The Vita-A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster (15ml)

Use in your evening routine only.

After cleansing, allow your skin to dry and apply a small amount evenly across the face, avoiding the immediate eye area, lips and corners of the nose.

Follow with moisturiser.

If you're new to this particular strength, begin with 1–2 evenings per week rather than using it every night.

If your skin remains comfortable, you can gradually increase frequency over several weeks.

Use broad-spectrum SPF every morning while using retinal.

How to introduce it without wrecking your skin barrier

Weeks 1–2:
Use once or twice per week.

Weeks 3–4:
If your skin is comfortable, increase to every third night.

After that:
Increase only if your skin genuinely tolerates it. There is no prize for reaching nightly use.

Mild dryness can happen when starting a retinoid. Persistent burning, significant redness, soreness or heavy peeling is a sign to reduce frequency or stop temporarily — not something you need to “push through”.

What should I use with it?

Keep retinal nights relatively simple:

Cleanser → hydrating/soothing serum if wanted → CELIMAX Retinal Booster → moisturiser

If you're particularly prone to dryness, you can also use the moisturiser sandwich method:

Moisturiser → retinal → moisturiser

This slightly buffers the treatment and can make introducing retinal considerably more comfortable.

What should I avoid on the same night?

We would avoid deliberately stacking this with:

• Another retinol or retinal product
• Prescription retinoids
• Strong AHA/BHA exfoliants
• Peels or aggressive exfoliating treatments
• Microneedling or other treatments that have already left the skin sensitised

You don't necessarily need to remove every other active ingredient from your entire routine.

For example, if your skin tolerates it, a Vitamin C product can generally sit in your morning routine, while retinal remains your evening treatment.

The goal is simply to avoid creating an unnecessarily aggressive routine.

A note if you have sensitive skin

The 1% panthenol and supporting moisturising ingredients make this formula more considered than retinal alone, but they don't cancel out the potential irritation from a 0.1% retinoid treatment.

If your skin is already red, peeling, sensitised or struggling with its barrier, repair that first.

Then introduce retinal when your skin is calm again.

Pregnancy

Topical retinoids are generally avoided during pregnancy.

If you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding and are unsure whether a vitamin A product is appropriate for you, speak to your doctor or healthcare professional before use.

Patch test first. Retinoid tolerance varies considerably from person to person.

Is 0.1% retinal strong?

For an over-the-counter retinal skincare product, 0.1% is a substantial concentration and isn't where we'd automatically start someone who has never used a retinoid before.

It's better suited to someone who already knows their skin tolerates vitamin A and wants to progress their routine.

Is retinal stronger than retinol?

Retinol and retinal both ultimately need to be converted by the skin into retinoic acid.

Retinol requires two conversion steps:

Retinol → Retinal → Retinoic Acid

Retinal requires one:

Retinal → Retinoic Acid

That is one reason retinal has become such an interesting cosmetic vitamin A option.

But concentration, formulation and your own skin tolerance matter too — so don't choose a product simply because one ingredient sounds “stronger”.

Why does this product tingle?

CELIMAX uses its A-Shot™ microparticle technology alongside retinal.

A light prickling sensation may therefore be noticeable when you apply it.

What we wouldn't do is use tingling as your measure of whether the product is working. More sensation doesn't mean better results.

If it becomes painful, causes significant burning or leaves your skin persistently irritated, stop using it.

Can I use it every night?

Eventually, perhaps — but you don't need to.

Start at 1–2 nights per week and increase according to your skin's response.

Three or four comfortable retinal nights each week are far more useful than seven nights followed by a damaged barrier and two weeks of stopping everything.

Can I use it with Vitamin C?

You don't necessarily need to choose between the two.

A simple way to separate potentially irritating actives is:

AM: Vitamin C + moisturiser + SPF
PM: Retinal + moisturiser

If your skin is sensitive, introduce one active at a time so you can tell what your skin actually tolerates.

Can I use it with niacinamide?

Generally, yes.

Niacinamide doesn't need to be avoided simply because you're using retinal and can work well in a barrier-conscious routine.

If your niacinamide serum is very strong or your skin is reactive, however, keeping your first few retinal nights minimal can still be sensible.

Can I use AHA or BHA with it?

We wouldn't recommend deliberately combining a strong exfoliating acid and this retinal booster during the same evening, particularly while you're introducing it.

Alternate nights instead.

For example:

Monday — Retinal
Tuesday — Recovery/hydration
Wednesday — Exfoliant
Thursday — Recovery/hydration
Friday — Retinal

Your skin doesn't need every active every day.

What is Matrixyl 3000?

Matrixyl 3000 is a peptide complex containing Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7.

Here it complements retinal rather than replacing it, making the formula particularly focused on smoother and firmer-looking skin.

When should I expect results?

Retinal isn't an overnight transformation product.

You may notice changes in how smooth or refined your skin looks sooner, but concerns such as fine lines and firmness require consistent use over time.

Judge a retinoid routine in months rather than after a few applications.

And don't increase the frequency just to try to make it work faster — irritation can set your progress back considerably.

Glycerin, Water, Niacinamide (5%), Retinal (0.15%), Butylene Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Centella Asiatica Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Panthenol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA.

Disclaimer: Please note that ingredient lists may be subject to change at the manufacturer's discretion. For the most complete and up-to-date list of ingredients, please refer to the product packaging.