3 First-Retinal Options and a Simple Starter Routine for a Moisturizer-Only Beginner
6 min read
Quick pick for a first nighttime retinal: Choose Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05% for a clearly stated concentration in a cream-serum format, Avène RetrinAL 0.1% Intensive Multi-Corrective Cream if you prefer a traditional cream, or Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème for its retinal-and-peptide combination and maker-stated appearance areas.
- Avène's current US listing names 0.1% retinaldehyde and a lightweight cream format.
- Abib combines retinal and peptides with PDRN and Volufiline in a targeted booster crème.
- Start gradually at night and keep your morning sunscreen routine.
If you are 45, use moisturizer most days, and already apply sunscreen in the morning, choose your first retinal by what you can compare clearly on the label. Naturium gives a concentration-led cream-serum option, Avène gives a traditional cream with a stated percentage, and Abib offers a combination-focused booster crème whose product information names target areas.
My most straightforward label-led pick is Naturium's 0.05% cream-serum. Avène suits someone who specifically wants a cream and a stated 0.1% retinaldehyde concentration. Choose Abib when the mix of retinal, peptides, PDRN and Volufiline, plus the brand's named appearance areas, matters more to you than selecting by a disclosed retinal percentage.
What to compare before choosing your first retinal
Naturium and Avène lead with stated retinal percentages, while Abib stands out for a four-part formula and maker-named appearance areas. A percentage helps you compare the amount stated on the label; format and the rest of the formula tell you more about how the product fits with the moisturizer you already use.
The American Academy of Dermatology's retinoid guidance quotes dermatologist Tina Alster advising people to choose the least-intense retinoid formula they can find, start every other night, and build up slowly. That makes a disclosed percentage useful when you are comparing formulas.
The words retinal and retinaldehyde refer to the same ingredient name on these labels. In a TODAY expert explainer on retinol and retinal, dermatologist Hadley King identifies retinaldehyde as retinal.
TODAY's expert explainer describes the conversion difference that separates these names: retinol goes through two steps, while retinal goes through one. The source quotes dermatologist Hadley King saying that the conversion process correlates with potency and efficacy.
| Option | What the product information states | A good fit when you prioritize |
|---|---|---|
| Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05% | 0.05% in the name; cream-serum format | A clearly stated concentration and a serum-like step before moisturizer |
| Avène RetrinAL 0.1% Intensive Multi-Corrective Cream | 0.1% retinaldehyde; lightweight cream | A traditional cream format and a stated 0.1% concentration |
| Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème | Retinal and peptides with PDRN and Volufiline; targeted appearance areas | A multi-ingredient formula and maker-stated focus on forehead, smile-line, under-eye and neck areas |
The shortlist gives two ways to choose: compare disclosed concentration and format, or prioritize a multi-ingredient formula and its named appearance areas. That is a different selection path: choose it for the combination the maker describes, not as a lower-strength starter option.
1. Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%: choose a concentration-led serum format
Naturium is the clearest match if you want a retinal percentage and a cream-serum texture in the same product name. Its official product page calls it Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, and its directions say to shake well, apply an even layer to the face, neck and chest, and avoid the eye area.
The maker says to follow the product with moisturizer, wear sunscreen during the day, and patch test before use. Those directions make the product easy to place into a basic evening routine: cleanse, apply this step as directed, then use your familiar moisturizer.
Naturium says its online ingredient list may vary slightly from the packaging as formulas and US/EU rules change (product information). If a particular ingredient affects your choice, compare the ingredient list on the product you buy with the maker's online information.
This is my pick for a reader who values a disclosed 0.05% concentration and a product explicitly described as a cream-serum. A serum format may suit someone who likes applying a treatment before their usual moisturizer.
2. Avène RetrinAL 0.1% Intensive Multi-Corrective Cream: choose a traditional cream
Avène suits a reader who wants a conventional cream format and a clearly stated retinaldehyde percentage. Its US product listing describes a lightweight cream formulated with 0.1% retinaldehyde. Avène's US product listing lists a 1.0-fluid-ounce size for $68.
The maker's evening directions name the face, neck and décolleté. If you already finish your nighttime routine with moisturizer, this is a cream-format alternative to a serum-like product. Avène also lists hyaluronic acid and niacinamide among the key ingredients, alongside retinaldehyde, so this option combines its stated retinal percentage with those named ingredients.
Avène also describes this formula as fragrance-free, soap-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, alcohol-free and silicone-free in its US product information. These label details give shoppers with specific ingredient preferences another filter alongside format and retinaldehyde percentage.
Avène describes its hyaluronic acid as moisturizing, smoothing and plumping, and its niacinamide as visibly reducing fine lines while improving skin-barrier function. They give a formula-focused shopper specific label details to weigh alongside the cream format and retinal percentage.
Choose Avène because its texture category and label information fit your preferences, not because the larger printed percentage proves it will work better for you.
3. Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème: choose a combination-focused formula
Abib is the formula-led choice for someone who wants retinal alongside peptides, PDRN and Volufiline. Abib describes PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème as formulated with all four, and its product information lists PDRN at 15,000 ppm and Volufiline at 10,000 ppm.
The brand describes the crème as targeting the look of forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas and neck wrinkles. It also says the PDRN and Volufiline are included to help visibly plump hollow areas and improve the look of elasticity. Those are maker-stated cosmetic appearance goals, which give the combination a different selection logic from products led by a percentage on the front of the name.
The crème comes in a 1.01-fluid-ounce (30 mL) tube. Choose Abib if those listed formula components and appearance areas match what you want to focus on.
Abib identifies its PDRN as salmon DNA.
How to add your choice without rebuilding your routine
- Use it at night. The AAD advises using retinoids only at night and pairing them with daytime sun protection.
- Begin every other night. The AAD retinoid guidance quotes dermatologist Tina Alster advising users to start every other night and build up slowly. Keep that gradual pace rather than adding multiple new active products at once.
- Layer your familiar moisturizer after the treatment. Naturium specifically says to follow its cream-serum with moisturizer. Avène's Derm Q&A offers a general routine rule of applying products from thinnest to thickest consistency, which helps place a serum-like formula before a richer cream.
- As a practical example, The Derma Co's beginner guide for its retinol serum recommends a pea-sized amount on completely dry skin, followed by moisturizer.
- Keep morning sunscreen. The AAD's sunscreen FAQ recommends broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and water resistance. Its retinoid guidance also recommends daytime sun protection, including shade and sun-protective clothing.
The AAD sunscreen FAQ recommends at least 1 teaspoon of sunscreen for the face and applying it to dry skin 15 minutes before going outdoors. When outdoors, reapply about every two hours, or after swimming or sweating, following the directions on the product.
An every-other-night start means alternating use nights and off nights. For example, a calendar could show use on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, then Sunday in the first week, with Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday the next.
If you prefer a buffered layering order, SLMD's retinol beginner guide describes moisturizer, retinol, then moisturizer for sensitive beginners.
The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy, and people with skin allergies or dryness are probably not good candidates for a retinoid product. If either applies, get individualized advice before adding one.
FAQ
Does retinaldehyde mean the same thing as retinal?
Yes. Dermatologist Hadley King identifies retinaldehyde as another name for retinal in TODAY's expert explainer, so either term on a product label refers to the same ingredient name.
Does Avène's 0.1% mean it will work better than Naturium's 0.05%?
No. Avène's listing names 0.1% retinaldehyde, and Naturium's product name states 0.05% retinaldehyde. Choose between them by the disclosed label, cream versus cream-serum format, and directions.
Can I apply retinal near my eyes?
Follow the specific product directions. Naturium directs users to avoid the eye area, while Abib names the under-eye area as a cosmetic appearance target.
Can I use a retinoid during pregnancy?
No. The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy, so choose a non-retinoid routine and ask a healthcare professional about personal questions.