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Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5%.

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5%
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Retinoids
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About this product

A lightweight cream serum containing 0.5% retinaldehyde, a gentle form of vitamin A designed to address fine lines and wrinkles.

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Propanediol, Triheptanoin, C13-15 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate/​Caprate, Carbomer, Faex (Yeast) Extract, Apricot Kernel Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters, Soy Amino Acids, Punica Granatum Seed Extract, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris (Trimethylsiloxy) Silylethyl Dimethicone, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Olivine Extract, Dilinoleic Acid/​Butanediol Copolymer, Cellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Retinal, Guanosine, Uracil, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, C9-12 Alkane, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Dipalmitate, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Tocopherol, Pvm/​Ma Copolymer, Adenosine Phosphate, Castor Oil/​Ipdi Copolymer, Potassium Sorbate, Hexadecene, Sodium Benzoate, T-Butyl Alcohol

More from Naturium 36 products · Guru Score 96% →

Guru Score

84%

Yay

9 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This retinaldehyde serum earns consistent praise for its creamy, moisturizing texture and gentle strength that works without irritation, even on sensitive skin and the delicate neck area. Gurus highlight that the retinaldehyde is encapsulated for better stability and steady delivery, making it less irritating than many stronger retinoids. Those new to retinoids may want to start with the 0.05% strength, though the 0.5% formulation works well for daily use and comes in at an accessible price point.
Synthesized from 9 expert reviews · most recent take May 2026

What they liked

  • Affordable option
  • Available in two strengths
  • Lightweight texture

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    Best for

    Type

    RetinoidsCream

    Key actives

    RetinoidVitamin E

    Formula notes

    Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

    Where to buy

    Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

    Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

    What the gurus are saying.

    Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

    All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    ✓Yay
    "I've talked about Naturium quite a bit. I love their vitamin C serum. Their vitamin C complex is hydrating, but they've done a great job with their retinaldehyde, as well. It has a nice cool yellowish color, and that's actually the color of the retinal. And it's actually hard to formulate retinaldehyde because it's"
    ✓Yay
    "The Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum is the best affordable retinaldehyde on the market. It exists in two different potencies, 0.05% and 0.1%. It's lightweight yet it feels kind of cushiony on the skin. If you're using retinaldehyde in your routine, you can put it on right after you cleanse your face before you do any of your other serums or moisturizers. I personally like to layer my retinoid products over my serums before I put my moisturizer on."
    All 2 takes from Dr. Sam Ellis
    Dermatologist's Favorite Affordable Anti-Aging Skincare Products! | Dr. Sam Ellis
    "This is just an incredible serum. This retinaldehyde serum currently comes in two strengths, 0.05% and 0.1%. So if you're more beginner or you have more sensitive skin, start with the 0.05%. I love how creamy and moisturizing the serum is. I actually think the full name is Cream Serum, and I think that's the perfect description of this."
    10 Anti-Aging Skincare Routine UPGRADES! | Dr. Sam Ellis
    "The Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum is the best affordable retinaldehyde on the market. It exists in two different potencies, 0.05% and 0.1%. It's lightweight yet it feels kind of cushiony on the skin. If you're using retinaldehyde in your routine, you can put it on right after you cleanse your face before you do any of your other serums or moisturizers. I personally like to layer my retinoid products over my serums before I put my moisturizer on."
    ✓Yay
    "My product recommendation here could be Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum. This comes in two different strengths, the 0.5% and the 0.1%. Both formulations are designed to combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The retinaldehyde is a little bit gentler form of vitamin A that's ideal for beginners. It's effective in addressing fine lines and wrinkles without the irritation often associated with the stronger retinoids, making it great for sensitive skin."
    ✓Yay
    "If you want a cheaper option in terms of encapsulated [retinal], reach for Naturium with their Retinaldehyde Serum. This is great and they now do two strengths which is wonderful. The 0.05% again best for beginners, the 0.1% kind of suitable for everyone. An affordable, budget-friendly encapsulated retinaldehyde that I would recommend all the time."
    All 2 takes from Mad About Skin
    RETINOL BAN - Here Are Some Alternatives To Retinol
    "I adore the Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5%. This divine, same great mid-strength option, which I think will be universally applicable. Easy to get your hands on, I think you can now get this in Target, which is great to walk into that Target store and pick it up off the shelves. Similar great price points to the Mad About Skin product. Just working universally, suiting every skin type and of course budget."
    2 X BETTER ANTI AGING - How To Use Retinal
    "If you want a cheaper option in terms of encapsulated [retinal], reach for Naturium with their Retinaldehyde Serum. This is great and they now do two strengths which is wonderful. The 0.05% again best for beginners, the 0.1% kind of suitable for everyone. An affordable, budget-friendly encapsulated retinaldehyde that I would recommend all the time."
    ✓Yay
    "Nerium's retinaldehyde cream serum 0.5% is a fabulous, affordable retinaldehyde. Retinaldehyde is only one vitamin A conversion from the prescription formula, so it's not surprising that a lot of people are picking this up."
    ✓Yay
    "This was just a lovely rich creamy serum with retinaldehyde that's encapsulated, which means that it is formulated in a way that is more stable, allows for better steady delivery, but also less irritating. And I really appreciate the fact that Naturium actually have done testing of this product at various temperatures to ensure its stability, which is one of the biggest concerns that we have when it comes to retinol."
    ✓Yay
    "Another company came out with a retinaldehyde serum and I thought I'd give it a try and I really like it. [...] The Naturium retinaldehyde cream serum is a 0.5% formulation. Using it on my neck daily, I don't have any irritation from it. It rubs in really quickly and easily. This one has been a great new addition to my skincare routine. I do love and recommend it."
    All 2 takes from HotandFlashy
    Best Skincare & Anti-Aging of 2023! Everything You Need to Age Backwards At Home!
    "Another company came out with a retinaldehyde serum and I thought I'd give it a try and I really like it. [...] The Naturium retinaldehyde cream serum is a 0.5% formulation. Using it on my neck daily, I don't have any irritation from it. It rubs in really quickly and easily. This one has been a great new addition to my skincare routine. I do love and recommend it."
    Do These This FALL for Beautiful Healthy Skin! 7 Fall SKINCARE TIPS!
    "I use this every night on my neck because my neck is super sensitive, can't use a prescription retinoid there, and I've never had any irritation with this at all. It's a really great cream to start if you're like me and you have a lifetime of accumulated sun damage and you want to go for the big guns."
    ✓Yay
    "These are retinaldehyde, and they're good, like anti-aging, they help with lines and wrinkles, all of that stuff."
    ✓Yay
    "This is the retinaldehyde cream serum 0.5%. I stick with 0.5% because it's the one I can use on a regular basis like every single night without irritation. To me it's better to be on a lower percentage and then be able to use it more consistently than to try to amp it up and then only use it every other day or every two days. So I prefer to use this one."
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    What the evidence says.

    Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

    Retinoids

    Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

    Source: DermNet

    Vitamin E

    Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

    Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

    Frequently asked.

    What is Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5%?

    A lightweight cream serum containing 0.5% retinaldehyde, a gentle form of vitamin A designed to address fine lines and wrinkles.

    Is Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5% worth it?

    Yes. All 9 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 84%.

    What is Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5%'s Guru Score?

    Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5% holds a Guru Score of 84%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5% best for?

    Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.5% is generally suited to mature skin.

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