Creamy vs Sallve — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Sérum Antiacne
8.7/10 · Sallve
| Sérum Facial Retinal | Sérum Antiacne | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Creamy | Sallve |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 ★ |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Lightweight gel | Watery clarifying serum |
| Finish | Smooth, non-irritating | Mattifying |
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| Verdict | Creamy's Retinal Serum makes a bold molecular choice: retinaldehyde, the direct precursor to retinoic acid, which works up to 11x faster than retinol because it needs only one enzymatic conversion step instead of two. Most brands avoid retinal because it's harder to stabilise and more expensive to formulate — Creamy, founded by Brazilian dermatologist Luiz Romancini, leans into the science. The formula encapsulates the retinal in a cellulose matrix (visible as the last three ingredients: cellulose, retinal, triethanolamine) for controlled release that minimises the initial irritation spike. Gluconolactone (a PHA) provides gentle chemical exfoliation with the humectant bonus that AHAs lack. Green tea (camellia sinensis) and marshmallow root (althaea rosea) add antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support respectively. At 0.05% retinaldehyde — the maximum allowed in Brazil — this is as potent as OTC retinal gets. Under $25 for a dermatologist-formulated retinal serum from a respected Brazilian derm brand makes this one of the best value anti-aging actives available in any market. | Sallve is Brazil's leading clean-actives indie brand and the Sérum Antiacne is their acne workhorse. 2% salicylic acid, niacinamide, tea tree leaf oil, willow bark extract for natural BHA support, plus buchu (Barosma Betulina) — a South American botanical that's uncommon outside Brazil. Alcohol-free, fragrance-free formula. |
