Beauty

Lumen 0.05% Retinal Serum

Lumen Formulary

Retinal rather than retinol, in an opaque pump, at a sane price.

8.4/10 Buy £32
Specifications
ActiveRetinaldehyde 0.05%
BaseSqualane and glycerin, fragrance free
PackagingOpaque airless pump, 30 ml
Shelf life6 months opened
Test period9 weeks, 3 nights a week

What we found

Visible texture change at week nine on our test, which is about where retinal usually lands. Sunscreen is not optional alongside it.

Start at two nights a week, buffered over moisturiser. Going in at nightly is the most common reason people abandon a retinoid.

Good

  • One conversion step closer to retinoic acid than retinol
  • Airless opaque pump protects an unstable active
  • No fragrance, no essential oils, short ingredient list

Less good

  • Week two to three is an adjustment period; expect flake
  • Six-month shelf life once opened is genuinely short

Written about in

Bought at retail. No sample, no affiliate placement, no changes after publication except corrections.

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