Best fit for smile-line and hollow-area concerns: Choose Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème for the maker’s targeted appearance claims, or a whole-face retinal product if your main goal is a retinoid step-up.
- A guided strength ladder: Medik8 Crystal Retinal has five labeled strengths, from CR3 to CR20.
- A cream-serum with a stated percentage: Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum contains 0.15% retinaldehyde.
- A high-strength, disclosed percentage: The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is positioned for experienced retinoid users.
If you have used retinol for years and want a stronger next step, retinal is a reasonable category to consider. For the specific goal of changing how smile lines and hollow-looking areas appear, Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the most direct match here: Abib describes the formula as containing retinal, PDRN, Volufiline, and peptides, and says it helps visibly plump hollow areas and improve the look of wrinkles, firmness, and elasticity.
For a broader facial retinoid routine, the three retinal serums serve different shopping priorities. Medik8 is the pick for moving through a named strength ladder; Naturium gives you a cream-serum texture with a stated 0.15% retinaldehyde; and The Ordinary offers a 0.2% retinal emulsion for experienced users. The best choice depends on the main area you want to address, your preferred format, and how the product’s directions fit the retinoid schedule you already tolerate.
1. Retinal or targeted care: choose by the change you want
Retinal can be a reasonable step after retinol when you already tolerate a retinoid and want to try another vitamin A form. The Ordinary’s retinoid explainer describes retinol as converting first to retinal and then to the bioactive form.
An original study of deer mice indexed by PubMed identified retinal as an intermediate in the liver’s production of retinoic acid from retinol.
The American Academy of Dermatology’s retinoid guide quotes dermatologists advising people to begin with a less-intense retinoid and use it every other night before gradually increasing. It also advises nighttime use and daytime sun protection, including sunscreen on uncovered skin, shade, and sun-protective clothing. A reader with years of retinol use may already know how their skin responds to that product; a new retinal formula still has its own strength and use instructions.
Paula’s Choice’s retinol-versus-retinal guide says readers do not need to use retinol and retinal together. If your main concern is a marked smile line alongside a hollow-looking area, consider the formula whose maker names both concerns, rather than choosing a face serum by its percentage alone.
2. Medik8 Crystal Retinal: choose a labeled strength ladder
Medik8 Crystal Retinal is the strongest fit for someone who wants to stay within one retinal product family while moving between labeled strengths. Medik8’s Crystal Retinal guide describes five strengths, ranging from CR3 for vitamin A beginners to CR20 for very experienced users. That tiered naming gives returning retinoid users a product-family progression to compare with their prior experience.
The product directions describe Crystal Retinal as a facial serum. They say to apply two pumps to the face and neck in the evening after cleansing, let the serum absorb, and follow with moisturizer. For people new to Crystal Retinal, Medik8 recommends using it twice weekly for the first two weeks, every other night for the next two weeks, and then nightly. The product page also advises sunscreen the following morning.
This pick suits a reader who values a staged, named progression and plans to keep retinal in a regular evening routine. Years of retinol use are useful context for choosing a level, but the Crystal Retinal scale is specific to Medik8. Use its own intended-user descriptions to choose a strength, then follow its phase-in directions when beginning that product family.
3. Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum: choose texture and 0.15%
Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum is the cream-serum pick for someone who wants a quantified retinaldehyde level and coverage that includes the face, neck, and chest. Naturium’s product page names the formula as 0.15% retinaldehyde and describes it as a sustained-release cream serum. The brand lists the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, uneven tone and texture, brightness, and firmness among its intended concerns.
Naturium directs users to apply an even layer to the face, neck, and chest while avoiding the eye area, then follow with moisturizer. Its directions also say to wear sunscreen during the day, advise patch testing before use, and set a maximum of two pumps daily. This makes the format relevant if you want one product applied beyond the face and prefer a cream-serum over a lighter serum texture.
Choose it when a 0.15% retinaldehyde cream-serum and face-to-chest application match your routine. Choose a different candidate if an explicit smile-line or hollow-area target is the deciding factor, or if you want a named ladder rather than a single stated percentage.
4. The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion: choose the higher stated percentage
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is the concentration-led choice for an experienced retinoid user who prefers a serum-textured emulsion. The Ordinary’s product page states a 0.2% retinal concentration and positions it for experienced retinoid users. Its appearance goals include firmness, lines and wrinkles, dark spots, uneven tone, and texture.
The instructions call for a pea-sized amount on clean, dry face and neck in the evening, with the eye contour avoided. The Ordinary says to begin once weekly and gradually move to twice weekly, a few days apart, as tolerated; it also directs users to apply moisturizer afterward and use sun protection during the day. The Ordinary’s product directions make the emulsion a single-retinoid step, so replace retinol with it on the nights you use it.
Its stated application covers the face and neck, while Abib’s product description speaks directly to hollow areas and smile lines. A higher stated retinal percentage gives a concentration point for comparison; the product’s format, area, and instructions remain important parts of the fit.
5. Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème: choose for hollow-looking areas and smile lines
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the targeted appearance-care choice when hollow-looking areas and smile lines share priority with firmness and wrinkles. Abib’s product description names PDRN, Volufiline, retinal, and peptides, and describes visible plumping for hollow areas along with improvements in the look of wrinkles, skin firmness, and elasticity. It also names the look of forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas, and neck wrinkles as targeted concerns.
Abib lists PDRN at 15,000 ppm and Volufiline at 10,000 ppm alongside retinal and peptides.
This is the clearest fit in the group when the buying question starts with “what specifically names smile lines and hollow-looking areas?” It also suits someone who wants one targeted booster crème described for lines, firmness, and elasticity in several facial areas. The three dedicated retinal serums are the more straightforward choices when a whole-face evening retinoid step or a product-line strength progression is the main objective.
6. Match the product to your priority
Use the four labels below to make the decision: progression within a retinal range, a cream-serum with a percentage, a higher stated concentration, or targeted care for hollow-looking areas and smile lines. The manufacturers give different formats and application directions, so follow the selected product’s own instructions instead of transferring a schedule from one bottle to another.
| Product | Format and stated retinal information | Best fit or named appearance targets | Use directions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medik8 Crystal Retinal | Facial serum; five labeled strengths, CR3 through CR20 | A named strength progression within one retinal range | Two pumps to face and neck in the evening; new users phase in from twice weekly |
| Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum | Cream-serum; 0.15% retinaldehyde | Face, neck, and chest application; appearance of lines, wrinkles, uneven tone and texture, brightness, and firmness | Even layer, avoid eye area, follow with moisturizer; sunscreen by day; maximum two pumps daily |
| The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion | Serum-textured emulsion; 0.2% retinal, recommended for experienced users | A disclosed concentration-led face-and-neck step | Pea-sized amount in the evening; begin weekly and build to twice weekly as tolerated |
| Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème 2.5 tube | Booster crème; retinal, PDRN 15,000 ppm, Volufiline 10,000 ppm, and peptides | Hollow areas; forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas, and neck wrinkles are named appearance targets | Follow the product labeling for use |
Frequently asked questions
Is retinal a sensible next step after years of retinol?
Yes, it can be a sensible next category if you tolerate retinol and want a retinal product. Choose based on its intended user, stated area, formula, and directions; years of use alone do not name a particular strength.
Which product explicitly names smile lines?
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème names the look of smile lines and hollow areas, along with forehead lines, under-eye areas, and neck wrinkles.
Can I use retinal on the same nights as retinol?
The Ordinary’s product directions say not to use its Retinal 0.2% Emulsion with other retinoid products. Paula’s Choice’s retinol-versus-retinal guide says readers do not need to use retinol and retinal together. For a switch, use one retinoid at a time and follow that product’s directions.
Does the 0.2% label make The Ordinary the best choice for everyone?
No. The Ordinary’s 0.2% is a clearly stated concentration and its page recommends the emulsion for experienced retinoid users. Medik8 offers a named progression, Naturium pairs 0.15% with a cream-serum format, and Abib directly names hollow areas and smile lines.