CLINICAL 1% Retinol Treatment

Product description

A leave-on treatment with 1% retinol, alongside peptides, ceramides and a vitamin C derivative. The brand markets it for lines and loss of firmness.

Full ingredient list

Kept exactly as the source printed it, including spelling in the original.

1. 1 WATER
2. 2 DIMETHICONE
3. 3 GLYCERIN
4. 4 BUTYLENE GLYCOL
5. 5 ISONONYL ISONONANOATE
6. 6 CASTOR ISOSTEARATE SUCCINATE
7. 7 GLYCERYL STEARATE
8. 8 C12-15 ALKYL BENZOATE
9. 9 DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER
10. 10 PEG-33
11. 11 POLYSORBATE 20
12. 12 BEHENYL ALCOHOL
13. 13 PEG-100 STEARATE
14. 14 PENTAERYTHRITYL TETRAISOSTEARATE
15. 15 POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE
16. 16 TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE
17. 17 RETINOL
18. 18 CERAMIDE NG
19. 19 PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7
20. 20 PALMITOYL HEXAPEPTIDE-12
21. 21 SODIUM HYALURONATE
22. 22 DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE
23. 23 GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA (LICORICE) ROOT EXTRACT
24. 24 AVENA SATIVA (OAT) KERNEL EXTRACT
25. 25 ARCTIUM LAPPA ROOT EXTRACT
26. 26 SALIX ALBA EXTRACT
27. 27 GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) STEROLS
28. 28 LECITHIN
29. 29 ALLANTOIN
30. 30 TOCOPHERYL ACETATE
31. 31 HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN
32. 32 SORBITAN LAURATE
33. 33 ACETYL DIPEPTIDE-1 CETYL ESTER
34. 34 DISODIUM EDTA
35. 35 HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE
36. 36 PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1
37. 37 SODIUM HYDROXIDE
38. 38 TRIBEHENIN
39. 39 CAPRYLYL GLYCOL
40. 40 ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN
41. 41 PENTYLENE GLYCOL
42. 42 PEG-75 SHEA BUTTER GLYCERIDES
43. 43 PPG-12/SMDI COPOLYMER
44. 44 PEG-10 PHYTOSTEROL
45. 45 PEG-8 DIMETHICONE
46. 46 PEG-14
47. 47 MAGNESIUM ALUMINUM SILICATE
48. 48 ARACHIDYL GLUCOSIDE
49. 49 ARACHIDYL ALCOHOL
50. 50 SCLEROTIUM GUM
51. 51 CARBOMER
52. 52 PHENOXYETHANOL
53. 53 BENZOIC ACID

Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Glyceryl Stearate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, PEG-33, Polysorbate 20, Behenyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Retinol, Ceramide NG, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Arctium Lappa, Salix Alba Extract, Glycine Soja Sterols, Lecithin, Allantoin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Sorbitan Laurate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Hydroxide, Tribehenin, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-75 Shea Butter Glycerides, PPG-12/SMDI Copolymer, PEG-10 Phytosterol, PEG-8 Dimethicone, PEG-14, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Arachidyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid.

Ingredient analysis

TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE · Actives · Ceramide NG · Barrier lipids · GLYCERIN · Humectants

Evidence

• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: High Primary source

  Across six vehicle-controlled studies pooled together (237 on retinol, 234 on vehicle), 0.1% stabilised retinol produced greater improvements from baseline in all signs of photoaging than the vehicle from week 4 through week 12.

  Who it applies to: Women around 47 years old with mild-to-moderate photoaging, applying the product for 12 weeks.

  Study limits: Pooled analysis of six studies.

  Source:Efficacy and Tolerability of Topical 0.1% Stabilized Bioactive Retinol for Photoaging: A Vehicle-Controlled Integrated Analysis
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  A 0.4% retinol lotion applied to the arm up to three times a week for 24 weeks reduced fine wrinkling significantly more than its vehicle in elderly subjects: score change −1.64 (95% CI −2.06 to −1.22) against −0.08 (−0.17 to 0.01) on a 0–9 severity scale.

  Who it applies to: Elderly adults, arms.

  Study limits: Thirty-six participants in two senior-care facilities, average age 87, an unusual population for cosmetic use. The glycosaminoglycan and procollagen measurements that suggest a mechanism came from subgroups of six and four participants, far too small to stand on their own.

  Source:Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In a split-face comparison, 0.075% retinol cream used once nightly for 26 weeks improved fine wrinkling in 27 of 54 participants (50%) against 13 (24%) on the vehicle side, and deep wrinkling in 15 (28%) against 1 (2%).

  Who it applies to: Middle-aged Japanese women with mild photoaging, 0.075% retinol cream once nightly on the face for 26 weeks.

  Study limits: Single centre, 57 enrolled and 54 evaluated, mild photoaging. The 0.04% arm ran for 13 weeks.

  Source:Improvement of photoaged facial skin in middle-aged Japanese females by topical retinol (vitamin A alcohol): a vehicle-controlled, double-blind study
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In a 12-week randomized, double-blind trial of 44 people, both 0.5% bakuchiol and 0.5% retinol significantly reduced wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation; bakuchiol caused less scaling and stinging.

  Who it applies to: Adults with facial photoageing using bakuchiol twice daily or retinol once daily for 12 weeks.

  Study limits: Small sample (44).

  Source:Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source

  In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled split-face trial, 24 people with mixed-type dark circles used a test product containing 3% vitamin C, 0.1% vitamin A and 0.5% vitamin E for eight weeks. Brightness (L*), melanin index and image-analysis lightness improved significantly on the treated side compared with the placebo side.

  Who it applies to: Instrument-measured brightness, melanin index and skin thickness in mixed-type (pigment plus vascular) dark circles over eight weeks.

  Study limits: Three actives were used together. 24 people took part, all with the mixed type of dark circles; a separate 100-person study was used first to choose which measurements to trust. The abstract reports instrument readings.

  Source:Classification by causes of dark circles and appropriate evaluation method of dark circles
• Irritation Human trial Certainty: Low Primary source

  Nightly 0.075% retinol caused enough irritation for 3 of 57 participants to withdraw from the study; at 0.04% over 13 weeks irritation was reported as minimal, with less improvement in fine wrinkling.

  Who it applies to: Facial use once nightly in middle-aged Japanese women with mild photoaging, at 0.075% for 26 weeks and 0.04% for 13 weeks.

  Study limits: Withdrawals were counted. Both findings come from the same single-centre study.

  Source:Improvement of photoaged facial skin in middle-aged Japanese females by topical retinol (vitamin A alcohol): a vehicle-controlled, double-blind study
• Legal limits Official legal text Certainty: High Primary source

  Retinol, retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate are restricted under Annex III entry 376 of the EU Cosmetics Regulation: at most 0.05% retinol equivalent in body lotion and 0.3% in other leave-on and rinse-off products, with a mandatory label warning.

  Who it applies to: Products placed on the EU market. Other jurisdictions set their own limits. · 2024

  Study limits: This is a legal limit. · 2024

  Source:Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/996 amending Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 — vitamin A (retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate), Annex III entry 376
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  In a randomized, double-blind, four-arm crossover study of 51 healthy volunteers with dry skin, an emollient containing glycerol and petrolatum raised corneometry-measured skin moisture significantly above its vehicle (P < 0.0001) over 12 hours. The authors attributed the hydration gain to the glycerol component and the lower water loss to the petrolatum component.

  Who it applies to: Corneometry (skin moisture) and transepidermal water loss over 12 hours after one application.

  Study limits: Measured on the forearms. The significant hydration result comes from the full emollient containing both glycerol and petrolatum.

  Source:Combined effects of glycerol and petrolatum in an emollient cream: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study in healthy volunteers with dry skin
• Skin effect Review article Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  Topical glycerol improves stratum corneum hydration, barrier function and skin mechanical properties. The review also reports reduced irritation response and faster wound healing, and traces the effect to aquaporin-3 transport and to glycerol's own presence in the skin.

  Who it applies to: Leave-on products. The review discusses both healthy skin and skin with dry or barrier-impaired conditions such as atopic dermatitis.

  Study limits: A narrative review. It compiles mechanisms and results from other studies.

  Source:Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
• Skin effect Official ingredient listing Certainty: High Public database

  Glycerin is classified as a humectant in cosmetic ingredient databases: its role in a formula is to hold water.

  Who it applies to: Cosmetic formulas generally. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN

  Study limits: Skin effect of to the stratum corneum comes from a separate review of the literature. · Ingredient database · GLYCERIN

  Source:PubChemCosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database
• Skin effect Human trial Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  All five 0.1% hyaluronic acid creams tested, from 50 kDa to 2000 kDa, raised skin hydration and overall elasticity above the vehicle cream applied to the other eye at 60 days.

  Who it applies to: 0.1% hyaluronic acid creams applied twice daily for 60 days to the eye area of women aged 30-60 with periocular wrinkles.

  Study limits: Sixty days, and the vehicle sat on the fellow eye. Hydration and elasticity were read by instruments. The volunteers were women aged 30-60 with eye-area wrinkles.

  Source:Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment
• How deep it gets In vitro study Certainty: Moderate Primary source

  Hyaluronic acid of 20-300 kDa crossed the stratum corneum in excised human skin, while hyaluronic acid of 1000-1400 kDa remained in the stratum corneum.

  Who it applies to: Excised human skin with intact stratum corneum, measured by Raman micro-imaging after topical application.

  Study limits: One laboratory's imaging study. Three molecular-weight grades were tested. "remains above" describes intact stratum corneum in this ex vivo setup.

  Source:Human skin penetration of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights as probed by Raman spectroscopy
• Skin effect Brand claim Certainty: Moderate Public database

  Hyaluronic acid and its salt bind water at the skin surface, giving a plumper look immediately after application.

  Who it applies to: Leave-on hydrating products.

  Study limits: The effect is largely surface and temporary. In dry air a humectant. · Finding · Sodium hyaluronate · Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid

  Source:Hyaluronic Acid (CeraVe ingredient page)PubChem
• Legal limits Official legal text Certainty: High Primary source

  US regulation lists dimethicone as a permitted active ingredient in over-the-counter skin protectant products, at 1 to 30 percent. That is a legal status in one market, and it puts dimethicone in the same list as petrolatum, glycerin and colloidal oatmeal.

  Who it applies to: Products sold in the US that make a skin-protectant claim, with dimethicone between 1 and 30 percent.

  Study limits: A monograph entry sets what may be sold and what may be claimed. · 1993 · Consumers of over-the-counter skin protectant products in the US.

  Source:21 CFR 347.10 - Skin protectant active ingredients (US Code of Federal Regulations)
• Legal limits Official legal text Certainty: High Primary source

  The EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety concluded in 2016 that 2-phenoxyethanol is safe as a preservative at a maximum of 1.0%, which is the limit already set in Annex V/29 of the EU Cosmetics Regulation. It estimated a margin of safety of about 50 for children.

  Who it applies to: Phenoxyethanol used as a preservative in cosmetic products, at or below 1.0%.

  Study limits: The dossier behind the conclusion was submitted by Cosmetics Europe, the industry association, and the committee lowered the default toxicokinetic factor from 4.0 to 1.0 on its way to the 1.0% conclusion. The final opinion kept 1.0%.

  Source:Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) - Final version of the opinion on Phenoxyethanol in cosmetic products

Related skin concerns

Skin concerns with evidence for ingredients on this list.

Formula history

1 version of this formula on record.

Related products

• Exfoliants

  RESIST Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA

  14 shared ingredients

• Creams

  Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Soft Creme

  13 shared ingredients

• Serums

  10% Niacinamide Booster

  13 shared ingredients

• Creams

  Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream (Retinol + Hyaluronic Acid)

  12 shared ingredients