I slapped this on my face every single night for 30 days. No cheat days, no “I’m too tired” excuses.
My forehead lines didn’t vanish — but that one deep crease between my brows? Significantly softer. And the breakout on my chin that refused to die? Dead by day 12.
It’s a retinal serum from Maelove — $36 for 1 oz. They claim it’s stronger than retinol but gentler than prescription. I call it “retinol’s less annoying cousin.”
0.1% retinaldehyde
Stronger than retinol — converts to retinoic acid in one step instead of two
Encapsulated delivery
Means it sinks in without that burning sensation most retinoids give you
No fragrance
Smells like nothing. Which is honestly a relief.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
Retinaldehyde is the star here — it’s the middle child between retinol and prescription tretinoin. But they also threw in bakuchiol and ceramides, which saved my skin from peeling off.
- Retinaldehyde 0.1%: Anti-aging workhorse — boosts collagen faster than retinol
- Bakuchiol: Plant-based retinol alternative that calms redness
- Ceramide NP: Rebuilds barrier so you don’t look like a lizard
- Vitamin E: Stops oxidation — keeps the serum from going bad in your cabinet
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
Texture is a thin gel-cream — spreads like water, absorbs in about 15 seconds. First week I got some flaking around my nose, which I expected. What I didn’t expect was how dry my under-eyes got. Learned that the hard way.
Week 2-3 was the sweet spot. The flaking stopped, and my skin started looking… smoother? Not dramatically younger, but definitely less textured. The biggest surprise? My pores looked smaller. Nobody told me that would happen.
Fine lines on my forehead softened about 30%. Breakouts stopped entirely after week 2. Dark spots? Minimal difference — need more time. Skin texture improved noticeably, but it’s not magic.
Already ordered a second bottle. It’s the best retinal I’ve tried under $50, and I’ve tried a lot of disappointing ones.