With various concentrations available that range from mild to strong — you can progress through our formulations so you can slowly and effectively introduce this active ingredient without compromising your skin. 

Bring your skin back to its best with a comprehensive collection of skincare that target your skin concerns at the source. Shop our retinal range today to enjoy free nationwide shipping on all orders over $150, or if you need help selecting a suitable concentration for your skin type, feel free to reach out any time.

FAQs

What is retinal, and what does it do for the skin?

Retinal or retinaldehyde is the strongest form of vitamin A you can use without a prescription and requires only one conversion to become retinoic acid in your skin. It yields a more intensive anti-ageing treatment than other vitamin A alternatives and acts up to 11 times faster than traditional retinol products.

Retinal in skincare helps to increase your skin turnover rate while improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, skin becomes thicker, smoother and brighter. Retinal also improves skin texture and tone, manages oil production and clears your pores from debris.

How do I use retinal in my skincare routine?

If this is your first time using a retinal serum, we suggest starting with a low percentage active like our Crystal Retinal 3. To begin with, use it in the evening once or twice a week after cleansing and using a hydrating product and before applying a moisturiser. Once your skin acclimatises to it, increase your application until you can comfortably apply it nightly before progressing to a higher-strength retinal product.

Are retinal serums suitable for all skin types?

Retinal is an intense active that yields powerful skin-clearing results, particularly for oily, combination and mature skin types. If you’re prone to sensitive skin, we would recommend you begin with Crystal Retinal 1. For people who still can’t comfortably tolerate it, we recommend trying our Bakuchiol Peptides Serum.

What are the potential side effects of using retinal?

Retinal can have the potential to cause dryness and irritation if applied to skin that isn’t used to it. So, we always recommend introducing retinal products gradually and slowly increasing the strength over time. This way, the potential for irritation is minimised as your skin can naturally adapt over time.

At Medik8, our vitamin A products are carefully formulated to further reduce the potential for discomfort. We use our Time Release Technology™ delivery system to gently release retinol or retinal into the skin, to avoid overwhelming skin and to prolong the effects overnight.

Can I combine a retinal serum with other skincare products?

Retinal skincare works synergistically with various products, including peptides, niacinamide, vitamin C, SPF and many antioxidants. 

How soon can I expect to see results when using retinal?