Works for
Anti-agingRetinolWorks well
“Known for its unique ability to accelerate skin cell renewal, retinol helps to brighten your complexion, reduce visible signs of aging, tackle acne, and diminish breakouts 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.
Anti-blemishRetinol, Chitosan + 1 moreWorks well
“Known for its unique ability to accelerate skin cell renewal, retinol helps to brighten your complexion, reduce visible signs of aging, tackle acne, and diminish breakouts 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.
In addition, this product contains chitosan. It can help in reducing blemishes, even though it is less effective.
Evens skin toneRetinolWorks well
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.
MoisturizingSimmondsia chinensis seed oil, Triticum vulgare germ oil + 9 moreWorks
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:
sodium hyaluronate, chitosan.
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: simmondsia chinensis seed oil, glycine soja oil.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Chitosan, Retinol + 1 moreWorks 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).
The following ingredients - chitosan also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
ExfoliationNot advertised by the brand · Retinol, AllantoinWorks well
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.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy2 strong irritants: Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract, RetinolMedium risk
Comedogenic3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale3 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Aloe barbadensis leaf extract~4.8–7.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin
More about Aloe barbadensis leaf extractPolyglycerin-10~3.7–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract~2.8–4.2%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana leaf extractGanoderma atrum extract~2–3.1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Polysorbate 20~1.7–2.5%
Simmondsia chinensis seed oil~1.5–2.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
More about Simmondsia chinensis seed oilTriticum vulgare germ oil~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A good emoillient. Contains vitamin E which can help neutralise free radicals, however the oil is unstable. Avoid if you have gluten or wheat sensitivity (including food allergies).
More about Triticum vulgare germ oilPentylene glycol~1–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Used to preserve products, dissolve other ingredients and create a nice product texture
More about Pentylene glycolChitosan~0.8–1.25%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Inhibits acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin. Can help to reduce inflammation caused by bacteria. Helps neutralize free radicals in skin. Helps to attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about ChitosanCaprylyl glycol~0.5–1.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolAcrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer~0.45–1.05%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Maintains the texture of skincare products. Allows the product to spread evenly. Helps oil and water mix together
More about Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymerSodium hyaluronate~0.35–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
More about Sodium hyaluronatePhospholipids~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Emollients that are naturaly present in skin. In addition, they help water and oil mix together in the product
More about PhospholipidsRetinol~0.15–0.65%
- 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 RetinolAllantoin~0.15–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps calm down inflammation in skin and can help reduce itching. Helps to repair the skin barrier and keep skin hydrated
More about AllantoinHydroxyethylcellulose~0.15–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
More about HydroxyethylcellulosePotassium phosphate~0.1–0.4%
Chondrus crispus~0.05–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and create a nicer product consistency
More about Chondrus crispusGlycine soja oil~0.1–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A good emollient that helps soften the skin and helps repair its barrier function. It can clog pores if used in high concentrations.
More about Glycine soja oilCellulose gum~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create thicker product consistency and stabilize emulsions
More about Cellulose gumPhenoxyethanol~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolIngredient list view
Water, Aloe barbadensis leaf extract, Polyglycerin-10, Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract, Ganoderma atrum extract, Polysorbate 20, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Triticum vulgare germ oil, Pentylene glycol, Chitosan, Caprylyl glycol, Acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Sodium hyaluronate, Phospholipids, Retinol, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium phosphate, Chondrus crispus, Glycine soja oil, Cellulose gum, Phenoxyethanol
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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.
| ViolaSkin2.5 % Retinol Facial SerumYOUR PRODUCT | AsaraiSleepercell - Retinol Serum | Summer FridaysMidnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum | Natural ChoiceRetinol Serum For Face | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 82% | 82% | 82% |
| Price | — | — | $66.59 | — |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 8 | 4 of 8 | 0 of 8 |
| Key difference | — | Betaine | Niacinamide | Vitamin C |
| Irritancy | Medium | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: endota spa Age-Defying Retinol SerumL'Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum with 0.3% Pure Retinol
Product summary
"ViolaSkin - 2.5 % Retinol Facial Serum" is effective for: Anti-aging, Anti-blemish, Evens skin tone and Exfoliation
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 0.15% - 0.65%. 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.
- Humectants (sodium hyaluronate 0.35% - 0.85%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 11 studies and safety reviews.
- 1Chitosan against cutaneous pathogensncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5Hyaluronic acid: A key molecule in skin agingncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6
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