Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
- Moisturizing
- Evens skin tone
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
- Anti-blemish
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"BABOR - Doctor BABOR Ampoule Retinol" is effective for: Moisturizing
This product could be helpful for: Evens skin tone and Anti-aging, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- this product includes a form of Retinoids (vitamin A) - retinyl palmitate 0.95% - 1.40%, but this type of vitamin A is not very effective. It could in theory help with fine lines and wrinkles, but the effect is most likely minimal.
- Peptides (tripeptide-1 0.85% - 1.30%). Peptides are a very big group of ingredients. They all consist of a different combination of aminoacids. Our skin produces Peptides naturally. Some of them work as natural antibiotics, promote wound-healing and production of collagen. The scientists are still studying how effective the topical application of Peptides is, but it is very likely that theynare helpful. Peptides might be able to support skin barrier restoration and even have an anti-aging benefit. At the very least, they certainly help attract water to the skin and support the hydration in this way.
- Humectants (dextran 0.10% - 0.35%, sodium hyaluronate 0.50% - 1.15%, betaine 3.50% - 5.30% and glycerin 3.90% - 5.90%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 59.90CA$ in Canada and for 52.90£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Moisturizing
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
betaine, dextran.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: helianthus annuus seed oil, argania spinosa kernel oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: tripeptide-1
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
Helps attract water to the most upper layer of the skin. Derived from sugar
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
An emollient that softens the skin
An emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Anti-aging
This product contains retinyl palmitate, tripeptide-1. These ingredients might be able to help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness, but there is not enough evidence that it actually works.
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
An emollient that softens the skin
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Evens skin tone
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: retinyl palmitate.
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Anti-blemish
This product contains ingredients (retinyl palmitate) that could help reduce blemishes and clogged pores in theory, but there is not enough evidence that they actually work.
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
Exfoliation
This product might help exfoliate the skin with retinyl palmitate, but This ingredient is not the most effective.
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Exfoliation | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 58/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 BABOR Doctor BABOR Ampoule Retinol | Current | $61.50 | |
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Key Actives
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the most upper layer of the skin. Derived from sugar
Potential irritants
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but research on its effectiveness is lacking
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improves the product texture
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties
An emollient that helps to soften the skin and create a pleasant product texture and stabilize the formulation
Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect
A type of peptide. Peptides are excellent moisturizers and might be able support collagen production reducing fine lines and wrinkles
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals in skin, but research on its effectiveness is lacking
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps attract water to the most upper layer of the skin. Derived from sugar
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-10 isostearate, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Argania spinosa kernel oil, Octyldodecanol, Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, Retinyl palmitate, Tripeptide-1, Sodium hyaluronate, Hippophae rhamnoides fruit extract, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Butylene glycol, Microcrystalline cellulose, Xanthan gum, Sclerotium gum, Dextran, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Citric acid
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