How to choose a great retinol?Updated a year ago
If you’ve tried retinol before and haven't seen any results, it’s possible the products you used didn’t actually contain any retinol!
A lot of the products advertised as containing retinol or vitamin A run into one of three issues: They’re made with synthetic derivatives that have little-to-no data backing their efficacy; they’re made with retinol, but the amount is too low to have any impact; or, they’re packaged in a way that lets both air and light get inside which destroys the retinol.
When creating our Enzyme-Activated Retinol Serum, we took three measures to ensure not just that it’ll work, but that it’ll surpass all other cosmetic retinol products for stability, gentleness, and efficacy.
1) We made sure to use a clinically effective form of retinol. We actually opted to use retinal, which is what retinol converts into once it’s applied to the skin. You can read our post about what retinol is to learn more about the difference.
2) We made sure to use enough of it. Since retinal is so potent, 0.1% is enough to be clinically effective without irritating the skin. Retinol undergoes more conversions, so the skin can tolerate it at higher concentrations, so look for formulas with 0.3% to 1%. If a brand does not disclose the percentage, avoid it altogether.
3) We bottled it in a bottle that protects it completely from air and light, to keep it from degrading. This also helps our retinol retain its vivid yellow color, which is another sure sign of freshness and effectiveness.