PRODUCT REVIEW
Medik8 r-Retinoate Serum
Buy from Amazon US $122.00
More options from: $122.00
Price as of 2/11/2023 2:21 GMT.
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What can the product work for?
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
retinyl retinoate
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol
tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
0.3% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid
0.2% -
0.7%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
retinyl retinoate
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol
tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
0.3% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable than ascorbic acid, but still degrades quickly and needs to be stabilized in a formulation with another ingredient. It is claimed to penetrate skin better than pure vitamin C and have the the similar benefits, but solid studies of its effectiveness are lacking. Is likely to require a higher concentration in a product than pure vitamin C to be effective. It might be able to help reduce pore clogging.
3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid
0.2% -
0.7%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
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
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
caprylic/capric triglyceride
3.8% -
5.7%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
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
sodium hyaluronate
0.5% -
1.15%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
glycerin
0.3% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
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Anti-blemish
retinyl retinoate
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
retinyl retinoate
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol
polylactic acid
2.8% -
4.1%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
Used as an abrasive ingredient for physical (mechanical) exfoliation
Honesty check
How honest is this product?
Promise | Can it deliver? |
---|---|
Anti-aging | |
Moisturizing | |
Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
83/100.
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Can it cause trouble?
- Overall product irritation risk
- Acne & comedogenic risk ingredients: 1
Potential irritants
retinyl retinoate
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Exfoliation,
Anti-blemish,
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone
A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol
3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid
0.2% -
0.7%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Evens skin tone,
Anti-aging
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
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
0.1% -
0.45%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
User reviews (0)
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WIMJ similarity score |
76%
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Key ingredients | Common:
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Irritancy | IRRITANCY
MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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LOW
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LOW
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LOW
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MEDIUM
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LOW
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MEDIUM
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Potential Irritants |
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Ingredients & concentrations
All ingredients
Key Actives
retinyl retinoate
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Exfoliation,
Anti-blemish,
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone
A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol
3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid
0.2% -
0.7%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Evens skin tone,
Anti-aging
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
Show more
Potential irritants
retinyl retinoate
0.35% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Exfoliation,
Anti-blemish,
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone
A "hybrid" of retinol and retinoic acid. It is more stable than retinol and is likely to be more effective based on the early research data available. Is as irritating as retinol
3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid
0.2% -
0.7%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-oxidation,
Evens skin tone,
Anti-aging
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
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
0.1% -
0.45%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
All ingredients
heptyl undecylenate
4.9% -
7.4%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
Helps soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss from the skin surface over time and create a nice product finish
caprylic/capric triglyceride
3.8% -
5.7%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Moisturizing
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
Show more
Ingredient list view
Water, Heptyl undecylenate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Polylactic acid, Methylpropanediol, Cetearyl olivate, Sodium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, Cetearyl isononanoate, Distarch phosphate, Tocopheryl acetate, Sodium hyaluronate, Sorbitan olivate, Caprylyl glycol, Retinyl retinoate, Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, Hydrogenated polydecene, Glycerin, 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, Cholesteryl nonanoate, Disodium edta, Phenylpropanol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Canola oil, Vanilla planifolia fruit extract, Cetearyl alcohol, Sodium metabisulfite, Bht, Sodium hydroxide, Trideceth-10
Sources
- Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin aging
- Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic Acid): a natural moisturizer for skin care
- Retinyl retinoate, a novel hybrid vitamin derivative, improves photoaged skin: a double-blind, randomized-controlled trial
- Improvement in skin wrinkles from the use of photostable retinyl retinoate: a randomized controlled trial
- Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage
- Application of tetra-isopalmitoyl ascorbic acid in cosmetic formulations: Stability studies and in vivo efficacy