I have suffered with acne for over 10 years now which has recently started to clear up. This means I've been left with post-acne scarring so I have been trialling retinol in the hopes of improving it.
I've tried retinol from the ordinary, quite liked the emulsion but hated the oil! I do not like oil on my face, so I was luckily selected for this trial team.
First off, the packaging is a bit excessive, the cardboard box is way too big for the actual pot. Aside from that, the product itself is a beautiful white cream that spreads super easily and leaves a velvety/silky finish. It says fragrance-free but there's definitely a whiff of something fruity, like berries or grape? But it shouldn't interact with those who are allergic to fragrance.
It's such a light texture and I find a little goes a long way. I've been using it every second-third night in the first week of the trial and now that my skin is more used to be I've been using it about 5 times a week.
I wake up with such soft, glowing, bright, plump skin! I can't tell if my scars have actually reduced much as I've only had about 2 weeks to test this but I love how good my skin looks in the morning. It's also well hydrated too. I used to have a couple dry patches around my face but they're all gone now.
I was worried about sensitivity but I needn't worry! My skin looks amazing and it's even kept my maskne at bay (I work in healthcare so wear a mask during the whole shift).
Would definitely repurchase - finally found a retinol texture I like!
I was really excited to try this product, I have been using retinol for a while now, and was looking to switch to a product that also moisturized and had a bit more of a blend of ingredients.
So, I was a bit disappointed when I got the box and read the ingredients. My first issue was the fact the retinol percentage is not listed, so it's impossible to know what the strength is. It also lists other forms of retinol that don't work the same as actual retinol, making me wonder how much is actually in there, or if it's primarily made up of other retinoids. Second, it's in a screw-top jar. Repeated exposure to light and air does degrade products, so I would be concerned about that also, but it's actually just not a great design and I feel like it gets the jar messy quickly.
As far as the actual product goes, it's okay, but not great. The best part is definitely the moisturizing quality of it, as it is nice and silky on the skin not heavy at all. The product did make my skin seem quite congested in areas, so I was not able to use it anywhere other than my neck, forehead, chest and hands after trying the whole face. While the moisturizer works well, I really didn't see any other benefits from the product, and if anything, it made my skin appear worse in general, considering the congestion.
However, I do think this is a good starter product, for someone who has never used retinol and wants to really ease into it. But, if you want something strong, this likely won't cut it. I will continue using it, but only on the backs of my hands and neck, but I certainly wouldn't purchase more. For the price point and ingredients, I think this product missed the mark.
Tips: This would be more suited to a retinol beginner, as a hand cream, or something who wants a basic starter product that both moisturizers and introduces small amounts of retinol to a skincare regime.