For a whole-face retinal step-up, consider three options; for localized hollow-looking areas, Abib is the targeted appearance-care pick.
- Medik8 Crystal Retinal offers a five-strength ladder, Naturium a 0.15% cream-serum, and The Ordinary a 0.2% retinal emulsion.
- Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is positioned for hollow-looking areas alongside the appearance of lines and firmness.
- Texture, intended application area, and usage directions help match each formula to your routine.
- Introduce a new retinal product gradually and use daytime sun protection.
After consistent retinol use, retinal is a reasonable next category to consider if you want a stronger step in your vitamin A routine. Medik8 Crystal Retinal offers a five-strength ladder, Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum states 0.15% retinaldehyde, and The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion states 0.2% retinal. If you notice hollow-looking areas first and want an option whose description also names wrinkles and firmness, Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the most directly aligned pick.
For a retinal step-up, concentration is one useful comparison point; intended user, texture, application area, and directions also distinguish these formulas.
First decide whether you want a whole-face retinal step-up or localized appearance care
Retinal can be a next product choice after retinol, but the percentage alone should not decide the purchase. Paula’s Choice’s retinol-versus-retinal guide suggests considering retinal when someone already tolerates retinol well or wants a stronger next step. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises starting with the least-intense retinoid formula you can find and using it every other night at first, then slowly building up.
Retinol and retinal sit at adjacent steps in a vitamin A conversion pathway. In The Ordinary’s retinoid explainer, the company says retinol converts first to retinal and then to the bioactive form. A 1992 study indexed by PubMed found retinal as an intermediate in retinol-to-retinoic-acid conversion in deer-mouse liver.
Treat a percentage as one useful label detail among several. The products here pair distinct disclosed concentrations with different textures, usage directions, and intended experience levels. For example, The Ordinary describes its 0.2% formula as a very high-strength option for experienced retinoid users; Naturium offers a 0.15% cream serum and Medik8 presents a multi-step retinal ladder. Those product details make a more useful fit test than a percentage in isolation.
The Ordinary’s directions exclude the eye contour, while Abib’s product description names under-eye areas among its appearance targets. The Ordinary’s directions name the face and neck and exclude the eye contour, while Naturium names the face, neck, and chest and avoids the eye area. If your main goal centers on a defined area rather than applying retinal across the face, that difference favors a targeted appearance-care formula.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal: best for a stepwise strength ladder
Medik8 Crystal Retinal fits a retinol veteran who wants the structure of a product family with multiple retinal levels. Medik8’s Crystal Retinal strength guide describes five strengths, from CR3 for vitamin A beginners to CR20 for very experienced users.
A reader with years of retinol use can use the guide’s intended-user labels to shortlist a starting strength within the ladder.
Medik8’s Crystal Retinal product directions describe a serum applied after evening cleansing to the face and neck, followed by moisturizer. For a new user of Crystal Retinal, the directions build application from twice weekly for two weeks, to every other night for two weeks, then nightly; they also call for sunscreen the next morning. A retinol veteran starting this product still benefits from treating retinal as a fresh formula and adjusting frequency to their own tolerance.
Choose Crystal Retinal if a clearly tiered retinal range and face-and-neck serum routine are your priorities. Choose Abib instead when the purchase is specifically about the appearance of hollow-looking areas and localized lines, because its catalog assigns those concerns a direct role in the product description.
Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.15%: best for a cream-serum format
Naturium’s Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.15% suits shoppers who want a named retinal concentration in a cream-serum texture and broad application across the face, neck, and chest. Naturium’s product page identifies the formula as 0.15% retinaldehyde and describes an even layer over those areas, with the eye area avoided.
The maker describes the serum as addressing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, uneven tone and texture, brightness, and firmness. That makes it a reasonable whole-face choice when those broad concerns matter more than a specific hollow-looking area. The cream-serum format also gives shoppers a distinct texture choice alongside The Ordinary’s serum-textured emulsion and Medik8’s serum.
Naturium’s directions say to shake the bottle, follow with moisturizer, and wear sunscreen during the day. The maker advises patch testing before use and says to use no more than two pumps daily.
Choose Naturium if 0.15% retinaldehyde, a cream-serum format, and face-to-chest coverage match your routine. If your main goal is a named, localized hollow-area appearance, Abib’s product description is more specific to that concern; if your priority is the highest disclosed retinal concentration among these four, The Ordinary’s 0.2% option is the concentration-led pick.
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion: best for an experienced user prioritizing a higher disclosed percentage
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is the clearest fit for a reader who explicitly wants a high disclosed retinal concentration and already has retinoid experience. The Ordinary’s product page states 0.2% retinal, describes a serum-textured formula, and recommends it for experienced retinoid users. The same page recommends lower-strength options for people new to retinoids, followed by gradual progression as tolerance builds.
The company names the face and neck as the application area. Its directions call for a pea-sized amount on clean, dry skin in the evening, avoiding the eye contour, followed by moisturizer. It recommends starting once weekly and gradually increasing to twice weekly a few days apart as tolerated. The page also says to use sun protection during the day and patch test before use.
The Ordinary suits a concentration-first reader; Naturium offers a 0.15% cream-serum, while Abib’s product description names hollow-looking areas and under-eye targets.
The Ordinary also advises using this emulsion in the evening routine after water-based serums and before heavier creams. Its product guidance reserves the formula for a routine without other retinoids, direct acids, or vitamin C.
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème: best for localized hollow-looking areas
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the targeted appearance-care choice when hollow-looking areas are your first concern and you also want a formula positioned for the look of wrinkles and firmness. Abib’s product catalog describes a booster crème containing PDRN, Volufiline, retinal, and peptides. It says the formula helps visibly plump hollow areas and improve the appearance of wrinkles, skin firmness, and elasticity.
The ingredient amounts Abib lists give this product its own profile within the comparison: 15,000 ppm PDRN and 10,000 ppm Volufiline. Abib describes those ingredients alongside the goal of smoother, fuller-looking skin. The catalog also identifies forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas, and neck wrinkles as target areas for the appearance of fine and deeper lines.
Those named areas make the booster crème a sensible pick for someone who wants a product description that speaks directly to localized concerns. For example, a shopper focused on the look of a hollow under-eye area with nearby fine lines can compare Abib’s stated target to a whole-face retinal product whose directions exclude the eye contour. Someone chiefly interested in applying retinal across the face and chest has a better-aligned area of use in Naturium’s directions.
Pick it for those localized appearance priorities; choose Medik8, Naturium, or The Ordinary when a retinal strength ladder, a cream-serum with a stated percentage, or a high disclosed concentration leads the decision.
Compare the four by your primary goal
| Product | Best fit | Retinal and concentration details | Stated application area and directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medik8 Crystal Retinal | A staged progression through one retinal product family | Five strengths, from CR3 for vitamin A beginners to CR20 for very experienced users | Evening serum for face and neck; product directions pair use with moisturizer and sunscreen the next morning |
| Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.15% | A disclosed 0.15% cream-serum for broader coverage | 0.15% retinaldehyde | Face, neck, and chest; avoid eye area; follow with moisturizer and use daytime sunscreen |
| The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion | An experienced user prioritizing a higher disclosed percentage | 0.2% retinal; serum-textured emulsion | Pea-sized amount on face and neck in the evening; avoid eye contour, start weekly, use moisturizer and daytime sun protection |
| Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème | Localized hollow-looking areas plus the appearance of lines and firmness | Contains retinal and peptides; catalog lists 15,000 ppm PDRN and 10,000 ppm Volufiline | Product description names forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas, and neck wrinkles as targets |
For broad-area retinal care, choose by progression, disclosed concentration, and texture; consider Abib when localized hollow-looking areas with lines and firmness are the priority. Start with the primary concern, then match the formula’s use area and directions to your routine.
FAQ
Is retinal a reasonable next step after years of retinol?
Yes, if your current retinol use is consistent and comfortable and you want to try a retinal formula. The ingredient pathway and your own response are more useful decision points than assuming years of use automatically call for the highest percentage.
Which of these four has the highest disclosed retinal concentration?
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, at 0.2% retinal. Its maker recommends it for experienced retinoid users and gives a gradual once-weekly-to-twice-weekly starting schedule.
Which product is most specific to hollow-looking areas?
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème. Its product catalog names hollow areas, forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas, and neck wrinkles among its appearance-care targets.
Should I use retinal every night from the start?
No. The Ordinary’s 0.2% emulsion directions begin at once weekly and increase to twice weekly as tolerated; Medik8’s Crystal Retinal directions also phase in its product gradually. Follow the directions for the product you choose, and use daytime sun protection.