ISDIN vs MartiDerm — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Photo-Age HA+ Ampoules
9.1/10 · MartiDerm
| Isdinceutics Retinal Intense | Photo-Age HA+ Ampoules | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ISDIN | MartiDerm |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 9/10 | 9.1/10 ★ |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Concentrated serum | Watery serum in single-dose glass ampoule |
| Finish | Smooth, absorbed | Brightened, plumped, immediately smoothed |
| Skin Types |
| Targets |
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
| Verdict | ISDIN's retinaldehyde powerhouse — a step above retinol in the vitamin A hierarchy. Retinal (retinaldehyde) converts to retinoic acid in one step instead of two, meaning faster results with less irritation than prescription tretinoin. ISDIN pairs it with HPR (hydroxypinacolone retinoate) for a dual-retinoid approach, plus bakuchiol as a botanical synergist and hyaluronic acid for hydration. The Spanish derm brand's most serious anti-aging product. | MartiDerm's most iconic ampoule — and the Spanish 'before-the-event' beauty ritual in glass-vial form. Each 2ml nitrogen-flushed ampoule carries 5% pure L-ascorbic acid + dual-weight hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate + hydrolyzed) + ferulic acid + proteoglycans (sodium chondroitin sulfate, sodium DNA — MartiDerm's house actives) + Argireline peptide. The nitrogen-flushed glass keeps the vitamin C stable at full clinical potency until the moment you snap the ampoule. The ritual of snapping a glass vial, dispensing the entire 2ml dose, applying directly to clean skin, is part of why MartiDerm is the brand Spanish women reach for the night before a wedding, a job interview, or a photographed event. At $55 for 30 ampoules (~$1.80 each), mid-tier per dose — but a fresh, oxidation-free 5% L-AA hit that bottle-format serums genuinely cannot match. |
