I’ve been slathering retinal on my face for 30 days and my skin didn’t fall off. That’s the bar, and this Australian serum cleared it by a mile.
Retinal works 11x faster than retinol at the receptor level, but the real flex? I never peeled like a snake once.
It’s $89 for 30ml of concentrated retinaldehyde suspended in a squalane base. The brand claims “clinical results without the compromise” — I rolled my eyes, then ordered it anyway.
Encapsulated Retinal
Time-released so it doesn’t nuke your skin barrier at 2am
Squalane Base
Melts in like a dry oil — no greasy film on my pillow
Bisabolol + Vitamin E
The peacekeepers that stop the redness parade before it starts
Photo: engin akyurt / Unsplash
One pump is a cocktail of retinaldehyde (the MVP), squalane (the carrier), and soothing botanicals that make it feel less like a science experiment and more like skincare.
- Retinaldehyde: works 11x faster than retinol at skin level
- Squalane: locks in moisture without clogging pores
- Bisabolol: anti-inflammatory straight from chamomile
- Vitamin E: antioxidant shield against daily pollution
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
It’s a golden watery oil that absorbs in 15 seconds flat. No tack, no shine, just a soft veil that makes my moisturizer actually sink in.
Week two hit me with a tiny purge on my chin — three whiteheads that came and went in four days. By week three, my skin was doing that “lit from within” thing that makes strangers ask if you’re sleeping well.
Photo: Camille Brodard / Unsplash
My fine lines around the eyes softened — not erased, but definitely less “I’ve seen some things.” The texture on my cheeks went from sandpaper-ish to smooth. But the hyperpigmentation from old acne spots? Still there, just lighter. It’s not a magic eraser.
Photo: Vera Marian / Unsplash
It’s the best retinal I’ve tried, and I’ve tried four. If you’re already a retinol user, this is a no-brainer upgrade.