Vitamin A Elixir

The active ingredient in our Vital A Elixir is Retinal (retinaldehyde) - a retinoic acid precursor, which is formed as an intermediate metabolite in the transformation of retinol to retinoic acid in human keratinocytes. In the skin, retinal is metabolised to retinoic acid as well as to retinol and retinyl esters (which generally get depleted during photoaging), which is why it is incredibly effective in the treatment of signs of ageing and skin disorders. Moreover, metabolism of retinal to retinoic acid occurs only by keratinocytes at a pertinent stage of differentiation, leading to a more controlled delivery of retinoic acid and weaker retinoid associated adverse effects as compared to tretinoin and other synthetic retinoids.

Retinal assists in the production of collagen (reducing the appearance of wrinkles & fine lines), enhancing cell turnover, and evening skin tone.

Yes - Vital A may be used in conjunction with our Vital B or Vital C Elixirs, and our Age Defiance Night Serum.

Whilst some other forms of Vitamin A may cause skin irritation, the retinal in our Vital A serum is much gentler than traditional forms. However, as with introducing any new skincare product, we always recommend doing a patch test first. If your skin does not react, you can incorporate the Vital A into your routine. How often you use it varies based on how your skin responds to it, and it's advised to incorporate slowly, starting at once every few days.
If irritation occurs at any point, discontinue use immediately.

The updated Vital A formulation now features a biotech derived retinal. While the origin has changed, the molecule itself remains functionally identical and continues to deliver the same high performance skin benefits. In line with this update, we have taken a more precautionary approach to pregnancy guidance. While most concerns around vitamin A relate to oral intake rather than topical application, current industry best practice is to advise against the use of all vitamin A derivatives during pregnancy. This ensures we are aligned with global safety standards and provides clarity and confidence for both practitioners and consumers.

Retinal (retinaldehyde) is best applied at night. As a light-sensitive active, it degrades on UV exposure reducing efficacy and increasing the skin’s sensitivity to sun damage, irritation, and pigmentation. While our packaging uses biophotonic glass to protect the formula from light degradation in storage, once applied to skin it should not be exposed to sunlight. If morning use is unavoidable, a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ is essential.