Work in the beauty industry long enough and you’ll hear one thing repeatedly: Use retinol. The benefits are unmatched. Retinol smooths fine lines and wrinkles, brightens, plumps and helps to reduce blemishes, to name a select few. Retinol addresses so many signs of aging at once, it’s no wonder that it’s a top product dermatologists and aestheticians recommend as we age. Still, it has the potential to cause irritation, and the risk of inflamed, flaky skin and redness had me hesitant.
When it comes to my skin, my main issue is dryness that can cause an uncomfortable tightness if not hydrated properly. I’ve also noticed a rougher texture as of late, and fine lines are more apparent than ever. (Hello, mid-30s.) I’ve been on the hunt for a retinol serum that can tackle these concerns, while preserving the skin’s moisture barrier.
Serendipitously this past fall, one of America’s favorite Friends, loyal Dermalogica user of two decades and current Dermalogica partner Courteney Cox shared how much she loves the brand’s Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum ($92) because “it smooths skin texture and evens [her] skin tone without irritation.” Intrigued, I decided to give it a try.
Dermalogica Retinol Serum: Tested + Revewied
Dermalogica’s Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum has a creamy consistency, similar to a lightweight moisturizer. A thin layer absorbs into skin immediately with no greasy residue. A pea-sized amount is all I needed to cover my entire face. To avoid the risk of irritation as much as possible, I started slow: once the first week, followed by two times the next week, and upping my daily SPF use. The brand claims it’s gentle enough to use nightly, but I’ll continue to slowly build up my tolerance.
This serum features a 3.5% Retinoid Complex and squalene that minimizes the appearance of pores, smooths texture, evens tone and reverses the look of wrinkles, per the brand. In a clinical study, participants saw improvement in these four signs of aging in two weeks. After just about 14 days of using Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum, I see subtle, but promising improvements: smaller pores and a brighter, more even-toned complexion. A (pleasantly) surprising result is how soft my skin is the morning after. Most importantly, I’ve experienced zero redness, flaking or additional dryness. My skin looks better after every use and I eagerly look forward to the nights I’m due for a dose.
At $92, this serum is a bit of an investment, but because you only need a small amount for each use, it’s a worthwhile one. Slowly but surely Dermalogica’s Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum is improving the look and feel of my skin. Grab this gentle, yet high-performing retinol at dermalogica.com.
