before without irritation? Yes → Using it nightly for a few months with no flaking? No → Stay at your current strength and frequency. Used a retinoid before without irritation? Yes → Using it nightly for a few months with no flaking? Yes → Step up: retinol 0.5–1%, or retinal 0.05–0.1%. Pregnant or trying to conceive? Skip retinoids (AAD). Use at night; sunscreen every morning.
Which retinoid should you start with? A simplified path drawn from the guidance and sources on our retinoid pages; it isn’t a diagnosis.
Routine order diagram. Morning: 1. Cleanse, 2. Treatment serum, 3. Moisturizer, 4. Sunscreen, SPF 30+. Night: 1. Cleanse, 2. Treatment (The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane, The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%, The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion), 3. Moisturizer.
Routine order following AAD guidance; highlighted steps are where this page’s products go.

Who should skip it?

If you already use a prescription retinoid (tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene), don’t add an over-the-counter one on top. The Ordinary’s directions say not to combine its retinoids with other retinoids.

  • Anyone pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding: The AAD[1][2][8] says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy, and The Ordinary and Paula’s Choice both tell pregnant and breastfeeding users to avoid their retinoids. Consider instead: ask your doctor; niacinamide is a common non-retinoid alternative brands suggest.
  • Rosacea-prone or very red, inflamed skin: AAD[1][2][8] dermatologists advise avoiding retinoids and asking about rosacea-directed care instead.
  • First-time users tempted by 0.2% retinal: The Ordinary itself reserves its 0.2% retinal for experienced retinoid users. Consider instead: a 0.2% retinol or a retinoid ester first.
  • Darker skin tones pushing through irritation: The AAD[1][2][8] warns that irritation on skin of color can leave dark marks, so stop or slow down at the first sign of redness.

How can you spend less?

The cheapest stated-strength starter we found is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane at $8.10 for 30 ml. A retinal step-up costs more per ml: The Ordinary’s 0.2% retinal is $14.90 for 15 ml, and Naturium’s 0.10% retinaldehyde is $32.

What should you know before you start?

  • Patch test first. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests applying a new product to a quarter-sized area twice a day for 7 to 10 days and stopping if you react. AAD: how to test skin care products.
  • Add one new product at a time, and give it time: the AAD says many anti-aging products take 6 weeks to 3 months to show results. AAD: get the most from anti-aging products.
  • Retinoids: the AAD says to apply them at night, wear sunscreen daily, start with the lowest strength every other night, and that retinoids should not be used during pregnancy. AAD: retinoid or retinol?

What do people ask most?

Is retinal stronger than retinol?
Yes, per gram. Retinal is one conversion step closer to retinoic acid, and in Duell et al. (1997) it took 0.01% retinaldehyde versus 0.025% retinol to trigger the same skin enzyme response.
Is retinal more irritating than retinol?
It can be at matched effect, which is why brands sell it at lower percentages. Saurat[4] et al. found 0.05% and 0.1% retinaldehyde well tolerated on the face; The Ordinary still reserves its 0.2% retinal for experienced users.
How long until I see a difference?
The AAD[1][2][8] says anti-aging products usually take 6 weeks to 3 months. The retinol study we cite ran 24 weeks.
Can I use retinol in the morning?
The AAD[1][2][8] advises using retinoids at night because they can make skin more sensitive to the sun, with sunscreen every day.
Why does my retinal serum look yellow?
Retinal is naturally yellow. The Ordinary warns its 0.2% retinal can tint skin and light fabrics.

Where this comes from

We opened and read every source below for this page. Ingredient lists, strengths, directions and prices come from each brand’s own product page; health and usage guidance comes from the American Academy of Dermatology, the FDA, the National Eczema Association and peer-reviewed studies (via PubMed). Prices checked: November 2026; confirm on the seller’s site before you buy.

  1. AAD: Retinoid or retinol? (aad.org)
  2. AAD: Dermatologist-recommended skin care for your 20s (aad.org)
  3. Duell et al. 1997, Journal of Investigative Dermatology: Unoccluded retinol penetrates human skin (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  4. Saurat et al. 1994, Journal of Investigative Dermatology: Topical retinaldehyde on human skin (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  5. Kafi et al. 2007, Archives of Dermatology: Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol) (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  6. Mukherjee et al. 2006, Clinical Interventions in Aging: Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  7. Milosheska & Roškar 2022, Advances in Therapy: Use of retinoids in topical antiaging treatments (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  8. AAD: How to maximize results from anti-aging skin care products (aad.org)
  9. AAD: How to test skin care products (aad.org)
  10. The Ordinary (brand page): The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane (theordinary.com)
  11. The Ordinary (brand page): The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion (theordinary.com)
  12. Naturium (brand page): Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10% (naturium.com)
  13. The Ordinary (brand page): The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion (theordinary.com)
best of

The best first retinol for your skin type

Your first retinoid should be low strength, used every other night, and match your skin type. Here are four starting points, from an $8.10 stated-strength retinol to single-dose capsules, and who should skip each.

comparison

The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% vs Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%

Both are for people who already tolerate retinol. The Ordinary’s is twice the stated strength at 0.2% and costs $14.90 for 15 ml; Naturium’s 0.10% is a “sustained-release” cream-serum at $32 and the brand sells a 0.05% step below it.

comparison

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion vs Retinol 0.2% in Squalane

These are the two products The Ordinary itself points beginners to. Granactive Retinoid 2% is a creamy emulsion built around a retinoid ester (hydroxypinacolone retinoate) plus some retinol; Retinol 0.2% is plain retinol in squalane and jojoba oil.

comparison

The Ordinary Retinol 1% vs Paula’s Choice CLINICAL 1% Retinol

Both brands state 1% retinol. The Ordinary puts it in a short, water-free oil base for $9.90; Paula’s Choice puts it in a lotion with peptides, a vitamin C derivative and soothing extracts for $65 list. Neither is a starting strength.

guide

Can you use niacinamide with vitamin C or retinol?

Short answer: niacinamide with retinol is widely accepted; even Paula’s Choice says they pair well. Niacinamide with vitamin C is where brands disagree, so the simple default is vitamin C in the morning and niacinamide or retinol at night.

comparison

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs RoC Retinol Correxion Capsules

Neither brand states how much retinol is inside. CeraVe surrounds encapsulated retinol with niacinamide, three ceramides and licorice-derived dipotassium glycyrrhizate; RoC seals retinol in an eight-ingredient silicone serum, one capsule per night.