Retrouvé Dynamic Nourishing Face Cream

"Retrouvé - Dynamic Nourishing Face Cream" has a good moisturizing formula. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Retrouvé - Dynamic Nourishing Face Cream ticks this box. Panthenol, glycerin and hydrolyzed algin in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Emollients in this formulation (ceramide 2, carthamus tinctorius seed oil, squalane, c12-15 alkyl benzoate and cetyl alcohol) help to reduce the moisture loss from the skin. They also soften the skin surface and relieve the feeling of dryness and tightness.

Ingredient callouts

• this moisturizer includes a form of retinoids (vitamin A) - retinyl palmitate 0.55% - 0.80% and retinyl palmitate 1.50% - 1.90%, but this type of vitamin A is not very effective. It could in theory help with fine lines and wrinkles, but the effect is most likely minimal.
• As a plus, this moisturizer also contains ceramides (ceramide 2 0.65% - 0.95%). Ceramides are a type of lipids that our skin produces itself. They are a building block of the skin's barrier. Ceramides used in skincare are synthetic or extracted from plants. They work well for softening the skin surface and "patch holes" in the skin's barrier.
• We like that this moisturizer contains peptides (palmitoyl oligopeptide 0.60% - 0.95% and palmitoyl oligopeptide 2.00% - 2.50%). There are many different kind of peptides and they are naturally present in our skin. They all are a combination of amino-acids. Some of them work as natural anti-biotics, promote wound-healing and production of collagen. The science is still not settled on how effective peptides in skincare are, but it is very likely that they have a benefit. Peptides 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.
• This formulation also includes panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) at about 0.60% - 0.90% concentration. In this concentration, panthenol works effectively to improve the skin barrier and reduce inflammation.

Irritation risk

This formulation includes some common irritants, including ingredients that do not provide a benefit for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be high. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.