50ml full size, 15ml travel size
ESK · Retinal night cream
Ultimate A Gold
ESK Ultimate A Gold · a retinal night cream with niacinamide, a PHA and a tone-evening active
ESK's most complete night cream: retinal 0.1% (a form of vitamin A one step from the active form) with niacinamide 5%, lactobionic acid 5%, 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.1%, hyaluronic acid and ceramides, at pH 4.0 to 4.5. For the look of smoother texture, fine lines and a more even tone, and suitable for all skin types, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI), introduced gradually.
- Retinal 0.1% for the look of smoother texture and fine lines; 4-n-butylresorcinol and niacinamide for the look of uneven tone.
- Lactobionic acid, hyaluronic acid and ceramides help keep the skin comfortable while you use a retinal.
- One night cream does the retinal step, the PHA step and the moisturiser: the last step at night.
- Do not use in pregnancy, breastfeeding or when trying to conceive. Start a few nights a week; retinal is yellow and can mark light fabrics.
3 to 4 months from the full size, often longer
You start on 2 to 3 nights a week and build up, so the first bottle usually outlasts the label. Want the day step too? With Enlighten Gold it is the Golden Pigmentation Duo, both full sizes.
Free UK delivery over £65 · Tracked £3.49 · Sent tracked, 2 to 4 working days
Tatler Beauty Awards 2026 · Winner
ESK announced that Ultimate A Gold was named a winner at the Tatler Beauty Awards 2026, in the mature skin and pigmentation category, judged by an editorial expert panel rather than a public vote. Skincare supports a routine and does not replace a skin assessment.
- Good to know
- Retinal is naturally yellow and may transfer onto pillowcases or light fabrics; let it absorb fully first. No fragrance or essential oils in the ingredient list.
- Stockist
- Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Genuine product with full traceability.
If your skin reacts, drop to fewer nights and keep the barrier supported. ESK says a few days of dryness or a few spots can happen in the first month; lasting stinging or redness is a sign to pause it and message us. For very reactive skin, Ultimate A (retinal 0.06%) is the gentler start.
Not sure if this is right for your skin? Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment and we will confirm the right routine first.
A retinal night cream, honestly
Most people come to this wanting one product that does the evening work: texture, fine lines, uneven tone, and moisturising, without a shelf of separate steps. That is what Ultimate A Gold is built to be, and it is the retinal we reach for first for skin that is not especially reactive.
What changes, and when, in ESK's own timeline: skin often feels smoother within 5 to 7 days from the PHA; the look of fine lines takes 3 to 4 weeks; surface tone 4 to 6 weeks; deeper tone 2 to 3 months; and pigment that sits in the dermis 6 to 12 months, if it responds at all. A retinal is a long game, and the build-up weeks are part of it, not a delay.
On deeper skin tones, irritation is itself a cause of dark marks, so the slow introduction and the barrier support in this formula are the point. If your skin is very reactive, ESK's own advice is to start with Ultimate A instead.
Quick facts
- What it is
- A retinal night cream that is also your night moisturiser.
- Sizes
- 50ml (£83.00, around 3 to 4 months) and 15ml travel size (£42.00, around 3 to 4 weeks).
- Best for
- The look of texture, fine lines, dullness and uneven tone, in one night step.
- Skin types
- Suitable for all skin types, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI). Very reactive skin: start with Ultimate A.
- Key ingredients
- Retinal 0.1%, niacinamide 5%, lactobionic acid 5%, 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.1%, hyaluronic acid 1.6%, ceramides.
- pH
- 4.0 to 4.5.
- How to use
- 1 to 2 pumps, night only, as the last step. Start 2 to 3 nights a week, build to nightly.
- Fabric
- Retinal is yellow: let it absorb before pillows and light fabrics.
- Daily SPF
- Required every morning while using a retinoid.
- Not suitable for
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding or when trying to conceive.
Where it fits in a night routine
Night: cleanse with Calming Cleanse or Hydroxy Cleanser, then Ultimate A Gold as the last step. If you also use Enlighten Gold at night, ESK's Enlighten Gold instructions put it over the top of Ultimate A Gold.
Morning: a vitamin C such as C Forte, your day moisturiser, then SPF such as Zinc Shade. SPF matters more, not less, while you use a retinoid.
For pigmentation, the pair with Enlighten Gold is the Golden Pigmentation Duo. For a gentler first retinal, see Ultimate A; for oily, congested skin, Ultimate A+. Which vitamin A is which: retinal vs retinol.
The detail
Ingredients, and what each one does
- Retinal (retinaldehyde), 0.1%
- A form of vitamin A that needs one conversion step in the skin to become retinoic acid, where retinol needs two. Supports the look of smoother texture, fine lines and a more even tone. Widely studied.
- Niacinamide (vitamin B3), 5%
- Supports the skin barrier and helps reduce water loss, and is studied for the look of uneven tone. Widely studied.
- Lactobionic acid (PHA), 5%
- A large-molecule polyhydroxy acid giving gentle surface exfoliation with hydration; gentler than an AHA of similar strength. Widely studied.
- 4-n-butylresorcinol, 0.1%
- Works on tyrosinase, the enzyme in the pigment-forming pathway. Enlighten Gold carries it at 0.3%.
- Hyaluronic acid, 1.6%, and ceramides NP, AP and EOP
- Water-binding and barrier lipids that keep the skin comfortable, which helps keep the skin comfortable alongside a retinal. ESK publishes ceramides at 0.06%.
- Ectoin, bisabolol, allantoin, vitamin E
- Conditioning and antioxidant ingredients included in the formula.
Retinal 0.1%, niacinamide 5%, lactobionic acid 5% and 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.1% as printed on the ESK pack; hyaluronic acid 1.6%, ceramides 0.06% and pH 4.0 to 4.5 as published by ESK. Descriptions are about the look and feel of skin, not a medical outcome.
Full ingredients (INCI): Water (Aqua), Lactobionic Acid, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, C13-15 Alkane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate, Ectoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Dimethicone, α-Bisabolol (Natural), Retinal, 4-n-Butylresorcinol, Phosphatidylcholine, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Glycine Soja (Soyabean) Oil, PEG-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Mannitol, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Allantoin, PEG-75 Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Sphingomonas Ferment Extract, Ceteth-20/Steareth-20, Citric Acid, Fructose, Sodium Hydroxide, Urea, Cholesterol, Phytosphingosine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Maltose, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lactate, Sodium PCA, Trehalose, Glucose.
How to use it
Night
- Cleanse and pat dry.
- Apply any serum you use at night and let it settle.
- Put 1 to 2 pumps of Ultimate A Gold on your fingertips and apply to the face as the last step.
- Let it absorb before your head touches the pillow: retinal is yellow.
Building up
Weeks 1 to 2: every third night. Weeks 3 to 4: every other night. Then nightly if your skin is comfortable. Skin that is dry or flaking is a sign to hold at the current frequency, not push on.
Beyond the face
It can also be used on the décolletage, the backs of the hands and the forearms.
Morning
Broad-spectrum SPF every day. A retinoid makes daily sun protection essential.
What to expect, and when
- 5 to 7 days
- Skin often feels smoother, from the PHA.
- First month
- ESK says a few days of dryness or a few spots can appear and settle within a week. Hold your frequency until it does.
- 3 to 4 weeks
- The earliest point to judge the look of fine lines.
- 4 to 6 weeks
- Surface tone starts to look more even.
- 2 to 3 months
- Deeper tone. Pigment in the dermis can take 6 to 12 months and sometimes does not respond.
- If nothing has changed
- Reassess with us rather than buying another bottle and hoping. Message the clinic.
Is it right for my skin
- Normal, combination and mature skin
- Yes. This is who it is made for.
- Uneven tone and dark marks
- Yes, and pairing it with Enlighten Gold is the Golden Pigmentation Duo.
- Oily and congested skin
- Yes. If congestion is the main problem, Ultimate A+ adds glycolic acid.
- Sensitive and rosacea-prone skin
- ESK says it suits sensitive and reactive skin, and that very irritable skin does better starting with Ultimate A.
- Deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI)
- Yes. Introduce slowly: irritation can leave marks that outlast the cause.
- First retinoid ever
- Fine at 2 to 3 nights a week, or start with Ultimate A.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, trying to conceive
- No. Use Enlighten Gold at night instead.
- On prescription retinoids or isotretinoin
- Ask your prescriber before adding any retinal.
Using it with what you already own
- Enlighten Gold
- Yes. At night, Ultimate A Gold first, then Enlighten Gold, per ESK's Enlighten Gold instructions.
- Vitamin C
- Yes, in the morning. Keep the retinal for night.
- Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
- Yes. Both are already in the formula.
- Gentle Glow (PHA)
- Usually unnecessary: this already carries 5% lactobionic acid. ESK notes Gentle Glow's 10% is the stronger PHA step if you want more.
- Smooth Serum (AHA)
- ESK says the glycolic acid in Smooth Serum works well with retinal unless you are getting irritation. Introduce one at a time.
- Other retinoids
- Do not stack them. One vitamin A product at night.
- After in-clinic treatments
- Pause it for as long as your practitioner advises after a peel, microneedling or laser.
Questions we actually get asked
What is ESK Ultimate A Gold?
A retinal 0.1% night cream that also carries niacinamide 5%, lactobionic acid 5%, 4-n-butylresorcinol 0.1%, hyaluronic acid and ceramides, at pH 4.0 to 4.5. It is used at night as the last step, so it replaces a separate night moisturiser.
What is retinal, and how is it different from retinol?
Both are forms of vitamin A that the skin converts into retinoic acid, the active form. Retinal (retinaldehyde) needs one conversion step; retinol needs two. ESK's view is that retinal works faster than retinol at a comparable level of tolerance. Our full guide: retinal vs retinol.
What does a retinal do for skin?
Vitamin A products are studied for the look of smoother texture, fine lines and a more even tone. In Ultimate A Gold the retinal sits alongside a PHA, niacinamide and a tone-evening active, so one product covers the night routine.
How do I use a retinal for the first time?
Start on 2 to 3 nights a week, on clean, dry skin, as the last step at night. Build to nightly over about a month if your skin stays comfortable. Use SPF every morning.
How often should I use it?
Nightly once your skin is used to it. Most people get there in about 4 weeks; some settle at every other night, which is fine.
How much should I use?
1 to 2 pumps for the face. More does not work faster and is more likely to irritate.
Retinal before or after moisturiser?
Ultimate A Gold is the moisturiser. Apply it last at night, after any serum. If your skin is very dry, a hydrating serum such as Hydraboost can go underneath.
Is it the final step at night?
ESK's Ultimate A Gold instructions say yes. If you also use Enlighten Gold at night, ESK's Enlighten Gold instructions put Enlighten Gold over the top. We have asked ESK to confirm the order; either way, the retinal goes on first.
How long does a retinal take to work?
ESK's timeline for this product: smoother-feeling skin in 5 to 7 days, the look of fine lines at 3 to 4 weeks, surface tone at 4 to 6 weeks, deeper tone at 2 to 3 months. Give it 12 weeks before judging.
Will it make me purge or break out?
ESK says some people get temporary dryness or a few spots in the first month, lasting no more than a week. New spots where you never break out, or stinging that lasts, are a sign to cut back and message us.
Does retinal cause peeling or redness?
It can if you build up too fast. Hold at the current frequency until your skin settles, keep the barrier supported, and do not add other exfoliants in the same week.
Can I use it every night?
Yes, once your skin is used to it. Start at 2 to 3 nights a week and build.
Can I use it with niacinamide?
Yes. Niacinamide 5% is already in the formula, so a separate niacinamide serum is optional.
Can I use hyaluronic acid with it?
Yes. It contains hyaluronic acid 1.6%. A hyaluronic serum underneath is fine for dry skin.
Can I use vitamin C with it?
Yes, on the same day: vitamin C in the morning, Ultimate A Gold at night.
Can I use glycolic or salicylic acid with it?
Yes with care. It already carries a gentle PHA, so add stronger acids slowly, on separate nights at first. A salicylic cleanser is fine because it is rinsed off. Stop layering if skin stings.
Can I use it with Enlighten Gold?
Yes. Together they are the Golden Pigmentation Duo: Enlighten Gold morning and night, Ultimate A Gold at night.
Can I use it with another retinoid or tretinoin?
No. One vitamin A product at night. If you are on prescription tretinoin, adapalene or isotretinoin, ask your prescriber before adding anything.
Can I use retinal in pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
No. Do not use it in pregnancy, breastfeeding or when trying to conceive. ESK suggests Enlighten Gold in its place.
Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
ESK lists it as suitable for all skin types including sensitive and reactive skin, and says that for the most irritable skin Ultimate A is a better start. Patch test first.
Is it suitable for deeper skin tones?
Yes. It is suitable for all skin types, including deeper skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI). Build up slowly, because irritation on deeper skin can leave marks.
Is it good for oily or acne-prone skin?
Yes. It is non-comedogenic and ESK lists acne-prone skin. If congestion is your main concern, Ultimate A+ adds glycolic acid.
Does it help with dark spots?
It carries 4-n-butylresorcinol and niacinamide, both studied for the look of uneven tone, and retinal supports a more even look. For marks as the main concern, Enlighten Gold carries three times the 4-n-butylresorcinol and the two together are the usual routine.
Why is it yellow, and will it stain?
Retinal is naturally yellow. ESK says it may transfer onto pillowcases or other fabrics, so let it absorb before contact and wash fabrics promptly.
Do I need SPF if I only use it at night?
Yes, every morning. Vitamin A products make daily sun protection essential.
What is the difference between Ultimate A, Ultimate A+ and Ultimate A Gold?
Ultimate A is retinal 0.06% with niacinamide, the gentlest start. Ultimate A+ is retinal 0.1% with glycolic acid 2%, for oily and congested skin. Ultimate A Gold is retinal 0.1% with niacinamide, a PHA, 4-n-butylresorcinol, hyaluronic acid and ceramides, the most complete of the three.
What award did it win?
ESK announced that Ultimate A Gold and Enlighten Gold were named winners at the Tatler Beauty Awards 2026, in the mature skin and pigmentation category, judged by an editorial panel rather than a public vote.
How should I store it?
It comes in an airless pump. Keep it closed, out of direct light and away from heat, and use it within the period on the pack once opened.
Does it contain fragrance?
No fragrance or essential oils appear in its ingredient list. It is free from parabens and sulphates.
How long does a bottle last?
The 50ml lasts around 3 to 4 months of nightly use, and longer while you build up. The 15ml travel size lasts around 3 to 4 weeks.
Is it cruelty free and vegan?
Yes. ESK states that Ultimate A Gold is cruelty free and vegan.
Is Melatone an authorised ESK stockist?
Yes. Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock comes directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic.
Can someone help me work out whether this is right for me?
Yes. Message us on WhatsApp with a description of your skin, or book a skin assessment at the clinic in Battersea.
What is the delivery and returns position?
Tracked UK delivery is £3.49, or free over £65, and usually arrives in 2 to 4 working days. Sealed, unopened items can be returned within 60 days for a refund.
Buying it from Melatone
Melatone Skin Clinic is an authorised ESK stockist. Stock is bought directly from ESK, so every item is genuine and traceable, and it is the same product we use in clinic in Battersea, London.
If you are not sure this is the right retinal for your skin, do not guess. Message us on WhatsApp or book a skin assessment, and we will suggest a routine before you buy.
Delivery
Tracked UK delivery, £3.49 or free over £65. It usually arrives within 2 to 4 working days, with tracking by email. The price you see is the price you pay, with any delivery charge shown in full before checkout.
Returns
Sealed, unopened items may be returned within 60 days of receiving your order for a refund. For hygiene reasons we cannot accept returns of skincare once any seal has been opened, unless faulty. Your statutory 14-day right to cancel is unaffected.
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