Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Evens skin tone
- Anti-blemish
- Anti-aging
- Moisturizing
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 3
Key actives
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
The Algae Retinol Face Oil soaks your skin with powerful algae extracts, 1.2% retinol, and natural sources of vitamin A to rejuvenate and reveal healthy youthful looking skin.
Source: Credo Beauty
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.
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
This oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient
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
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Clearer, brighter skin with fewer blemishes, improved fine lines, and plumper skin after 2 weeks of use with full results after one month
Source: Bluemercury
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
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
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).
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 plant oil with a high content of linoleic acid that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and helps strengthen the skin barrier. It is an excellent moisturizer. Might have an anti-oxidant effect
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help neutralize free radicals
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
This oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient
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
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
What it is: A clean, vegan retinol face oil powered by 1.2% retinol, algae, and natural vitamin A to target fine lines, wrinkles, blemishes, and uneven texture—visibly improving clarity, radiance, and skin tone overnight.
Source: Sephora
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.
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
Exfoliation
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?
Phytonutrient powerhouse, brown seaweed and evening primrose, help to plump up the skin's appearance and lock in moisture for a radiantly clear glow that's always hydrated and never dry.
Source: Credo Beauty
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:
pseudozyma epicola/camellia sinensis seed oil/glucose/malt extract/soybean flour/yeast extract ferment filtrate.
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, helianthus annuus seed oil.
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and support the skin's barrier due to the high content of linoleic acid
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
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
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
This oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help neutralize free radicals
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
A plant oil with a high content of linoleic acid that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and helps strengthen the skin barrier. It is an excellent moisturizer. Might have an anti-oxidant effect
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
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
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Anti-blemish | |
| Moisturizing |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 93/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Mara Beauty Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil | Current | $52.80 | |
 Institut Esthederm Intensive Retinol Oil Serum | 84% | ≈ $69.66 | |
COSRX The Retinol 0.5 Oil | 83% | $16.45 | |
 Typology Paris Serum for Fine Lines and Wrinkles — 0.3% Retinol + Castor Oil | 83% | $57.50 | |
IOPE Retinol Expert 0.3% | 82% | $79.00 | |
 Drunk Elephant A-Gloei™ Retinol Oil | 81% | $51.10 |
Key Actives
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
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
This oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient
A plant oil with a high content of linoleic acid that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and helps strengthen the skin barrier. It is an excellent moisturizer. Might have an anti-oxidant effect
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help neutralize free radicals
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
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 soften the upper layer of the skin and support the skin's barrier due to the high content of linoleic acid
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
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
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 common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
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 soften the upper layer of the skin and support the skin's barrier due to the high content of linoleic acid
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Comedogenic ingredients
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
All ingredients
This oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
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 soften the upper layer of the skin and support the skin's barrier due to the high content of linoleic acid
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 plant oil with a high content of linoleic acid that helps soften the upper layer of the skin and helps strengthen the skin barrier. It is an excellent moisturizer. Might have an anti-oxidant effect
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help neutralize free radicals
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
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
Can help attract 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
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
Ingredient list view
Crambe abyssinica seed oil, Limnanthes alba seed oil, Glycine soja oil, Pseudozyma epicola/soybean flour/apricot kernel oil/olive fruit oil/sunflower seed oil/sweet almond oil/angelica gigas root extract ferment extract filtrate, Bixa orellana seed oil, Oenothera biennis oil, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Nigella sativa seed oil, Retinol, Caryodendron orinocense seed oil, Pseudozyma epicola/argania spinosa kernel oil ferment filtrate, Pseudozyma epicola/camellia sinensis seed oil/glucose/malt extract/soybean flour/yeast extract ferment filtrate, Vaccinium myrtillus seed oil, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Citrus aurantium amara peel oil, Alaria esculenta extract, Laminaria ochroleuca extract, Plankton extract, Tocopherol, Linalool, Limonene, Farnesol, Geraniol
- 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
- Chemical characterization and antioxidant activity of Amazonian (Ecuador) Caryodendron orinocense Karst. and Bactris gasipaes Kunth seed oils
- Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Care
- Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egypt
- Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin
- Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countries
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Annex I: Clinical evidence regarding sensitisation to individual fragrance chemicals and to natural extracts