Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
- Anti-blemish
- Evens skin tone
- Anti-aging
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Key actives
![Ampoule Lift [A]](https://avtjqfwgsq.cloudimg.io/v7/https://image-delivery.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/full/6ae5df33b8704082cd56c1c1b8df2d24.jpeg)
Product Summary
"Functionalab - Retinol + Serum" is effective for: Exfoliation, Anti-blemish, Evens skin tone, Anti-aging and Moisturizing
Ingredient callouts
- this product contains an effective form of Retinoids (vitamin A): retinol 0.45% - 0.65%. 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.
- Peptides (palmitoyl tripeptide-8 0.30% - 0.50%). There are many different kind of Peptides and they are naturally present in our skin. They all are a combination of aminoacids. Some of them work as natural antibiotics, promote wound-healing and production of collagen. The science is still not settled on how effective Peptides are in skincare, but it is very likely that they have a benefit. They might help restore the skin barrier and fight the signs of aging. At the very least, Peptides work as humectants: they attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve its hydration.
- Humectants (dextran 0.15% - 0.25% and glycerin 4.40% - 5.30%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails for 106.25$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
The skin is rapidly rejuvenated and hydrated and photodamage is repaired to deliver youthful, healthy, glowing skin.
Source: Functionalab
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol.
These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: palmitoyl tripeptide-8.
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.
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
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
Might be helpful in restoring skin barrier function and, when combined with zinc carbonate and malonic acid, reducing fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating elastin production. Also helps stabilize the product formulation
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Able to repair problematic and photodamaged skin, it reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and blemishes.
Source: Functionalab
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.
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
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
Anti-oxidation
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).
The following ingredients - 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
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
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
A form of Vitamin E. In concentrations 1-3%, it can help neutralize free radicals in skin and support photodamage repair
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.
Can be helpful in reducing inflammation in skin, including inflamed acne. It can be irritating
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
SERUM | 30 m L RETINOL 1%, VITAMINS E AND C Reduces the damage caused by photoaging Evens out complexion and softens the skin Reduces the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and imperfections Offers protection against environmental factors All skin types Ideal for all skin types and conditions, this clarifying, vitamin-enriched serum evens skin tone and smooths the skin's surface.
Source: Functionalab
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: 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid.
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.
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
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Can help neutralize free radicals and help reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
The action of pure retinol stimulates the natural process of exfoliation getting rid of dead skin cells and impurities, which has the effect of improving other active ingredient absorption for maximum results.
Source: Functionalab
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.
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
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
The skin is rapidly rejuvenated and hydrated and photodamage is repaired to deliver youthful, healthy, glowing skin.
Source: Functionalab
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:
dextran, glycerin.
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: caprylic/capric triglyceride, vitis vinifera seed oil.
The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: palmitoyl tripeptide-8
A great emollient that can also have anti-oxidant properties
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
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
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
An emollient that helps soften the skin and can decrease moisture loss. Helps create a nice product texture
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
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 soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product consistency
Helps products spread more easily and works as an emollient to soften skin
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Exfoliation | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Functionalab Retinol + Serum | Current | $106.25 | |
SVR Ampoule Lift [A] | 85% | $33.00 | |
SkinMedica Retinol Complex 1.0 | 83% | $80.00 | |
 Dermadoctor Kakadu C 1% Retinol + 12% C, Ferulic Acid & E Complex | 83% | $-1.00 | |
 Plaisir Renewing Retinol Booster Serum | 81% | $129.95 | |
 SKIN&LAB Vitamin C Brightening Serum | 79% | $13.89 |
Key Actives
Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
All ingredients
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glyceryl stearate, Neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Shea butter ethyl esters, Dicaprylyl carbonate, Peg-100 stearate, Isododecane, Cetyl alcohol, Glyceryl dilaurate, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Steareth-21, Tocopheryl acetate, Vitis vinifera seed oil, Disodium lauriminodipropionate tocopheryl phosphates, Palmitoyl tripeptide-8, Cichorium intybus root extract, Sodium hydroxide, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf extract, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Inulin lauryl carbamate, Steareth-2, Ethylhexylglycerin, Peg-75 stearate, Butylene glycol, Caprylyl glycol, Pentaerythrityl tetra-di-t-butyl hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan gum, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Behentrimonium chloride, Sucrose laurate, Sorbic acid, Benzoic acid, Dehydroacetic acid, Disodium edta, Dextran, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil, Phenoxyethanol
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- Antioxidant Ability and Stability Studies of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a Cosmetic Tyrosinase Inhibitor
- Final report on the safety assessment of aluminum silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium aluminum silicate, magnesium silicate, magnesium trisilicate, sodium magnesium silicate, zirconium silicate, attapulgite, bentonite, Fuller's earth, hectorite, kaolin, lithium magnesium silicate, lithium magnesium sodium silicate, montmorillonite, pyrophyllite, and zeolite
- Extracellular matrix in cutaneous ageing: the effects of 0.1% copper-zinc malonate-containing cream on elastin biosynthesis
- Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety
- Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)
- A comparative study of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on histological, molecular, and clinical properties of human skin
- Allergic contact dermatitis induced by rosemary leaf extract in a cleansing gel
- Safety Assessment of Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics
- Rosmarinus officinalis Extract Suppresses Propionibacterium acnes–Induced Inflammatory Responses
- 5: Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Steareth-2,-4,-6,-7,-10,-11,-13,-15, and-20
- Safety Assessment of Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate as Used in Cosmetics
- 4 Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Dehydroacetate and Dehydroacetic Acid