




A retinal serum is the fluid, dropper-or-pump version of vitamin A—not a cleanser, not an eye cream, and not a retinol capsule. You spread a few drops on dry skin at night, wait, then seal with moisturizer so the serum does not sit sticky under sunscreen the next morning.
If two serums list similar retinal percentages, choose the one that layers without pilling on your usual night cream. A serum that needs a separate moisturizer is normal; a serum that already feels like a lotion may be mislabeled cream.