MARA Mini Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face Oil
Works for
4 of 4 advertised claims delivered
Evens skin tone1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
“This face oil visibly transforms dull, uneven skin overnight with vegan retinol, cacay, and fermented green tea.”
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.
Anti-blemish2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“A face oil with retinol and natural vitamin A to visibly reduce fine lines, blemishes, and sun damage while giving skin a radiantly clear glow.”
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.
Anti-aging4 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“A face oil with retinol and natural vitamin A to visibly reduce fine lines, blemishes, and sun damage while giving skin a radiantly clear glow.”
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.
Moisturizing14 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
“Visibly plumps, softens look of wrinkles, and hydrates.”
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.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · 7 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).
ExfoliationNot advertised by the brand · 1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy6 strong irritants: Retinol, Citrus aurantium amara peel oil + 4 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale3 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Crambe abyssinica seed oil~22–33%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Crambe abyssinica seed oilLimnanthes alba seed oil~4.8–7.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
This oil's cmposition is closest to rapeseed oil. It is a very stable oil and serves as an emoillient
More about Limnanthes alba seed oilCannabis sativa seed oil~4.4–6.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A plant oil that due to its high linoleic acid content can help strengthen skin's barrier function and soften its upper layer
More about Cannabis sativa seed oilGlycine soja oil~3.5–5.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
More about Glycine soja oilPseudozyma epicola/soybean flour/apricot kernel oil/olive fruit oil/sunflower seed oil/sweet almond oil/angelica gigas root extract ferment extract filtrate~2.6–3.8%
Bixa orellana seed oil~2–3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Oenothera biennis oil~1.6–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and can support skin barrier function
More about Oenothera biennis oilCaprylic/capric triglyceride~1.5–2.2%
- 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 triglycerideNigella sativa seed oil~1.1–1.6%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and support the skin's barrier due to the high content of linoleic acid
More about Nigella sativa seed oilRetinol~0.6–1.35%
- 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 RetinolCaryodendron orinocense seed oil~0.55–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Caryodendron orinocense seed oilPseudozyma epicola/argania spinosa kernel oil ferment filtrate~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pseudozyma epicola/camellia sinensis seed oil/glucose/malt extract/soybean flour/yeast extract ferment filtrate~0.4–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might help neutralize free radicals
More about Pseudozyma epicola/camellia sinensis seed oil/glucose/malt extract/soybean flour/yeast extract ferment filtrateVaccinium myrtillus seed oil~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helianthus annuus seed oil~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilCitrus aurantium amara peel oil~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- High
Alaria esculenta extract~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Works as a humectant helping to attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might be effective as an anti-oxidant.
More about Alaria esculenta extractLaminaria ochroleuca extract~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Laminaria ochroleuca extractPlankton extract~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Can help attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Plankton extractTocopherol~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about TocopherolLinalool~0.1–0.35%
Limonene~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneFarnesol~0.05–0.25%
Geraniol~0.05–0.2%
Ingredient list view
Crambe abyssinica seed oil, Limnanthes alba seed oil, Cannabis sativa 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
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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.
| MARAMini Evening Primrose + Green Tea Algae Retinol Face OilYOUR PRODUCT | CatriceYouth Repairing Sleep Oil | Drunk ElephantA-Gloei Maretinol Oil Midi | M-61ProSmooth Retinol Night Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 82% | 81% | 78% |
| Price | $66.00 | — | $40.00−$26.00 | $90.00+$24.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 3 of 11 | 2 of 11 | 3 of 11 |
| Key difference | — | Algae Extract | Ceramide Ap | Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 13 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) as a Resource for Green Cosmeticstandfonline.com
- 3
- 4Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5
- 6
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