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Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care vs Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care vs Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml

Q: Retinol vs retinaldehyde: which actually scores higher?

Retinaldehyde beats retinol by 17.2 points on effectiveness in our database. Across 42 retinol/retinoid products scored, the 3 retinaldehyde products average 78.3 effectiveness vs 61.1 for 31 retinol products. The two dedicated retinaldehyde products — Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05% (80 effectiveness, 83 overall) and Paula's Choice CLINICAL Pro Retinaldehyde (74 effectiveness, 64 overall) — both outperform the retinol average. Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 (81 effectiveness, 79 overall) uses retinaldehyde too, despite its name suggesting retinol. That gives us 3 retinaldehyde products total, all scoring above the retinol average on effectiveness. The caveat: 3 products is a small sample. We can't say retinaldehyde is categorically superior from this data alone. What we can say is that retinaldehyde sits one conversion step closer to retinoic acid (the active form your skin uses), and the products using it consistently score well. The gap is wide enough to take seriously, but not enough products exist yet to call it definitive.

Q: Why do most retinol products score below average?

The 31 retinol products in our database average just 61.1 on effectiveness. That means most retinol products we tested land in mediocre territory. The top performers prove retinol can work: Paula's Choice CLINICAL 1% Retinol hits 82 effectiveness (76 overall), Indeed Labs Retinol Reface reaches 80 effectiveness (75 overall), and The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane scores 75 effectiveness (74 overall). So what separates these from the rest? Three factors. Concentration: products with clearly stated, meaningful percentages (0.5%–1%) score higher. Stability: retinol degrades with light and air exposure — packaging and formulation matter. Supporting ingredients: the top scorers pair retinol with stabilisers, squalane, or encapsulation technology that keeps the molecule intact until it reaches your skin. The average retinol product fails on one or more of these. Low concentrations, poor packaging, or bare-bones formulations drag scores down. A retinol product isn't automatically effective just because the label says 'retinol.'

Side-by-side comparison of scores, ingredients, prices and real customer feedback for Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care and Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml.

Last verified: 07 Apr 2026 · Based on 30 reviews

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83.0

Quick Answer

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care scores 83.0/100 vs Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml at 75.0/100. Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care wins on effectiveness, ingredient quality, value for money. Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml is stronger on skin compatibility and texture experience.

How Do the Scores Compare?

Naturium Retinaldehyde Crea...

Brickell Men's Retinol Face...

	Naturium Retinaldehyde Crea... Naturium	Brickell Men's Retinol Face... Brickell Men's Products
Overall Score	83.0	75.0
Effectiveness	80.0/100 Best	72.0/100
Ingredient Quality	82.0/100 Best	74.0/100
Skin Compatibility	83.0/100	86.0/100 Best
Texture & UX	84.0/100	88.0/100 Best
Value for Money	89.0/100 Best	62.0/100
Best Price	£30.42 Amazon UK → Cheapest	£37.00 Amazon UK →
Form	N/A	N/A
Dose	N/A	N/A
Third-Party Tested	✗ No	✗ No
Reviews Analysed	11	19

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Ser...

Pros

✓Retinaldehyde outperforms retinol at equivalent concentrations with a single conversion step to retinoic acid
✓Sustained-release delivery system significantly reduces the dryness and peeling typical of retinoids
✓Strong user consensus on smoothing, brightening, and anti-aging results across multiple skin types
✓Lightweight cream-serum texture layers cleanly under moisturiser without heaviness

Cons

✗0.05% concentration is entry-level; experienced retinoid users may need to advance to the 0.1% variant sooner than expected
✗One reviewer notes a faint cherry scent, suggesting possible fragrance or flavouring component absent from the description — a concern for fragrance-sensitive skin
✗Full INCI list not available for independent assessment of comedogenic or sensitising co-ingredients
✗Isolated packaging quality issue reported (detached pump dispenser) — a manufacturing consistency flag

Best For

retinoid beginners transitioning from retinol sensitive skin seeking anti-aging actives fine lines and uneven skin texture dry and combination skin types budget-conscious users wanting a retinaldehyde product

Amazon UK £30.42

View full review →

Brickell Men's Retinol Face Mois...

Pros

✓Fragrance-free and well-tolerated — zero irritation, redness or peeling reported across all reviews
✓Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture with no greasy or sticky residue — strong consensus
✓Visible skin-smoothing and fine-line reduction reported within 1–2 weeks of use
✓Aloe barbadensis base paired with hyaluronic acid provides genuine hydration alongside retinol activity

Cons

✗Retinol concentration is almost certainly conservative (≈0.1% or below), meaning results for deeper wrinkles or significant photodamage will be modest compared to prescription or higher-strength OTC retinoids
✗Premium price point (≈£28–35 for 59ml) is repeatedly flagged; cost-per-use is high relative to competitors at similar retinol strengths
✗Full INCI list is not transparently disclosed, making it impossible to verify active percentages, preservative system, or comedogenic risk of emollients
✗Some users apply it during the day, which is inadvisable — retinol degrades under UV and increases photosensitivity; packaging/instructions should emphasise PM-only use

Best For

Retinol beginners seeking a gentle, low-irritation entry point Sensitive or reactive skin that cannot tolerate stronger retinoid formulas Men in their 30s–40s with early signs of aging (fine lines, uneven tone, mild dullness) Normal to dry skin types wanting combined anti-aging and moisturising action

Amazon UK £37.00

View full review →

What does the data say about Naturium Retinaldehyde... vs Brickell Men's Retinol...?

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care Winner 83.0/100

Naturium's Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05% uses retinaldehyde — a retinoid that converts directly to retinoic acid in a single enzymatic step, making it roughly 11x more potent than an equivalent retinol concentration while remaining gentler than prescription tretinoin.

Effectiveness

Naturium Retinal..

80.0/100

Brickell Men's R..

72.0/100

Ingredient Quality

Naturium Retinal..

82.0/100

Brickell Men's R..

74.0/100

Skin Compatibility

Naturium Retinal..

83.0/100

Brickell Men's R..

86.0/100

Texture & UX

Naturium Retinal..

84.0/100

Brickell Men's R..

88.0/100

Value for Money

Naturium Retinal..

89.0/100

Brickell Men's R..

62.0/100

What are the key differences?

Naturium Retinaldehyde .. is best for: retinoid beginners transitioning from retinol, sensitive skin seeking anti-aging actives

Brickell Men's Retinol .. is best for: Retinol beginners seeking a gentle, low-irritation entry point, Sensitive or reactive skin that cannot tolerate stronger retinoid formulas

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care or Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml? ▼

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care scores 83.0/100 overall while Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml scores 75.0/100. Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care comes out ahead, scoring higher on effectiveness (80.0 vs 72.0). Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream S is best suited for retinoid beginners transitioning from retinol and sensitive skin seeking anti-aging actives. Brickell Men's Retinol Face Mo is better for Retinol beginners seeking a gentle, low-irritation entry point and Sensitive or reactive skin that cannot tolerate stronger retinoid formulas.

Is Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care worth the price compared to Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml? ▼

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care costs £30.42 while Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml is £37.00. For value, Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care scores 89.0/100 vs Brickell Men's Retinol Face Moisturizer Cream For Men, Natural & Organic, Anti-Wrinkle Face Night Cream with Retinol & Hyaluronic Acid To Reduce Fine Lines and Even Skin Tone, Fragrance-Free, 59ml's 62.0/100. Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%, Advanced Anti-Ageing & Smoothing Face & Skin Care delivers better value relative to its quality.