So after 39 years of life I finally decided to take in retinol to my skincare routine, a little bit late but oh well better late than never. After a chunk of research I decided to start low with this product. I started with once a week for 2w, then twice a week on the third week, 3 times on the week followed and finally got to 4 times a week in a month. First night using it, nothing happened. It started to give me lil breakout here and there (nothing crazy) after the 3rd week but it went away quickly. Entering the 2nd month using this, I started to see more brightened youthful skin . My wrinkles were lil less noticeable, not so much with the hyperpigmentation though. I like the way I look when I wake up in the morning, boy...that feeling was good! My skin feels softer, bouncy, like I was back to my 20s. I got excited, I use this product religiously for another month. Texture: it’s a very simple formulation in squalane so texture is basically oil like, BUT it sinks to my skin almost immediately, slighty to no greasy feeling. I used 4 drops for my still damp face and neck on pm routine. Smell: fragrance free, smell slighty like old days ointment. Very affordable compare to other retinol products. A good starter for those who want to start their retinol journey and also those with sensitive skin due to its very simple formulation.

Description: Encapsulated retinol supports the renewal of the skin's surface and counteracts hyperpigmentation and pimple marks. Ingredients (selection): Water, Licorice Root Extract, Niacinamide, Ceramides, Retinol. It had been a while since I used a retinol so I was a little hesitant but after reading many reviews and seeing that this is a good beginner retinol, I purchased it for about 15€ online. The size is 30ml and it comes in a plastic bottle with a pump to prevent air or light making it unstable fast. You should still keep it outside sun exposure though The texture is lightweight and creamy, has a whitish to clear colour and what I was surprised about because I wasn't expecting anything, was the nice scent. It smells like peaches or apricots for me and goes away the moment I apply it on my skin. It leaves a natural finish and dries down matte My sensitive and dry skin tolerates it well. To be sure and prevent irritation, I did the sandwich method the first few times and switched to applying it like other serums fast. My current retinol routine consists of: double cleansing or milk cleanser, centella toner, aloe & cica serum, retinol on dried skin, snail mucin essence, moisturizer (two layers if needed). 2x a week or else my skin starts drying out So far I haven't noticed any drastic changes, I'm hoping my skin breaking out less comes from this. I can't say for sure though because it depends on all kinds of factors. I'm trying to look out for my diet better, using different skincare products and of course the female hormonal cycle plays a considerable part too.

Sweet Chef, Beet + Vitamin A Serum Shot A BEGINNER FRIENDLY RETINOL SERUM is what I would nickname this serum. It’s so friendly that it didn’t cause me any irritation at all. 🍡TEXTURE AND PACKAGING Texture is thick serum like but it absorbed rather fast. It has this naturally occured red color that disappears once rubbed/pat onto skin.Packed in frosted bottle with a dropper, just about average serum bottle would be. 🍡 PRICE & WHERE TO BUY 20 USD for 30ml/ 1 fl.oz which in my opinion is a little bit high for its low content of retinol but not crazy high priced either. It can be found at Target and their official website https://sweetchefskincare.com/collections/serum-shots/products/beet-vitamin-a-serum-shot-30ml 🍡 MY EXPERIENCE I stumbled upon this brand over my search for my next retinol serum to be on IG, I was excited to try their serum once I knew it’s a Glow Recipe’s sister company which means the same people behind GR actually made these products. As the retinol % was not mentioned either on the packaging nor their site, there’s no way to know how much retinol I put on my face with this one, but from ingredient wise I could tell it’s a low concentrate retinol. That being said, I didn’t expect it to give me a wow results nor irritation and I was right! I actually didn’t see much results using this 5 days a week for more than 6 months, except that I feel a lil bit brightening and plumping effect on me. The company reformulated this serum, I was lucky to try both old and new one. The major differences between the two are that the company took out fragrance and Tocopherol(vit E). I can see with the fragrance but not quite understand why they also take out vit E for the new formula, and didn’t see any added ingredients on new reformulation. BUT, even with change of the formula I didn’t feel any difference in texture and absorption except for the smell, it does contain Lavender oil (in new formula) but I could barely smell anything. 🍡RECOMMENDED FOR: all skin type and retinol beginners.

I’ve had my fair share as a beginner with retinol since I started about one year ago. I took my time with this star ingredient jumping around gentle retinol products for beginner for a whole year. I finally felt it’s time to up the game and I landed my choice with this one. It has been the best thing sitting on my skincare stash ever since I switched. This, my friend has done exactly everything it claims to do with fine lines, wrinkles, fading dark spots(not huge but I see it fading) and more lifted and comfortable skin. It feels like very lightweight oil on my skin, not greasy at all, it looks like oil but not heavy, it absorbed fast into my skin, just perfect. Note that I apply this on damp skin. I incorporate this into my routine slowly, started with once a week and work my way up to 4-5 times a week with no purging. 4 drops is more than enough for me though the instruction says 4-5, I found my skin reacts best with only 4. I don’t feel a need of exfoliating acids after I use this, even though I do still have them sometimes. One time tough, I got redness kinda irritated skin when I do exfoliate a day after retinol routine but it quickly calmed down with just 2 days of going back to basic routine. All and all, this is a product well done by Neutrogena, I recommend this for those who are ready to step up their retinol % from a beginner to more advanced user. Since I only need 4 drops per use, the bottle lasts me a long time, it’s been 5 months and I still have half a bottle left. Notable ingredient besides 0.5% pure Retinol: Vit E. Formulated with no mineral oil, that’s the best part. Packaging: 30ml / 1 fl.oz for $36,99 in dark grey coated glass with dropper.

Sensitive skin approved! My skin is extremely sensitive to Retinol and I was always looking for good product that will work for my skin. I still have to layer it with a moisturizer otherwise I get a rash on my face, but this serum gave me the best results so far

💋 I received this serum from @bzzagent and @elfcosmetics in exchange for my honest review. This is a fragrance-free retinoid serum that is infused with hyaluronic acid, peptides, and antioxidants. The texture is lightweight and accommodating for all skin types. I’d also like to mention that the price point (only $22!) is extraordinary. Seriously, there are similar formulations that cost 3-4 times more. Those new to retinoids can expect to see a reduction in fine lines, wrinkles, texture, break outs, and hyperpigmentation in as little as four weeks. Additional improvements will continue over time. This serum is an excellent for those looking to build up a tolerance before moving on to a prescription strength retinoid. I would also recommend this serum if you previously have had sensitivity issues with over-the-counter formulas and wish to give retinoids another try. Most people struggle to adapt to Retin-A and the ingredients in this serum minimize irritation while still being effective. The formula worked well on my oily, acne-prone skin, causing no breakouts, and leaving my face noticeably soft. Some of the amazing ingredients in this serum: - Granactive Retinoid (1%) Referred to as Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) on the ingredient list. It binds directly with the skin’s retinoic acid receptors (like Tretinoin!) but is proven to cause less redness and irritation that other Vitamin A derivatives. - Retinal (0.06%) Ideal for mature skin because it works more quickly to improve fine lines and increase cellular turnover than Retinol. It also is the only retinoid that possesses antibacterial properties. This vitamin A derivative was not seen in skincare formulas in the past because it was difficult to stabilize. - Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 & Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Both are synthetic peptides and are a part of the trademarked Matrixyl 3000 combo. They are known to reduce redness and inflammation, increase the amount of hyaluronic acid within the skin, stimulate collagen regeneration, and strengthen the skin barrier. - Bisabolol Derived from chamomile plant with anti-irritant, brightening, and moisturizing properties. - Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate Derived from licorice root and has antioxidant and brightening effects. It can improve the visibility of age spots and reduce hyperpigmentation.