SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3 Refining Night Treatment
Works for
Anti-agingRetinolWorks well
“Improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, pores, and blemishes”
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.
ExfoliationRetinolWorks well
“Powered by encapsulated retinol and botanical extracts, this nighttime formula exfoliates skin to reduce the appearance of blemishes while also alleviating irritation and inflammation.”
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.
Anti-blemishRetinolWorks well
“Improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, pores, and blemishes”
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.
Evens skin toneRetinolWorks well
“Improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, pores, and blemishes”
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 · Retinol, BisabololWorks well
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).
MoisturizingSide benefit the brand mentions · Dimethicone, Isopropyl myristate + 3 moreWorks
“Concentrated facial cream with pure retinol improves the appearance of visible signs of aging and pores while minimizing breakouts SKIN TYPES.”
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: dimethicone, dimethiconol.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy3 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Retinol + 1 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
Comedogenic1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale1 flagged
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Propanediol~4.3–6.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolDimethicone~3.5–5.3%
- 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 DimethiconeCetearyl ethylhexanoate~2.7–4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Cetearyl ethylhexanoateAlcohol denat.~2.1–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Dipropylene glycol~1.6–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to dissolve other ingredients in a formulation. Slows down the rate of product drying
More about Dipropylene glycolAmmonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate~1.4–2.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurateHydrogenated lecithin~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps to retain moisture by creating a protective barrier on the skin. Rich in fatty acids. Improves product texture and helps with the penetration of other ingredients.
More about Hydrogenated lecithinAllyl methacrylates crosspolymer~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to stabilize product formulations
More about Allyl methacrylates crosspolymerPhenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolCaprylyl glycol~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolIsopropyl myristate~0.45–1.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
An emollient that helps soften the skin. Could be comedogenic
More about Isopropyl myristateRetinol~0.3–0.75%
- 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 RetinolPolysorbate 20~0.2–0.8%
Sodium citrate~0.15–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps to control the skin's pH level. Maintains the skin's natural film of amino-lactic acids and oils. Helps to preserve products
More about Sodium citrateBoswellia serrata resin extract~0.15–0.55%
Dimethiconol~0.15–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that makes products more spreadable and keeps skin smooth. Helps to add gloss to skin and may visually fill in fine lines/wrinkles for short time
More about DimethiconolTrisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate~0.1–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to improve stability of the formulation
More about Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinateBisabolol~0.05–0.2%
- 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 BisabololCitric acid~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidBht~0.05–0.1%
Propyl gallate~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve product formulations and can mask the smell of other ingredients in a product
More about Propyl gallateIngredient list view
Water, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl ethylhexanoate, Alcohol denat., Dipropylene glycol, Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, Hydrogenated lecithin, Allyl methacrylates crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Isopropyl myristate, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Sodium citrate, Boswellia serrata resin extract, Dimethiconol, Trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, Bisabolol, Citric acid, Bht, Propyl gallate
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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.
| SkinCeuticalsRetinol 0.3 Refining Night TreatmentYOUR PRODUCT | CeraVeRetinol Face Serum For Post-Acne Marks | No7Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate | Kate Somerville+Retinol Vita C Power Serum Firming + Brightening Treatment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 100% | 94% | 91% |
| Price | $80.00 | $16.44−$63.56 | $42.99−$37.01 | $107.10+$27.10 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Key difference | — | Niacinamide | Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester | Vitamin C |
| Irritancy | High | Medium | Medium | High |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Serum with PeptidesSkin Generics Anti-Aging Anti-Aging Serum Retinol 20% Active Complex
Product summary
"SkinCeuticals - Retinol 0.3 Refining Night Treatment" is effective for: Anti-aging, Exfoliation, Evens skin tone and Anti-blemish
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- this product contains an effective form of Retinoids (vitamin A): retinol 0.30% - 0.75%. Retinoids are potent multitasking actives. They work to improve and prevent early signs of aging, reduce hyperpigmentation (age spots and post-acne marks), and prevent inflamed blemishes and clogged pores. The downside of Retinoids is that they can be irritating. If you are not already using a Retinoid in your routine, it is best to start slowly and apply the Retinoid product only a few times per week. If your skin tolerates it well, you can gradually increase the frequency to daily.
Price
The product retails for 70.00$ in the United States and for 57.99£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 8 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 3
- 4Safety Assessment of Cross-Linked Alkyl Acrylates as Used in Cosmeticsjournals.sagepub.com
- 5
- 6Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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