It’s different from retinol, another popular retinoid.

Incorporating retinaldehyde into your skin care routine may provide these benefits while potentially causing less irritation than other retinoids.

However, it’s important to introduce it gradually to allow your skin to adjust and maximize its effectiveness.

Woman putting face cream on in front of mirror

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Start with a lower concentration and slowly increase it over time as your skin gets used to the product.

Observe how your skin reacts and adjust the frequency of use if you need it.

Retinol is one of the most well-known retinoids, celebrated for its extensive skin-renewing properties.

Despite its advantages, retinol is notorious for causing dryness and irritation, especially in sensitive skin.

Dermatologists may recommend gradually introducing it into your routine to improve skin tolerance.

This makes its effects more direct than retinol.

Despite its enhanced potency, retinaldehyde is gentler on the skin than pure retinoic acid.

It is one step removed from retinoic acid, while retinol is two steps removed.

This is due to its potency and the skin’s adjustment period to the active ingredient.

It’s crucial to use sunscreen daily and avoid excessive sun exposure while using products containing retinaldehyde.

To minimize these effects, consider starting with a lower concentration and gradually increasing usage.

Its closer proximity to retinoic acid compared to retinol makes it more effective while generally causing less irritation.

With proper use and care, retinaldehyde may be a valuable addition to your skin care regimen.

Motamedi M, Chehade A, Sanghera R, Grewal P.A clinicians guide to topical retinoids.J Cutan Med Surg.

2022;39(12):5351-5375. doi:10.1007/s12325-022-02319-7

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