OMG, so the name of this serum bugs me. Phyto-Retinol? It’s just so misleading. There is no retinol in this serum, and the main active ingredient is Bakuchiol in a squalane formula that’s ultra-moisturizing. Now, Bakuchiol has been studied a bit and the evidence suggests that 1% of a bakuchiol formula can have the same effect as retinol for reducing wrinkles if used twice a day.
That’s great news for people who find that retinol is too harsh for their skin because Bakuchiol is more gentle and it’s a vegan product. The problem is that bakuchiol doesn’t have the same effects as retinol on acne and skin tone, and so to use the name Phyto-Retinol in the name of a product that doesn’t have retinol in it is so misleading. It’s capitalizing on the popularity of retinol without actually including that ingredient in the formula.
They should just change the name because this is actually a nice serum, and I loved using it. I love squalane even on my oily skin because it prevents it from getting dry. I also love bakuchiol because it makes my skin so bouncy. I put this serum on at night and then woke up to brighter bouncy skin every single day that I used it. It worked great and I would recommend it for every skin type.
Available at Sephora, $95.
