Works for
5 of 5 advertised claims delivered
Anti-blemish3 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Retinol is rich in Vitamin A and penetrates into the deep layers of skin to help treating acne and scarring, thus reduce the appearance of blemishes.”
This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: niacinamide, retinol. These ingredients is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.
Anti-aging3 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“2% Retinol, Adenosine and Niacinamide that helps brighten uneven and dull skin tone and provide anti-ageing benefits.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol, adenosine, niacinamide.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
Exfoliation2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Mildly exfoliates skin to help balance skin's moisture and oil level.”
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: retinol.
Moisturizing13 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Mildly exfoliates skin to help balance skin's moisture and oil level.”
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:
glycerin, butylene glycol.
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: cholesterol, brassica campestris sterols.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: niacinamide
Evens skin tone2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“2% Retinol, Adenosine and Niacinamide that helps brighten uneven and dull skin tone and provide anti-ageing benefits.”
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.
In addition, this product contains niacinamide. This ingredient (ingredients) might help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the effect, if any, is likely to be small.
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · 4 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
This product contains antioxidants (retinol) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Sorbitan sesquioleate, Retinol + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Butylene glycol~5–7.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Butylene glycolGlycerin~2.9–4.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinCetyl ethylhexanoate~2.4–3.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An emollient that helps soften the skin and creates a thicker product texture
More about Cetyl ethylhexanoate1,2-hexanediol~0.95–1.45%
Octocrylene~1.8–2.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A weak sunscreen that protects against the sun rays that cause sunburn (UVB) and is somewhat effective against the UVA rays. It is quite stable and can help stabilize other, more vulnerable, sunscreen ingredients like Avobenzone. It is an organic, or so called "chemical" sunscreen
More about OctocryleneNiacinamide~1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Is proven to be effective in reducing blemishes, evening out skin tone and helping to improve lines and wrinkles. It helps the skin to repair sun damage, calm down inflammation and keep maintain good levels of moisture. The concentration of about 2% is effective for supporting the skin barrier and evening out the skin tone. Concentration of 4-6% is better for helping with acne and balancing the sebum production
More about NiacinamidePentaerythrityl tetraisostearate~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearateGlyceryl stearate~0.95–1.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearatePolysorbate 60~0.5–1.2%
Peg-100 stearate~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture
More about Peg-100 stearateSorbitan sesquioleate~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- High
Used to help oil and water mix together. Can be irritating
More about Sorbitan sesquioleateCetearyl alcohol~0.15–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholTromethamine~0.1–0.4%
Carbomer~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations
More about CarbomerCaprylic/capric triglyceride~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin
More about Caprylic/capric triglycerideMacadamia ternifolia seed oil~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Plant oil from nuts that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Contains a high concentration of oleic acid that can weaken skin's barrier function and increase water-loss while enhancing penetration of other ingredients
More about Macadamia ternifolia seed oilRetinol0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
Two steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, retinol is proven to be effective against all signs of aging. It improves skin cell turnover, helps fight blemishes and clogged pores, can regulate excess oil production and even skin tone. It can, however, be quite irritating
More about RetinolAlcohol~0.1–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
More about AlcoholPropylene glycol~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating
More about Propylene glycolHydrogenated lecithin~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to retain moisture by creating a protective barrier on the skin. Rich in fatty acids. Improves product texture and helps with the penetration of other ingredients.
More about Hydrogenated lecithinPolysorbate 20~0.1–0.3%
Allantoin~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinXanthan gum~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumAdenosine~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Might help improve cell turnover and reduce inflammation in skin. One study shows that the ingredients might be able to help reduce dynamic wrinkles (for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead)
More about AdenosineCholesterol~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that is naturally found in skin
More about CholesterolPeg-5 rapeseed sterol~0.1–0.4%
Brassica campestris sterols~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Help soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Brassica campestris sterolsCeteth-3~0.1–0.3%
Ceteth-5~0.1–0.3%
Tocopheryl acetate~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. Might help moisturize and protect the skin from free radicals, but mostly used in low concentrations to stabilize other ingredients.
More about Tocopheryl acetateCetyl phosphate~0.05–0.25%
Coptis japonica root extract~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might have some anti-oxidant properties
More about Coptis japonica root extractEthylhexylglycerin~0.05–0.15%
Disodium edta~0.01–0.05%
Bht~0.01–0.05%
Ingredient list view
Water, Butylene glycol, Glycerin, Cetyl ethylhexanoate, 1,2-hexanediol, Octocrylene, Niacinamide, Pentaerythrityl tetraisostearate, Glyceryl stearate, Polysorbate 60, Peg-100 stearate, Sorbitan sesquioleate, Cetearyl alcohol, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Macadamia ternifolia seed oil, Retinol, Alcohol, Propylene glycol, Hydrogenated lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Allantoin, Xanthan gum, Adenosine, Cholesterol, Peg-5 rapeseed sterol, Brassica campestris sterols, Ceteth-3, Ceteth-5, Tocopheryl acetate, Cetyl phosphate, Coptis japonica root extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium edta, Bht
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| BellflowerRetinol 0.2% CreamYOUR PRODUCT | esfolioFacial Cream - 6 Types | SUNGBOON EDITORCentell Lacto Skin Barrier Relaxing Cream | Mizon0.3% Retinol Youth Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 85% | 84% | 84% |
| Price | $13.70 | $7.40−$6.30 | $24.00+$10.30 | $25.00+$11.30 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 5 of 6 | 5 of 6 | 5 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Retinyl Palmitate | Madecassoside | Acetyl Tetrapeptide-15 |
| Irritancy | High | High | High | High |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Product summary
"Bellflower - Retinol 0.2% Cream" is effective for: Anti-blemish, Anti-aging, Exfoliation, Moisturizing and Evens skin tone
Ingredient callouts
- this moisturizer contains an effective form of Retinoids (vitamin A): retinol 0.20% (declared). Retinoids are potent multitasking actives. They work to improve and prevent early signs of aging, reduce hyperpigmentation (age spots and post-acne marks), and prevent inflamed blemishes and clogged pores. The downside of Retinoids is that they can be irritating. If you are not already using a Retinoid in your routine, it is best to start slowly and apply the Retinoid product only a few times per week. If your skin tolerates it well, you can gradually increase the frequency to daily. Because of the irritation risk of Retinoids, we recommend to have another, retinoid-free moisturizer in your routine to use on the alternate days or when your skin feels dry.
- Adenosine 0.05% - 0.20%. It is a chemical present inside our skin cells. A clinical trial confirmed that topical application of Adenosine in a low concentration can reduce dynamic wrinkles (these are the wrinkles that appear with age in a places where our mimic is the most active, for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead).
Price
The product retails for 13.70$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 17 studies and safety reviews.
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