Philosophy Help Me Retinol Night Treatment
Works for
3 of 3 advertised claims delivered
Anti-blemish1 ingredient credited for this claimStrong support
“Retinol encourages skin renewal and helps promote collagen to reduce fine lines, clear congested pores, even skin tone, and smooth skin texture.”
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
“Minimising the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines and skin discolouration, the decongesting formula utilises a patented time-release delivery system to lessen the risk of potential irritation.”
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.
Evens skin tone2 ingredients credited for this claimStrong support
“Minimising the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines and skin discolouration, the decongesting formula utilises a patented time-release delivery system to lessen the risk of potential irritation.”
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-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · 5 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.
MoisturizingNot advertised by the brand · 9 ingredients credited for this claimGood support
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:
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, dimethicone.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy1 strong irritant: RetinolMedium risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Caprylic/capric triglyceride~5.9–8.8%
- 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 triglycerideGlycerin~3.6–5.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinCetearyl alcohol~2.3–3.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholC10-30 cholesterol/lanosterol esters~2.1–3.1%
Cetyl alcohol~1.8–2.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholDimethicone~1.6–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeCetyl ricinoleate~1.3–2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Cetyl ricinoleatePolysorbate 60~1.1–1.6%
Benzyl alcohol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- High
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
More about Benzyl alcoholRetinol~0.5–1.15%
- 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 RetinolTocopheryl acetate~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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.
More about Tocopheryl acetateAscorbyl palmitate~0.4–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Being a lipid soluble form of vitamin C, it is more stable and can penetrate the skin better than L-Ascorbic acid. It is effective in protecting the skin from free radicals, as well as evening the skin tone, but is less effective in stimulating collagen production compared to L-Ascorbic acid.
More about Ascorbyl palmitateMethyl methacrylate/glycol dimethacrylate crosspolymer~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Stearic acid~0.4–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient
More about Stearic acidPeg-10 soy sterol~0.35–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil mix together and works as a cleansing agent
More about Peg-10 soy sterolPhenoxyethanol~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolCyclopentasiloxane~0.2–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
More about CyclopentasiloxaneMagnesium aluminum silicate~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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
More about Magnesium aluminum silicateCyclohexasiloxane~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
More about CyclohexasiloxaneMethylparaben~0.15–0.3%
Triethanolamine~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell
More about TriethanolamineDisodium edta~0.1–0.35%
Bisabolol~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An active component of chamomile plant that historically has been used to calm down irritated skin. A recent study shows that bisabolol indeed can have some anti-inflammatory effect on skin, even though conclusive data is lacking. Bisabolol has a sweet floral scent and can be added to products for its aromatic properties
More about BisabololBht~0.05–0.3%
Polysorbate 20~0.1–0.3%
Propyl gallate~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve product formulations and can mask the smell of other ingredients in a product
More about Propyl gallateAscorbic acid~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
The most well-researched antioxidant that works in skin. Helps neutralize free radicals supporting collagen production, helping to even out the skin tone and preventing early signs of aging
More about Ascorbic acidIngredient list view
Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl alcohol, C10-30 cholesterol/lanosterol esters, Cetyl alcohol, Dimethicone, Cetyl ricinoleate, Polysorbate 60, Benzyl alcohol, Retinol, Tocopheryl acetate, Ascorbyl palmitate, Methyl methacrylate/glycol dimethacrylate crosspolymer, Stearic acid, Peg-10 soy sterol, Phenoxyethanol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Methylparaben, Triethanolamine, Disodium edta, Bisabolol, Bht, Polysorbate 20, Propyl gallate, Ascorbic acid
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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.
| PhilosophyHelp Me Retinol Night TreatmentYOUR PRODUCT | HealthspanIntensive Night Treatment Cream | Alpha Skin CareEnhanced Wrinkle Repair Cream | Elizabeth GrantWonder Effect Advanced Retinol Day Cream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 100% | 100% | 97% |
| Price | $40.00 | $21.09−$18.91 | $17.99−$22.01 | $52.00+$12.00 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 4 of 5 |
| Key difference | — | Vitamin C | Cyclomethicone | Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 |
| Irritancy | Medium | 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 9 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4
- 5Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6
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