Compare / Retinal serums
Geek & Gorgeous A-Game vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal vs The Ordinary Retinal
A-Game 10 and Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 both have 0.1% retinal: $19.90 vs $111.00. The Ordinary has twice that (0.2%) for $14.90, in a smaller 15 mL tube. On Amazon, Naturium's 0.1% retinal ($23.09) is the closest match.
- Most retinal for the money: The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% 0.2% retinal, 15 mL. Twice the strength of the other two. Buy on Amazon $14.90
- Same 0.1% as A-Game, on Amazon: Naturium Retinaldehyde 0.10% 0.1% retinal, 50 mL. Buy on Amazon $23.09
- The original: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 0.1% retinal plus vitamin C, squalane and hyaluronic acid, 30 mL. Buy on Amazon $111.00
A-Game 10 is $19.90 from Geek & Gorgeous (brand site, 2026-09-29). Amazon prices checked 2026-10-20. Some links earn us a commission. It does not change the comparison.
01 / Side by side
Strength, size and real cost
Retinal (retinaldehyde) percentages are what each brand publishes. "Per 0.01% per mL" puts different strengths and bottle sizes on one scale: lower is better value.
| Serum | Retinal | Size | Price | Per mL | Per 0.01% per mL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 | 0.1% | 30 mL | $19.90 from the brand (not on Amazon now) | $0.66 | $0.066 |
| Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 | 0.1% | 30 mL | $111.00 on Amazon | $3.70 | $0.370 |
| The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion | 0.2% | 15 mL | $14.90 on Amazon | $0.99 | $0.050 |
| Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10% | 0.1% | 50 mL | $23.09 on Amazon | $0.46 | $0.046 |
02 / Which one for you
Pick by where you are with retinoids
You are new to retinoids
Start at 0.1%: A-Game 10 ($19.90 from Geek & Gorgeous) or, on Amazon, Naturium 0.10% ($23.09). Use it two or three nights a week at first, with sunscreen in the morning.
You already use retinol or 0.1% retinal
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% ($14.90) is the step up, and the cheapest per unit of retinal here. It matches Medik8's Crystal Retinal 20.
You want the extras
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 ($111.00) adds vitamin C, squalane and hyaluronic acid to the same 0.1% retinal, and comes in an airless pump. You pay about 6 times A-Game's price for those extras.
03 / Ingredient lists
What is actually different
- A-Game 10 and Medik8 both list cyclodextrin, an ingredient used to stabilize retinal. Both use the same olive-based emulsifiers (cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate).
- Medik8 adds ethyl ascorbic acid (a vitamin C form), squalane and sodium hyaluronate.
- The Ordinary pairs retinal with hydroxyapatite and a soothing group of ingredients (bisabolol, ginger root extract, 4-t-butylcyclohexanol) in a 15 mL tube.
- Naturium uses yeast extract, soy amino acids and pomegranate seed extract around the same 0.1% retinal.
Retinal makes skin more sensitive to sun. Use sunscreen every morning while using any of these. Ingredient lists from each product's record on this site.
04 / Questions
Frequently asked
- Is Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 the same as Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10?
- Same strength, different formula. Both list 0.1% retinal (retinaldehyde) and both list cyclodextrin, an ingredient used to stabilize retinal. Medik8 adds vitamin C (ethyl ascorbic acid), squalane and hyaluronic acid. A-Game costs $19.90 from Geek & Gorgeous; Medik8 costs $111.00 on Amazon.
- Is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% stronger than Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10?
- Yes. 0.2% is twice Crystal Retinal 10's 0.1%. It matches Medik8's Crystal Retinal 20, the next step up Medik8's ladder. If you have never used a retinoid, start lower and use it two or three nights a week.
- Which one should a beginner start with?
- A 0.1% retinal (A-Game 10, Crystal Retinal 10 or Naturium 0.10%), not the 0.2%. Geek & Gorgeous and Medik8 both sell weaker steps too: A-Game 5, and Crystal Retinal 1, 3 and 6.
- Where can I buy A-Game 10?
- From Geek & Gorgeous ($19.90). On Amazon, Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10% has the same 0.1% retinal for $23.09 in a larger 50 mL bottle.