Does Retinaldehyde Works Better & Faster Than Retinol For Wrinkles?

Last Updated on January 29, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti

Is retinol’s reign over? Up until now, no other retinoid was a serious threat to its OTC supremacy. Everything else was too gentle to make a dent on wrinkles or too unstable to be of an any use. Those days are over. Meet retinaldehyde, a form of vitamin A that promises to work faster than retinol – and without the irritation, too! Is it too good to be true? I’ve put Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 to the test for the past few weeks to find out. Here’s all you need to know about this anti-aging serum and whether you should make the switch from retinol:

Key Ingredients In Medik8 Crystal Retinal: What Makes It Work?

RETINALDEHYDE TO FIGHT WRINKLES

Retinol doesn’t work. Retinoic acid does. For retinol to work its magic on wrinkles, it must be converted into retinoic acid. The conversion goes like this:

Retinol → Retinaldehyde → Retinoic acid.

You see it now, don’t you? If you use retinaldehyde from the start, you’d get retinoid acid in one step. And that’s what your skin is really after. The fewer steps it takes a retinoid to convert into retinoic acid, the better it works. Don’t take my word for it. Science agrees too:

• A 1999 study found that retinaldehyde “has many of the properties of tretinoin in its beneficial effects on photoaging”. It reduces UVA damage, boosts collagen and repairs elastin fibers.
• A 2005 study confirms its collagen-boosting abilities and suggests retinaldehyde works even better when paired with other antioxidants (no one likes to play alone).
• A 2013 study proves it’s just as good at fading dark spots. It works by reducing melanin concentration in the skin.
• A 2002 study discovered its has powerful antibacterial properties that kill P.Acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.
• A 2014 study paired it with glycolic acid and noted this combo is effective at treating mild to moderate acne even during the sun exposure period – without irritating skin.

To sum it all up: retinaldehyde fades away wrinkles, dark spots and acne – just like retinol. One more thing: Medik8 has microencapsulated retinaldehyde. In plain English, microencapsulation is a technology that releases retinaldehyde into the skin slowly over a period of a few hours instead than all at once. That makes it gentle enough for sensitive skin too.

Related: Does Retinaldehyde Provide The Benefits Of Retinol Without The Side Effects?

HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN

Retinaldehyde works… overtime. Those wrinkles weren’t formed in a day. They won’t disappear in a day. In the meantime, why not use something that plumps up skin so much, those fine lines look way smaller? That’s a job for moisture magnets like hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid steals moisture from the air and gives it to the skin so it can stay plump all day.  FYI, this plumping effect isn’t all hyaluronic acid does. This moisture magnet can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water so it deeply hydrates skin from within and gives it a lovely glow, too.

Related: Why You Should Add Hyaluronic Acid To Your Skincare Routine

Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):

The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients

• Aqua (Water): The base that dissolves everything else and makes the whole thing spreadable. It also hydrates your skin surface.
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: This is a lightweight oil made from coconut that feels silky and smooth without any grease, and it helps soften your skin while making sure nothing in the formula goes rancid or separates.
• Glycerin: It’s a humectant which means it literally yanks moisture from the air and deeper layers of your skin and dumps it right on the surface where you need it.
• Isododecane: This is a silicone that evaporates super fast after you put it on, which sounds weird but it’s actually genius because it makes the product feel lightweight and smooth while you’re applying it, then just disappears into thin air. I
• Cetearyl Olivate: This comes from olive oil and it’s an emulsifier, so its whole job is making sure the water parts and oil parts actually blend together instead of separating like a broken salad dressing. It also makes the texture creamy and nice.
• Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: This name is absolutely ridiculous but it’s basically a synthetic thickener that gives you that bouncy gel-cream texture instead of something thin and runny. It also stabilizes everything and keeps all the ingredients from settling at the bottom.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: Don’t panic about the word “alcohol.” This is a fatty alcohol which is completely different from the drying rubbing alcohol kind, and it actually makes your skin softer while thickening up the cream.
• PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer: This is a film-forming polymer which sounds scary but really it just sits on top of your skin creating a breathable barrier that locks moisture in and makes everything feel smoother.
• Sorbitan Olivate: Another olive-derived emulsifier that teams up with the Cetearyl Olivate to keep this whole thing from splitting into gross layers of oil floating on water.
• Tocopheryl Acetate: This is vitamin E in a stable form that won’t fall apart in the bottle, and it’s an antioxidant so it fights free radical damage from sun and pollution and basically protects your skin from oxidative stress. It also makes the product last longer by preventing the oils from going rancid, so it’s protecting both your face and the formula itself.
• Titanium Dioxide: This is a mineral that can either work as physical sunscreen or as a blurring/mattifying agent depending on how much they use, and here it’s probably creating that soft-focus effect or slight tint rather than actual sun protection.
• Eclipta Prostrata Extract: This is a plant extract from Ayurvedic medicine that supposedly has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, but honestly the research on it for skincare specifically is pretty thin on the ground.
• Cyclodextrin: It’s a ring-shaped sugar molecule that wraps around sensitive ingredients like retinal and protects them from breaking down before they hit your skin.
• Squalane: This is a lightweight oil that’s basically identical to something your own skin makes naturally, so it absorbs like a dream and reinforces your moisture barrier without clogging pores or feeling greasy.
• Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: Another polymer with an insane name that’s here to thicken things up and give you that gel-like bounce when you scoop it out.
• Phenoxyethanol: This is a preservative that stops bacteria and mold from throwing a party in your jar and turning your nice cream into a science experiment.
• Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract: Neem leaf extract which has been used forever in traditional medicine for antibacterial and anti-inflammatory stuff, but the actual rigorous science backing it up for skincare is still pretty meh.
• Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose: This comes from plants and it thickens the formula while also forming a light film on your skin that helps slow down water evaporation.
• Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate: This is vitamin C in an oil-soluble form that’s way more stable than the pure stuff, so it actually survives in the bottle long enough to do something for your skin. It brightens dark spots, evens out tone, and helps with collagen production without irritating your face off like straight ascorbic acid can do to sensitive people.
• Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil: Cloudberry oil from Scandinavia that’s loaded with vitamin C and omega fatty acids and antioxidants, and it’s lightweight enough that it won’t make you greasy.
• Alumina: This is aluminum oxide and its job is coating the titanium dioxide particles so they don’t clump together or react with other stuff in the formula.
• Isostearic Acid: A fatty acid that softens your skin while also helping blend all the different ingredients together into a smooth, creamy texture.
• Lecithin: This usually comes from soy or sunflower and it’s a phospholipid that mimics the structure of your actual skin cell membranes, so it helps repair your moisture barrier while also emulsifying the formula.
• Polyglyceryl-3 Polyricinoleate: This comes from castor oil and it’s an emulsifier that helps keep oil and water mixed together without separating into gross layers.
• Polyhydroxystearic Acid: This is a polymer made from fatty acids that coats mineral pigments like titanium dioxide and stops them from clumping into chalky chunks.
• Stearic Acid: A fatty acid that thickens the formula and makes it feel richer and more luxurious while also softening your skin.
• Pentylene Glycol: This hydrates your skin while also boosting the preservative system so you need less harsh preservatives overall, and it helps other actives absorb better too.
• Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil: This oil comes from the moringa tree and it’s packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids that feed and protect your skin without clogging pores.
• Sodium Polyaspartate: A humectant that binds moisture to your skin and keeps it hydrated while also improving how the product feels when you’re rubbing it in.
• Climbazole: This is an antifungal that you usually see in dandruff shampoos which makes its appearance here kind of interesting. It might be helping regulate oil production or providing mild antimicrobial benefits.
• Disodium EDTA: A chelating agent that grabs onto metal ions floating around in the formula that could otherwise make everything unstable and cause it to go rancid or change color.
• Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract: Honeysuckle extract that has mild antimicrobial properties and can work as a natural preservative booster.
• Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract: Another variety of honeysuckle doing basically the same thing as the one above – antimicrobial action and preservative boosting.
• Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil: Carrot seed oil that’s rich in antioxidants and vitamins and beta-carotene, and it’s traditionally used for anti-aging.
• Ethylhexylglycerin: A preservative booster and skin conditioner that helps the main preservatives work more efficiently so they can use lower amounts overall.
• 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid: Another form of vitamin C that’s stable in water and won’t fall apart in the bottle, and it brightens your skin tone while fighting free radicals.
• Dipteryx Odorata (Tonka) Bean Extract: Tonka bean extract that smells warm and vanilla-y and makes the product smell like an expensive dessert.
• Hydroxyacetophenone: An antioxidant that protects the formula from breaking down while also boosting the preservative system and possibly offering some mild soothing benefits.
• Polysorbate 60: A synthetic emulsifier that helps blend oil and water together and keeps everything stable so it doesn’t separate.
• Sorbitan Isostearate: Yet another emulsifier working with all the other emulsifiers to create a stable, smooth formula that won’t split into layers.
• Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract: Vanilla extract that makes the whole thing smell sweet and comforting like you’re rubbing a latte on your face.
• Decylene Glycol: A humectant that hydrates your skin while also boosting the preservative system to keep bacteria and mold out.
• 1,2-Hexanediol: A solvent and preservative booster that helps other ingredients dissolve properly and keeps the formula from growing anything nasty.
• BHT: An antioxidant that stops the oils and fats in the formula from going rancid and smelling like old cooking oil. It extends the shelf life and protects against oxidative damage.
• Coumarin: This naturally occurs in the tonka bean and vanilla extracts and it’s what gives them that sweet, warm smell. It’s listed separately because it’s a known fragrance allergen that has to be disclosed on labels by law, but most people tolerate it fine and it’s really just contributing to that dessert-like scent.

Texture

Lightweight, orange-coloured texture that spreads easily on the skin and absorbs quickly. The orange tint is from the retinal and all those botanical oils. It’s got this bouncy gel-cream thing going on that’s not too thick or watery, just that perfect in-between. 

Fragrance

Vanilla and tonka bean. Honestly it smells like a fancy dessert-warm, sweet, comforting. Some people are going to love this because it feels luxurious and indulgent when you’re putting it on at night, but if you’re sensitive to fragrance, this might annoy you. The scent fades pretty quickly after application.

How To Use It

Every other night, after cleansing. Start with clean, dry skin because retinal on damp skin can be more irritating. Use a pea-sized amount (seriously, you don’t need much) and spread it evenly across your face, avoiding your eye area unless you want to cry. If you’re new to retinal or retinoids in general, start even slower – like twice a week for the first couple weeks – and work your way up to every other night once your skin is cool with it. And obviously wear sunscreen during the day because retinoids make you more sun-sensitive, but you already knew that.

Packaging

A grey tube with a pump applicator. Sleek and practical. The pump is actually really good: it dispenses the right amount without making a mess or giving you way too much product that you then have to figure out what to do with. The tube is opaque which is important because retinal degrades in light, so this keeps it stable and effective for longer.

Performance & Personal Opinion

I’ve been using Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 for a month now and the results are very similar to retinol: after a couple of days, the texture of my skin was way smoother. The large pores on my t-zone had shrunk. And my skin has a lovely glow. But what about wrinkles? Let’s be honest here: you won’t see a massive reduction in 4 weeks. Retinaldehyde, like all retinoids, demands consistency. Keep using it and you’ll see results.

Also, strength matters. The higher the concentration of retinaldehyde, the faster it works. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 has 0.06% stabilized retinaldehyde, but the brand also makes a Crystal Retinal 10 version that has 0.1% stabilised retinaldehyde. As always, start small and build up dose overtime.

Unless you have oily skin, this alone won’t be moisturising enough for you. I apply an oil on top to give my skin the extra moisture it needs during the night. So, should you switch? If your skin’s sensitive or you simply don’t want to put up with retinol’s side effects (think peeling and flaking), this is a good alternative to try. Let me know how you like it if you do. 😉

Related: What’s The Right Form Of Retinoids For You?

What I Like About Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

• You see results fast – smoother texture and smaller pores within a couple of days, not weeks
• The 0.06% retinaldehyde concentration is strong enough to work but gentle enough that you’re not dealing with the peeling and flaking nightmare that retinol can cause
• It gives you that glow everyone’s always chasing without making your skin look greasy or shiny
• The pump packaging actually protects the retinaldehyde from degrading, so you’re not wasting money on a product that stops working halfway through the tube
• If you want faster results, you can move up to the Crystal Retinal 10 version with 0.1% retinaldehyde instead of starting from scratch with a different brand

What I DON’T Like About Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

• It’s not moisturizing enough on its own unless you have oily skin – you’ll need to layer an oil or richer moisturizer on top
• The vanilla and tonka bean fragrance is nice if you like that sort of thing, but it’s completely unnecessary in a retinoid product and could irritate sensitive skin
• You won’t see major wrinkle reduction in just a month, so if you’re impatient or looking for instant gratification, this will frustrate you
• It’s expensive, and since you need to use it consistently for months to see real anti-aging results, you’re committing to an ongoing investment

Who Should Use This?

If your skin is sensitive or you’ve tried retinol before and hated the peeling, redness, and irritation that came with it, this is worth trying. It’s also good for people who want faster results than retinol gives but don’t want to deal with prescription tretinoin or can’t get it.

If you’re impatient and want to see some immediate improvements in texture and pores while you wait for the long-term wrinkle benefits to kick in, the quick wins here will keep you motivated. And if you’ve already built up tolerance to lower-strength retinoids and want to level up without switching to a completely different product line, Medik8 gives you that upgrade path with the Crystal Retinal 10.

Does Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 Live Up To Its Claims?

Price & Availability

£59.00 at Cult Beauty, Dermstore, Look Fantastic, Medik8 and SpaceNK

Do You Need It?

If you’re looking for an alternative to retinol, this is worth the splurge.