They’re all from the same retinoid family, but retinal has been clinically proven to work up to 11 times faster than retinol. Retinal also has a much higher exfoliation rate than retinol, which contributes unclogging pores, making skin smooth, soft, even-toned, freaking RAD-I-ANT. 

It truly is a wonder ingredient, and the reason it is used less than retinol is:

a) It’s more expensive
b) In the past, it’s been hard to stabilize (meaning it loses its potency as it sits in the bottle on your windowsill). However, our Retinal is encapsulated (using amazing patent-pending technology) and releases slowly and gently into your skin overnight.

Vitamin A has DECADES worth of efficacy data showing real change in the skin – the single ingredient most dermatologists/aestheticians would recommend for reversing aging and sun damage.

Retinoids are proven to be safe is you start slowly. Our collagen stores start to rapidly break down from 30 onwards, so this is a good time to incorporate retinols that encourage cellular turnover to keep the skin firm. Undoing the damage to your skin in later decades is that much harder.

The Morning Dew Vitamin C serum is great for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

On the Moon Beam Retinal Elixir, in line with the American Academy of Dermatology, we advise that pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid using all retinol-based products as a blanket rule. However, we would encourage breastfeeding women to speak to their dermatologist/ GP/ obstetrician if they are really keen to give it a try because most experts will tell you retinaldehyde (retinal) is safe when breastfeeding because a the amount that could enter the bloodstream is negligible. Retinoid use while breastfeeding is always a personal decision, as there have not been any studies done looking specifically at topical retinoid/retinol use during lactation.

We do everything we can to source materials that are both safe for the planet and safe for the person. We also ensure our ingredients are sustainably produced, have a low impact on the land, and are easily regenerated. For example, in marine algae harvesting, our suppliers follow Tikanga Māori - a strict, traditional harvesting practice of the indigenous people of New Zealand. By using this time proven approach, we harvest our ingredients without compromising our environmental and social responsibilities. This respectful approach means we can offer high potency natural bioactives whilst respecting the land and water that the ingredients came from.