PRODUCT REVIEW
ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener 1%
Buy from Amazon US $64.80
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Price as of 11/7/2024 4:50 GMT.
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Product summary
What can the product work for?
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Named one of The 25 Most Effective Acne Scar Treatments Dermatologists Swear By .
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: 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
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
A retinol -based solution clinically proven to rapidly improve the appearance of uneven skin tone for a brighter, clearer and smoother complexion.
acetyl glucosamine
0.4% -
0.65%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
glutathione
0.25% -
0.45%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: 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
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Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Breaks up existing pigmentation and increases cell turnover to rapidly brighten and even skin tone
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: 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
acetyl glucosamine
0.4% -
0.65%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
MEDIUM
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Improves skin texture + dryness and eliminates visible discoloration for brighter + smoother looking skin
zea mays oil
0.2% -
0.35%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
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
glutathione
0.25% -
0.45%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
glycerin
3.1% -
3.7%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
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Anti-aging
acetyl glucosamine
0.4% -
0.65%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: 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
ascorbyl glucoside
0.7% -
1%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Insufficient!
A vitamin C derivative that is more stable but less potent than pure form of vitamin C. Has a potential to boost collagen production, nutralise free radicals and reduce hyperpigmentation, but the required concentration is likely to be much higher than for the pure form of vitamin C, limiting the ingredient's effectiveness in products
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Anti-oxidation
glutathione
0.25% -
0.45%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: HIGH
A peptide that can help neutralize free radicals in skin and reduce melanin production resulting in skin lightening effect and reduction in hyperpigmentation. It can also help attract moisture to the upper layer of the skin
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness: 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
pelargonium graveolens flower oil
0.25% -
0.45%
Irritation risk:
Concentration: Effectiveness:
LOW
An essential oil. Can be irritating. Can become an allergen with oxidation
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Honesty check
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Exfoliation | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score:
100/100.
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Can it cause trouble?
- Overall product irritation risk
- Acne & comedogenic risk ingredients: 2
Potential irritants
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone,
Mattifying,
Exfoliation,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-blemish
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
alcohol
0.3% -
0.55%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Antibacterial
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
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Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.7% -
2.1%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
zea mays oil
0.2% -
0.35%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Cleansing
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
User reviews (0)
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77%
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| Irritancy | IRRITANCY
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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HIGH
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HIGH
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HIGH
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HIGH
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MEDIUM
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MEDIUM
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Ingredients & concentrations
All ingredients
Key Actives
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone,
Mattifying,
Exfoliation,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-blemish
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
acetyl glucosamine
0.4% -
0.65%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone,
Moisturizing,
Exfoliation
An effective moisturizing ingredient that also has been shown to be effective in evening out the skin tone and reducing hyperpigmentation. It can help somewhat reduce wrinkles in skin
Show more
Potential irritants
retinol
0.5% -
0.75%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Anti-aging,
Evens skin tone,
Mattifying,
Exfoliation,
Anti-oxidation,
Anti-blemish
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
alcohol
0.3% -
0.55%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Antibacterial
Can be drying and contribute to skin irritation. Used in formulars to dissolve other ingredients, create a thinner product consistency or for its antibacterial properties
Show more
Comodogenic ingredients
cetearyl alcohol
1.7% -
2.1%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: Medium
Works for:
Cleansing,
Moisturizing
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
zea mays oil
0.2% -
0.35%
Irritation risk: Comedogenicity: High
Works for:
Moisturizing,
Cleansing
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
All ingredients
cetearyl isononanoate
4.5% -
5.5%
Irritation risk:
An emollient that softens the skin and helps prevent moisture loss.
cyclopentasiloxane
4.4% -
5.4%
Irritation risk:
Works for:
Mattifying,
Moisturizing
A silicone that helps improve the product texture and spreadability. Can absorb oil creating a short-term mattifying effect on the skin
Show more
Ingredient list view
Water, Cetearyl isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Prunus amygdalus dulcis oleosomes, Cyclohexasiloxane, Cetearyl alcohol, Steareth-20, Cetyl alcohol, Pentylene glycol, Ascorbyl glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Propylheptyl caprylate, Acetyl glucosamine, Cetearyl glucoside, Lecithin, Acrylamide/ammonium acrylate copolymer, Alcohol, 1,2-hexanediol, Caprylyl glycol, Carbomer, Glutathione, Nylon-12, Polysorbate 80, Sodium hydroxide, Polyisobutene, Ascorbyl palmitate, Tocopheryl acetate, Disodium edta, Maltodextrin, Prunus armeniaca kernel oil, Lavandula angustifolia oil, Stachys officinalis flower/leaf/stem extract, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil, Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Coumarin, Citronellol, Citral, Zea mays oil, Soy isoflavones, Beta-carotene, Bht, Bha, Potassium sorbate, Sodium metabisulfite, Sodium sulfite
Sources
- Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions
- The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health
- Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives
- Retinoids in the treatment of skin aging: an overview of clinical efficacy and safety
- Improvement of naturally aged skin with vitamin A (retinol)
- A comparative study of the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on histological, molecular, and clinical properties of human skin
- The effect of N-acetyl-glucosamine on stratum corneum desquamation and water content in human skin
- Glucosamine: an ingredient with skin and other benefits
- Genomic expression changes induced by topical N-acetyl glucosamine in skin equivalent cultures in vitro
- Incorporation of D-(^H)glucosamine into normal and psoriatic epidermal glycoconjugates
- Reduction in the appearance of facial hyperpigmentation by topical N-acetyl glucosamine
- The influence of alkane chain length on the skin irritation potential of 1,2-alkanediols
- Glutathione as a skin whitening agent: Facts, myths, evidence and controversies
- Glutathione for skin lightening: a regnant myth or evidence-based verity?
- Glutathione for skin lightening for dermatologists and cosmetologists
- Final report of the cosmetic ingredient review expert panel on the safety assessment of Polyisobutene and Hydrogenated Polyisobutene as used in cosmetics
- Fragrance Compound Geraniol Forms Contact Allergens on Air Exposure. Identification and Quantification of Oxidation Products and Effect on Skin Sensitization
- Annex I: Clinical evidence regarding sensitisation to individual fragrance chemicals and to natural extracts
- Content of fatty acids in corn (Zea mays L.) oil from Ecuador