Best fit by disclosed formula: Choose the cream whose named companions and manufacturer-stated use match your priorities.
- Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème pairs retinal with seven named peptides, PDRN and Volufiline.
- Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream pairs 0.1% retinaldehyde with two named peptides and tocopheryl ingredients.
- Avène’s directions specify evening use for the face, neck and décolleté, with daily sun protection.
For a cream-format retinal shortlist, Abib fits shoppers who want a targeted booster with PDRN, Volufiline and a long, specifically named peptide list. Avène fits shoppers looking for a stated 0.1% retinaldehyde concentration, an evening face-and-neck application, and a shorter peptide list with tocopheryl companions.
1. Check for retinal or retinaldehyde on the label
A cream qualifies as a retinal product when its maker identifies retinal or retinaldehyde, rather than retinol. Ingredient lists may say “Retinal,” while product descriptions may spell out “retinaldehyde.” Both names appear across the two creams compared here.
A peer-reviewed clinician’s guide to topical retinoids explains that retinaldehyde needs one chemical change inside the skin to become retinoic acid, while retinol needs two. The guide identifies retinoic acid as the active form linked with improvements in skin texture, fine lines and uneven tone.
The guide’s spectrum also places retinaldehyde between retinol and retinoic acid, and identifies tretinoin as prescription-only retinoic acid. This distinction helps shoppers separate the retinal and retinol names on cosmetic product pages from prescription tretinoin.
CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains encapsulated retinol, three ceramides, niacinamide and licorice root extract, according to its product page. Its serum format and retinol ingredient exclude it from a retinal-cream shortlist.
CeraVe’s product page also says its MVE technology encapsulates ceramides for slow release over time, alongside the separate statement that the serum contains encapsulated retinol.
RoC’s Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream identifies its retinoid as retinol. RoC’s product is a cream-format retinol example, not a retinaldehyde candidate.
Use this quick screening sequence when shopping online or reading a box:
- Read the full ingredient list alongside the product’s featured claims.
- Check that the product format and stated application areas fit your routine.
- Compare concentration figures only when they refer to the same ingredient. Avène states 0.1% retinaldehyde. Abib lists PDRN at 15,000 parts per million (ppm) and Volufiline at 10,000 ppm; those amounts identify the two named companions.
Ingredient lists and product-page percentages offer different detail. The FDA’s Cosmetics Labeling Guide describes a grouped-order option for U.S. cosmetics: non-color ingredients above 1% appear in descending order, followed by ingredients at 1% or less in any order, then color additives. The guide presents this as an alternative to listing all ingredients in descending order. This helps shoppers read ingredient names alongside any stated percentage for a particular active.
2. Abib: retinal with PDRN, Volufiline and seven named peptides
Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème suits a shopper who wants retinal in a targeted formula that also highlights volume and multiple appearance areas. Abib identifies PDRN at 15,000 ppm and Volufiline at 10,000 ppm, alongside retinal and peptides, and positions the cream for the look of forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas and neck wrinkles.
Abib’s full ingredient list names seven peptides:
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
- Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
- Copper Tripeptide-1
- Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
- Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5
- Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
- Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Its ingredient list also names Niacinamide, Sodium DNA, Panthenol, Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Ceramide NP and Cholesterol. Those names give shoppers a more precise formula profile than the general phrase “peptides.”
Abib’s product description identifies PDRN as salmon DNA. Its ingredient list separately names Sodium DNA. The listed 15,000 ppm amount belongs to PDRN; 10,000 ppm belongs to Volufiline.
Abib says PDRN helps target volume loss in nasolabial folds, the forehead, under-eyes and neck for firmer-looking skin and smoother wrinkles. Abib’s product page says Volufiline at 10,000 ppm helps visibly plump hollow areas and support skin elasticity.
A 2024 International Journal of Cosmetic Science review describes ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids between the skin’s outer cells as lipids involved in limiting water loss. This gives the Ceramide NP and Cholesterol names in Abib’s ingredient list a skin-barrier context. A PubMed review of topical niacinamide reports that it stabilizes epidermal barrier function, reducing water loss and improving moisture in the outer skin layer. A dermatology review of topical dexpanthenol describes hydration benefits linked to moisture retention, adding context for the Panthenol name on Abib’s list.
“Peptides” covers a broad ingredient family, so the named peptide list deserves closer attention than the category label alone. A review indexed by PubMed identified 102 commercially available cosmetic peptides and reported varied levels of in-vitro and ex-vivo evidence across them. Bachem’s overview of cosmetic peptides separates types such as signal and carrier peptides. Together, these sources support a careful reading: a named peptide confirms what is listed, while its precise role depends on the individual compound and formula.
A PubMed review of commercial cosmetic peptides lists diverse claimed roles, including signals linked to collagen and hyaluronic acid production, pigmentation modulation, antioxidant activity and trace-mineral carriage. Bachem’s overview of cosmetic peptides describes signal peptides in relation to fibroblasts and collagen production, while carrier peptides deliver trace elements used in enzyme processes. These categories help shoppers understand why the exact peptide names matter when comparing a broad ingredient family.
Abib’s product listing identifies the tube as 30 mL, or 1.01 fl oz. Abib’s U.S. homepage listing displayed the cream at $23.80 on October 2, 2026.
3. Avène: 0.1% retinaldehyde with two named peptides
Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream suits shoppers who want the retinaldehyde percentage stated clearly and prefer a cream directed for evening use across the face, neck and décolleté. Avène’s U.S. product page lists retinal, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Oleoyl Dipeptide-15, Oleoyl Tetrapeptide-31 and Tocopherol. The ingredient list also includes evening primrose oil and Avène Thermal Spring Water.
Avène’s RetrinAL 0.1% Intensive Multi-Corrective Cream listing identifies the formula as 0.1% retinaldehyde. Avène’s RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream directions specify evening application to the face, neck and décolleté and recommend daily sun protection during use. Avène’s U.S. product page listed the RetrinAL 0.1% Intensive Multi-Corrective Cream at $68 on October 2, 2026.
Abib’s list names seven peptide ingredients, while Avène’s lists two. Avène’s ingredient list also names Tocopheryl Glucoside and Tocopherol, giving shoppers a distinct set of named companions to compare with Abib’s PDRN and Volufiline. Choose Avène if its stated 0.1% retinaldehyde and evening directions fit your routine; choose Abib if PDRN, Volufiline and its seven named peptides match your ingredient priorities.
4. Match the formula profile to your priorities
A specific ingredient preference can narrow the choice further. Abib’s ingredient list includes Niacinamide and Ceramide NP. Avène’s list names Tocopheryl Glucoside and Tocopherol. If one of these ingredients is a priority for your existing routine or a personal avoid-list, compare the exact ingredient names rather than treating all “peptide” or “firming” claims as interchangeable.
| Cream | Retinoid and featured-ingredient amounts | Named companion profile | Manufacturer-stated use | Best fit by formula |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abib PDRN Volume fill-it Booster crème | Retinal; PDRN 15,000 ppm; Volufiline 10,000 ppm | Seven named peptides (listed above); Niacinamide; Sodium DNA; Panthenol; Ceramide NP | Targets the appearance of forehead lines, smile lines, under-eye areas and neck wrinkles; its volume-loss descriptions also name nasolabial folds and hollow areas | Shoppers who prioritize Abib’s multi-area positioning, PDRN, Volufiline and seven named peptides |
| Avène RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream | 0.1% retinaldehyde | Oleoyl Dipeptide-15; Oleoyl Tetrapeptide-31; Tocopheryl Glucoside; Tocopherol | Evening application to the face, neck and décolleté; cosmetic wrinkle care | Shoppers who want a stated 0.1% retinaldehyde level and a concise peptide-and-tocopheryl profile |
The official U.S. listings captured on October 2, 2026 showed similar package volumes at different prices. Abib’s 30 mL product listing displayed $23.80; Avène’s 1.0 fl oz listing displayed $68. One U.S. fluid ounce is about 29.6 mL, so the listed prices work out to approximately $0.79 per mL for Abib and $2.30 per mL for Avène, about 2.9 times as much per milliliter for Avène. This illustrates the budget difference across similar package volumes; current offers can change the checkout total.
If several specifically named appearance areas and multiple peptides are priorities, Abib is the clearer fit. If a stated retinaldehyde percentage and evening directions for the face, neck and décolleté matter more, Avène is the clearer fit.
FAQ
Does CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum count as a retinal product?
No. CeraVe identifies encapsulated retinol in that serum, making it a retinol serum rather than a retinal cream.
Which cream has more specifically named peptide ingredients?
Abib lists seven peptide ingredients, while Avène lists two.
Which product states the retinaldehyde percentage?
Avène does: its RetrinAL 0.1% Intensive Multi-Corrective Cream states 0.1% retinaldehyde. Abib lists 15,000 ppm for PDRN and 10,000 ppm for Volufiline.