Shereene IdrissBoard Certified Derm, Founder and Chief Nerd

Paula’s Choice Retinal Serum Review #retinol #retinolskincare #vitaminas

30 Mar 2025 · 1 min

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This content was created by Shereene Idriss. This content was uploaded by Shereene Idriss. This is a YouTube video titled "Paula’s Choice Retinal Serum Review #retinol #retinolskincare #vitaminas" (created 2025-03-30). The excerpt is a single-speaker product review/explanatory clip about skincare chemistry: the speaker explains differences between retinol and retinal, notes that retinals are generally more active, points out the reviewed product is a retinal complex coupled to an adapalene precursor, raises concern that the brand doesn’t list percentage breakdowns (which affects irritation potential), and invites viewers to ask questions about retinoids.

Chapters

So what do you think of this new retinol? It's not a retinol. It's a retinal. This is a retinol. Retinals are naturally stronger than retinols because retinols get converted to retinals before they become active in the skin. So if you're looking for something stronger than like a 1% retinol, it is a retinal however. However. There's a however. It's a little deceiving because it's not just a retinal, it's a complex. So that means it's a retinal married to something else. And if you look, it's married to an adapalene precursor. The only thing I do not love about this is they don't give you the breakdown of the percent, because sometimes a 1% retinol can be more irritating than a very lightweight retinal. Even though the retinal is more active than a retinol, it doesn't necessarily mean it is stronger. So I wish they gave the breakdown. Let me know if you guys have any questions below about retinols. Retinals, retinoids, retinoins, the whole confusion in the marketplace.