The Better Skin Co. Retinol Remedy

Can it work? Irritants Ingredient list Sources Similar products Q&A Price comparison

WORKS FOR

Anti-aging
Evens skin tone
Anti-oxidation
Exfoliation
Moisturizing
Anti-blemish
+2 more

KEY INGREDIENTS

Retinoid, derivative of vitamin A
Retinoid. Derivative of vitamin A.
panthenol
glycerin
Sunflower seed oil
persea gratissima oil
camellia sinensis leaf extract
sesamum indicum seed oil
coco-caprylate
diheptyl succinate
+6 more

IRRITANCY

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Price comparison

The better skin co

$38.00

In stock

Retinol Remedy

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Can the product deliver on its promises?

See a mistake?

Promise

What does the product description say?

"• 2oz / For All Skin Types • Assist in stimulating the production of new skin cells (stimulating) • Assist in reducing the appearance of dark spots (renewing) • Assist in reducing the appearance of fine lines • TSA approved for travel • Retinol."

The better skin co

WIMJ summary for anti-aging

This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains retinol.

These ingredients in the product can also be helpful, even though there is less evidence for their effectiveness: retinyl palmitate.

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.

Ingredient	Effectiveness	Concentration	Irritancy
retinol	HIGH
retinyl palmitate	MEDIUM
camellia sinensis leaf extract	LOW

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Promise

What does the product description say?

The better skin co

WIMJ summary for evens skin tone

This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol.

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually can help even out the skin tone: retinyl palmitate.

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.

Ingredient	Effectiveness	Concentration	Irritancy
retinol	HIGH
retinyl palmitate	MEDIUM
camellia sinensis leaf extract	LOW

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WIMJ summary for anti-blemish

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.

The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: retinyl palmitate

Ingredient	Effectiveness	Concentration	Irritancy
retinol	HIGH
retinyl palmitate	MEDIUM
camellia sinensis leaf extract	LOW

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WIMJ summary for exfoliation

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.

Ingredient	Effectiveness	Concentration	Irritancy
retinol	HIGH
retinyl palmitate	LOW

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WIMJ summary for moisturizing

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: helianthus annuus seed oil, persea gratissima oil.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: panthenol

Ingredient	Effectiveness	Concentration	Irritancy
persea gratissima oil	HIGH
panthenol	HIGH
sesamum indicum seed oil	HIGH

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WIMJ summary for anti-oxidation

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).

The following ingredients - camellia sinensis leaf extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.

Ingredient	Effectiveness	Concentration	Irritancy
retinol	HIGH
camellia sinensis leaf extract	MEDIUM
calendula officinalis flower extract	LOW

How honest is this product?

Promise	Can it deliver?
Anti-aging
Evens skin tone
Anti-oxidation
Exfoliation
Moisturizing
Anti-blemish

Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.

Potential irritants

IRRITANCY

HIGH

Ingredient	Irritancy	Skin Benefit
coco-caprylate
retinyl palmitate
cucumis sativus fruit extract

Ingredients by volume

Ingredient	Estimated concentration
water Plain old water	45% - 55%
glycerin One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant	4.6% - 5.6%
diheptyl succinate Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice product finish on the skin	4.1% - 5.1%
unknown The ingredient is not recognized	TBC
sebacic acid	3.1% - 3.7%
unknown The ingredient is not recognized	TBC
coco-caprylate An emollient that softens skin and creates a nice product texture	2.4% - 2.9%
camellia sinensis leaf extract Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation	1.9% - 2.3%
xanthan gum Used to create a thicker product consistency	1.6% - 1.9%
retinyl palmitate Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect	1.4% - 1.7%
cucumis sativus fruit extract Might be somewhat helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals but its typical concentration in a product is too low for having an effect	1.1% - 1.4%
chamomilla recutita flower extract Plant extract that can have healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a potential allergen and can be irritating	0.9% - 1.1%
calendula officinalis flower extract A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritating	0.6% - 0.95%
persea gratissima oil An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function	0.6% - 0.9%
sesamum indicum seed oil A good moisturizing plant oil. Due to the high linoleic acid content, it helps soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss and support skin barrier function	0.5% - 0.8%
helianthus annuus seed oil 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	0.5% - 0.75%
panthenol Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function	0.4% - 0.65%
glyceryl stearate An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together	0.5% - 0.7%
potassium cetyl phosphate Helps oil and water mix together	0.45% - 0.65%
glyceryl stearate citrate Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin	0.4% - 0.6%
tocopheryl acetate 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.	0.3% - 0.6%
phenoxyethanol A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products	0.3% - 0.55%
ethylhexylglycerin A preservative	0.3% - 0.5%
water Plain old water	0.25% - 0.5%
glycerin One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant	0.3% - 0.55%
diheptyl succinate Helps to soften the upper layer of the skin and creates a nice product finish on the skin	0.3% - 0.5%
unknown The ingredient is not recognized	TBC
sebacic acid	0.25% - 0.5%
unknown The ingredient is not recognized	TBC
coco-caprylate An emollient that softens skin and creates a nice product texture	0.3% - 0.55%
camellia sinensis leaf extract Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation	0.25% - 0.5%
xanthan gum Used to create a thicker product consistency	0.25% - 0.5%
retinyl palmitate Three steps removed from the active form of vitamin A - retinoic acid. To have an effect in the skin, it first needs to be converted twice to become the retinoic acid. This means it is less potent than retinol, but could also be less irritating. Once converted to the retinoic acid in the skin, it helps against all signs of aging, improves skin cell turnover and helps fight blemishes and clogged pores. However, in many cosmetic formulations, it is used in a concentration that is too low to have the full effect	0.25% - 0.4%
cucumis sativus fruit extract Might be somewhat helpful in reducing hyperpigmentation and neutralizing free radicals but its typical concentration in a product is too low for having an effect	0.25% - 0.5%
chamomilla recutita flower extract Plant extract that can have healing and anti-inflammatory properties. It is a potential allergen and can be irritating	0.25% - 0.45%
calendula officinalis flower extract A plant extract that has some anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Can be irritating	0.2% - 0.4%
persea gratissima oil An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function	0.3% - 0.55%
sesamum indicum seed oil A good moisturizing plant oil. Due to the high linoleic acid content, it helps soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss and support skin barrier function	0.25% - 0.5%
helianthus annuus seed oil 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	0.25% - 0.5%
panthenol Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help improve skin barrier function	0.2% - 0.4%
glyceryl stearate An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together	0.25% - 0.5%
potassium cetyl phosphate Helps oil and water mix together	0.2% - 0.35%
glyceryl stearate citrate Helps oil and water mix together while softening the upper layer of the skin	0.2% - 0.35%
tocopheryl acetate 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.	0.15% - 0.3%
phenoxyethanol A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products	0.15% - 0.3%
ethylhexylglycerin A preservative	0.1% - 0.15%
retinol 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	0.05% Declared
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