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NATURIUM Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05% for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

NATURIUM Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05%

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, as retinaldehyde promotes cell turnover to address acne and blemishes while glycerin provides essential hydration.
  • The formula is generally safe for your acne-prone skin, with soothing ingredients like tocopherol and glycerin present, and no harsh or prohibited substances.
  • While effective for fine lines and breakouts, the product may not fully manage oiliness in your T-zone, indicating a limited capacity to address all aspects of combination skin.

How to apply

  • Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
  • Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This serum is widely praised as an excellent, gentle introduction to retinaldehyde, with users reporting visible improvements in skin texture, brightness, and acne control without the harsh irritation often associated with retinoids.

Highlights

  • Gentle & Non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation”
    • “skin friendly”
    • “gentle formula”
    • “no sensitivity”
  • Improves Texture & Tone Often Mentioned
    • “skin is glowing”
    • “smoother texture”
    • “even tone”
    • “faded dark spots”
  • Pleasant Texture Often Mentioned
    • “lightweight”
    • “absorbs well”
    • “creamy serum”
    • “hydrating feel”
  • Effective for Acne Sometimes Noted
    • “holygrail for acne”
    • “reduction in breakouts”
    • “unclogs pores”
    • “fades post-acne marks”
  • Great Value Sometimes Noted
    • “affordable price”
    • “great price point”
    • “well priced”
    • “good value”
  • Slow results Sometimes Noted
    • “taken weeks/months”
    • “slow progress”
    • “not huge difference”
    • “needs time”
  • Breakouts/Purging Rarely Noted
    • “tiny bumps appeared”
    • “small pimples”
    • “caused breakout”
    • “purging phase”
  • Dryness Rarely Noted
    • “makes skin dry”
    • “caused flakiness”
    • “not hydrating enough”
    • “dried out patches”
  • Skin irritation Rarely Noted
    • “burning and itching”
    • “caused rashes”
    • “redness after use”

Sources: lovi.care, naturium.com, target.com, spacenk.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Naturium Retinaldehyde work for acne-prone skin?

Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.05% works moderately well for acne-prone skin, using retinal to help clear breakouts while glycerin adds essential hydration. However, because it may not fully manage oiliness, an acne-prone skin type needs a treatment with ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to balance oil and control shine.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Retinaldehyde helps promote cell turnover to address acne and breakouts, while glycerin provides essential hydration for your skin. To be a better fit for acne-prone skin, this type of product needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to balance oiliness and maintain skin hydration.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Retinal do for acne-prone skin?

Retinal helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing blemishes, clogged pores, and redness while improving overall skin texture. Side effects are very uncommon when using this ingredient.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1999

What does Biofermented Oligopeptide do for acne-prone skin?

Biofermented Oligopeptide helps calm acne-prone skin by soothing irritation and supporting a clearer, smoother look. Fermented ingredients of this type tend to be gentle and may help keep oily or blemish-prone skin balanced without feeling heavy.

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Treatments like this are placed in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with glycolic acid, and in what order?

It is best not to use this treatment and glycolic acid at the same time, as combining strong active ingredients may easily cause dryness and irritation on acne-prone skin. Instead, alternate the nights you use them or use glycolic acid in the morning and this treatment at night. Skin of this type needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators like glycerin to keep it calm and comfortable.

American Family Physician, 2012Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

How often should I use this serum?

This serum works well when used in your evening routine. A product of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide and oil-absorbing minerals to better manage oiliness in acne-prone skin.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This serum may cause mild breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin as it uses retinaldehyde to speed up cell turnover. An acne-prone skin type needs ingredients that also balance oil production and manage shine in the T-zone.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018

  • Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.

    Dermatology, 2002

  • Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.

    Dermatology, 1999

  • Phenolic-rich pomegranate peel extract formulated into a serum and mask showed significantly better facial skin lightening efficacy than placebo in 30 volunteers over 28 days.

    Planta Medica, 2020

  • Topical application of a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

  • A topical microemulsion containing Punica granatum extract significantly reduced skin erythema and melanin compared to a placebo in healthy Asian subjects over 12 weeks.

    Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2014

Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better

  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018

  • Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Triheptanoin, C13-15 Alkane, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Carbomer, Yeast Extract, Apricot Polyglyceryl-6 Esters Kernel Oil, 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 Ipdi Copolymer Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Hexadecene, Sodium Benzoate, T-Butyl Alcohol

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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