Dr.Hsieh

Dr.Hsieh Lab. Smart Classic 1.5% Retinol Renewing Essence

Name: Dr.Hsieh - Lab. Smart Classic 1.5% Retinol Renewing Essence
Brand: Dr.Hsieh

Efficacy91/100IrritancyMedium

See all ingredients

Works for

Anti-blemish

Retinol, Allantoin

Works well

What the product description says

“As retinol is known for its acne-fighting capabilities, the formula can prevent dead skin cells from clogging up pores to prevent flare-ups.”

Source: Yesstyle

This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following ingredient: retinol. This ingredient is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect.

RetinolHeroEffect: HighTwo 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~0.95–1.45%

AllantoinEffect: Low, below effective doseHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~0.4–0.9%

Anti-aging

Retinol

Works well

What the product description says

“Featuring 1.5% retinol, this essence combats signs of aging by enhancing skin elasticity and softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”

Source: Yesstyle

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol.

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.

Moisturizing

Hydroxyethyl urea, Dipotassium glycyrrhizate + 2 more

Works

What the product description says

“Enhances moisturizing and reduces skin dryness when used.”

Source: Yesstyle

This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": dipotassium glycyrrhizate, hydroxyethyl urea.

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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).

Hydroxyethyl ureaKey active· HumectantEffect: HighA synthetic humectant made from urea. It pulls water into the upper layer of the skin about as well as glycerin, but without glycerin's stickiness. Unlike urea, it has not been shown to exfoliate. Lab and animal tests suggest a low risk of irritation at the levels used in products.~3.2–4.8%

Dipotassium glycyrrhizateKey active· HumectantEffect: HighA salt derived from licorice. Works as an emollient to soften the upper layer of the skin and can help calm down inflammation. Might be helpful for skin lightening~0.8–1.2%

Propylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating~23–34%

AllantoinUnder-dosedHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~0.4–0.9%

Exfoliation

Side benefit · Retinol, Allantoin

Works well

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.

RetinolKey activeEffect: HighTwo 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~0.95–1.45%

AllantoinEffect: Low, below effective doseHelps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated~0.4–0.9%

Evens skin tone

Side benefit · Retinol, Dipotassium glycyrrhizate

Works well

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: dipotassium glycyrrhizate.

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.

Dipotassium glycyrrhizateEffect: LowA salt derived from licorice. Works as an emollient to soften the upper layer of the skin and can help calm down inflammation. Might be helpful for skin lightening~0.8–1.2%

Anti-oxidation

Side benefit · Retinol

Works well

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?

Irritancy

1 strong irritant: Retinol

Medium risk

We flagged 4 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~23–34%est.

RetinolTwo 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 irritatingHigh~0.95–1.45%est.

EthoxydiglycolHelps to improve the product consistencyMedium~5.2–7.7%est.

ChlorphenesinA preservativeMedium~0.05–0.2%est.

Comedogenic

Clean of flagged comedogenic ingredients

None flagged

Alternatives

Cheaper, or higher on efficacy

Acaderma Chrono Warp - Restoring Essence

Higher efficacy · 100/10079% match

$90.00

LANEIGE Perfect Renew Youth Skin Refiner

Higher efficacy · 100/10078% match

$36.61

View all alternatives

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Propylene glycol~23–34%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol

Water~14–21%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Ethoxydiglycol~5.2–7.7%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Helps to improve the product consistency

More about Ethoxydiglycol

Hydroxyethyl urea~3.2–4.8%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

A synthetic humectant made from urea. It pulls water into the upper layer of the skin about as well as glycerin, but without glycerin's stickiness. Unlike urea, it has not been shown to exfoliate. Lab and animal tests suggest a low risk of irritation at the levels used in products.

More about Hydroxyethyl urea

Polyglycerin-10~2.4–3.6%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Polyglycerin-10

Polysorbate 20~1.6–2.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Polysorbate 20

Retinol~0.95–1.45%

Hero · Anti-aging, Evens skin tone, Anti-blemishIrritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Anti-agingAnti-oxidationExfoliationMattifyingAnti-blemishEvens skin tone

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 Retinol

Dipotassium glycyrrhizate~0.8–1.2%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-inflammatoryEvens skin tone

A salt derived from licorice. Works as an emollient to soften the upper layer of the skin and can help calm down inflammation. Might be helpful for skin lightening

More about Dipotassium glycyrrhizate

Allantoin~0.4–0.9%

Under-dosed

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-inflammatoryMoisturizingReduces rednessReduces irritationAnti-blemishExfoliation

Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated

More about Allantoin

Quaternium-73~0.2–0.8%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Quaternium-73

Phenoxyethanol~0.1–0.45%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin~0.05–0.2%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

A preservative

More about Chlorphenesin

Ingredient list view

Propylene glycol, Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Hydroxyethyl urea, Polyglycerin-10, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Dipotassium glycyrrhizate, Allantoin, Quaternium-73, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

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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.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	Dr.HsiehLab. Smart Classic 1.5% Retinol Renewing EssenceYOUR PRODUCT	KikumasamuneSake Skin Care Lotion Bright Moist	AcadermaChrono Warp - Restoring Essence	LANEIGEPerfect Renew Youth Skin Refiner
Match	—	83%	79%	78%
Price	—	$23.53	$90.00	$36.61
Shared key ingredients	—	2 of 4	1 of 4	1 of 4
Key difference	—	Arbutin	Retinal	Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Irritancy	Medium	Medium	Medium	Medium
Drying alcohol	—	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Product summary

"Dr. Hsieh - Lab. Smart Classic 1.5% Retinol Renewing Essence" is effective for: Anti-aging, Evens skin tone, Anti-blemish and Exfoliation

This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.

Ingredient callouts

this product contains an effective form of Retinoids (vitamin A): retinol 0.95% - 1.45%. 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.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate in this product (0.80% - 1.20%) can also further help improve the skin barrier. It might be able to calm down inflammation and reduce sensitivity. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is an active compound from the licorice root.
Humectants (hydroxyethyl urea 3.20% - 4.80%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.