Retinoids, a class of chemical compounds that make up different forms of Vitamin A, have many diverse functions throughout the body. They play roles in vision, cell proliferation and differentiation, growth of bone tissue, immune function, and activation of tumour suppressor genes. Recently, extensive research has also been done into their ability to treat skin cancers. Topical Retinoids, in particular, have gained popularity in skincare lines due to their ability to regulate epithelial cell growth, unclog pores, and boost collagen production.
However, not all Retinoids are created equal. Three prescription-strength Retinoids exist at the moment, Tretinoin, Tazarotene and Adapalene, all of which produce great results but can only be prescribed by a medical practitioner or dermatologist and have the potential to cause high levels of irritation. The most popular over-the-counter Retinoid is Retinol, or its ester alternative, Retinyl Palmitate.
For any form of Vitamin A to be effective, it ultimately needs to be converted into Retinoic Acid, a well-known anti-aging and UV-protective agent. However, Retinoids degrade very quickly due to oxidation following exposure to air or UV rays. This can happen during packaging or once opened, and therefore the use of higher concentrations of Retinol is necessary to counteract loss. However, higher concentrations can cause significant irritation and overstimulation in the skin.
Retinaldehyde, on the other hand, is a rare form of Vitamin A that is even more powerful than Retinol. It is a retinoic acid precursor formed as an intermediate metabolite in the transformation of Retinol to Retinoic Acid, making it much closer in power to the latter without the infamous side effects. Studies have found that the rate of production of Retinoic Acid from Retinaldehyde is higher than that from Retinol, indicating that the Retinol -> Retinaldehyde reaction is the rate-limiting step of the conversion.
This means that when we administer Retinaldehyde instead of Retinol, we bypass the slowest part of the reaction and thus produce Retinoic Acid much faster. Indeed, Retinaldehyde has been seen to act up to 11x faster than Retinol at providing anti-aging, radiance-boosting, and clarifying benefits to the skin. In a scientific review by leading dermatologists, they concluded that “Retinaldehyde appears to be the only retinoid-based cosmeceutical to be effective in the treatment of photoaging”.
Iconic A plus is the first stable, naturally encapsulated Retinaldehyde (4% powder), offering the highest, most effective activity value to the skin. In addition, it is the least irritating form of Vitamin A, making it the perfect ingredient for all skin types. Not only is Iconic A® only one conversion step away from pure Retinoic Acid, but studies have also shown that Retinaldehyde can be physiologically stored in keratinocytes, making Iconic A® a highly efficacious product for anti-aging.
Iconic A plus is a major leap forward in skincare advancement, with one double-blind controlled trial showing a statistically significant improvement in radiance, fine lines, wrinkles, and photodamage following daily topical use of Iconic A®. Every woman tested saw improvement/reduction in facial wrinkles in at least one of the three areas tested: cheeks, under-eye, and crow’s feet. So not only did Iconic A® reverse photodamage, its popularity within subjects was primarily due to its non-irritative nature.
