Best cream-format retinal match by ingredient profile
- Choose Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème for retinal with PDRN, Volufiline and several named peptides.
- Choose Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream for 0.1% retinaldehyde with a pro-elastin peptide and vitamin E ingredients.
- Treat “retinal” and “retinaldehyde” as the same label target; “retinol” names a different compound.
- Compare listed ingredients and stated use, rather than assuming a companion ingredient changes how a formula feels.
For a cream-format retinal shortlist, Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème pairs retinal with PDRN, Volufiline and peptides, while Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream names 0.1% retinaldehyde, a peptide and vitamin E ingredients. The useful choice is which documented companion ingredients and application directions best match your priorities.
1. Screen for retinal, not just the broader retinoid family
Read the ingredient list for retinal or retinaldehyde if you specifically want a retinal cream. “Retinoid” describes a wider group, and “retinol” is not simply another label name for retinal. A 2022 review of topical retinoids identifies retinol as vitamin A and retinaldehyde, also called retinal, as a distinct metabolite. Dermalogica’s retinoid guide sets out the conversion sequence from retinol to retinaldehyde and then retinoic acid. For a shopper scanning a jar or tube, the quick rule is to look for retinal/retinaldehyde in the ingredient list, rather than relying on a broad “retinoid” label or wrinkle-focused product name.
The 2022 clinician review describes retinol as requiring two conversion steps to retinoic acid and retinaldehyde as requiring one. That sequence explains why a label naming retinaldehyde identifies a different compound from a label naming retinol.
CeraVe’s product page says licorice root extract in its Resurfacing Retinol Serum helps brighten the skin’s appearance. CeraVe identifies the active in its Skin Renewing Retinol Serum as retinol, also known as vitamin A. The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum likewise names encapsulated retinol; its formula description also lists ceramides, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide. Those are retinol products, so their companion ingredients do not make them retinal creams.
CeraVe’s serum product description says its three essential ceramides help lock in moisture and restore the skin’s protective barrier. The company’s Canadian product page describes hyaluronic acid as attracting hydration to the skin’s surface and helping skin retain moisture.
CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Day Cream is a moisturizer with SPF and encapsulated retinol. RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream names retinol in the product itself and describes its retinoid as retinol. These may suit shoppers specifically looking for retinol, but they do not meet a strict retinal/retinaldehyde filter.
A practical label scan takes three steps:
- Read the full ingredient list on the package or the manufacturer’s product page.
- Note the formula’s named companions and stated application area separately from its retinoid name. Treat those two terms as the same target for this comparison.
- Keep products listing only “Retinol” in a separate retinol group, even when the product also includes peptides or barrier-supporting ingredients.
The next decision is whether you want Abib’s broader PDRN-and-Volufiline profile or Avène’s explicitly quantified retinaldehyde and peptide/vitamin E profile.
2. Abib: retinal with PDRN, Volufiline and named peptides
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème is the more layered match for shoppers who want retinal alongside PDRN and Volufiline in one targeted cream. Abib’s official product page identifies the formula as containing PDRN, Volufiline, retinal and peptides. It lists PDRN at 15,000 ppm and Volufiline at 10,000 ppm, and describes the product as a targeted spot-treatment booster. Abib’s U.S. homepage displayed a price of $23.80 when checked on October 2, 2026.
Abib describes PDRN as targeting the appearance of volume loss and Volufiline as helping visibly plump hollow areas and support elasticity. Its product page names forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas and neck wrinkles among the cosmetic targets.
The ingredient list supplies more detail than the four-part headline formula. Its ingredient list includes niacinamide, panthenol, squalane, ceramide NP, macadamia seed oil and mango seed butter, as well as peptides. A 2025 review indexed by PubMed catalogued 102 commercially available cosmetic peptides and examined in-vitro and ex-vivo evidence. The review describes varied claimed roles, including collagen and hyaluronic-acid signaling, pigmentation modulation, antioxidant activity and trace-mineral carriage, with differing evidence levels. Abib’s product page describes retinal and peptides as supporting the appearance of skin texture and elasticity.
Choose Abib when the desired formula profile is retinal plus PDRN, Volufiline, niacinamide and multiple disclosed peptides, especially if the named forehead, smile-line, under-eye and neck appearance areas fit your routine.
3. Avène: 0.1% retinaldehyde with a peptide and vitamin E ingredients
Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream is the better match for shoppers who want a stated retinaldehyde concentration and a shorter, clearly identified companion profile. Avène’s U.S. product page names retinaldehyde, pre-tocopheryl and Relastide, which it describes as a pro-elastin peptide. Its ingredient list also names retinal, tocopheryl glucoside, oleoyl dipeptide-15 and oleoyl tetrapeptide-31. A separate Avène U.S. product description for RetrinAL 0.1 specifies 0.1% retinaldehyde.
Avène’s ingredient cards describe pre-tocopheryl as photostable vitamin E and Relastide as a pro-elastin peptide. This gives the formula a different emphasis from Abib: shoppers can select for a stated retinaldehyde percentage, a branded peptide and vitamin E derivatives. Avène positions the cream for the appearance of wrinkles and skin renewal.
Avène’s profile also includes hyaluronic acid and niacinamide among its named key ingredients. The manufacturer says hyaluronic acid moisturizes and visibly smooths and plumps skin, while niacinamide improves the look of fine lines and supports skin-barrier function, as described in its ingredient listing. Avène’s U.S. product page also lists the cream as fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. These details give shoppers who prioritize those companion ingredients or label attributes more points to compare. The full ingredient list also names evening primrose oil and tocopherol.
Avène’s U.S. directions say to apply the cream to the face, neck and décolleté in the evening. The page recommends daily sun protection during use. Abib specifically names under-eye appearance among its targeted areas; Avène’s listed directions name face, neck and décolleté.
Choose Avène if retinaldehyde concentration is a priority and you prefer its disclosed peptide-and-vitamin E profile.
4. Match the disclosed formula to your priorities
Both options meet the cream-format retinal brief, but their public descriptions make different details most prominent.
Price is another practical distinction: Abib’s U.S. homepage displayed $23.80, while Avène’s U.S. product page listed $79 for 1.01 fl oz when checked on October 2, 2026. The listed-price difference is $55.20, calculated as $79 minus $23.80.
| Cream | Retinal ingredient disclosed | Named companions | Stated use and best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème | Retinal; the page does not give a retinal percentage | PDRN (15,000 ppm), Volufiline (10,000 ppm), peptides, niacinamide, panthenol, squalane and ceramide NP | Targeted spot-treatment positioning; named areas include forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas and neck wrinkles. Best fit if PDRN and Volufiline belong on your ingredient wish list. |
| Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream | 0.1% retinaldehyde | Relastide pro-elastin peptide, pre-tocopheryl, retinal, tocopheryl glucoside and two named peptides in the ingredient list | Evening use on face, neck and décolleté, with daily sun protection recommended. Best fit if the stated retinaldehyde concentration and peptide/vitamin E profile are your priorities. |
Avène’s 0.1% figure identifies retinaldehyde; Abib’s 15,000 ppm and 10,000 ppm figures identify PDRN and Volufiline, respectively. Each value describes the ingredient named beside it, so compare the amounts within their own ingredient categories. A shopper who prioritizes an explicit retinal percentage has a reason to favor Avène; a shopper who wants PDRN and Volufiline has a different, ingredient-specific reason to favor Abib. Keep each number attached to the compound named beside it when you compare products in a store or online.
FAQ
Does “retinal” mean the same thing as “retinol”?
No. Retinal is another name for retinaldehyde; retinol is a distinct ingredient earlier in the conversion sequence.
Which cream specifically names the under-eye area?
Abib does. Its product description includes under-eye areas among the cosmetic appearance targets. Avène’s listed directions specify face, neck and décolleté.
Which product gives a retinaldehyde percentage?
Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream does: its U.S. product description states 0.1% retinaldehyde. Abib’s page gives concentrations for PDRN and Volufiline, while identifying retinal in the ingredient list.