Retinol is one of the most powerful ingredients in the skin-care toolkit, but not all are created equal. It takes an incredibly crafted formula to ensure your skin gets all the acne-reducing, fine line-minimizing goodness with none of the irritation that retinol can cause. And NewBeauty readers agree, Obagi Medical’s Retinol .5 ($79) delivers in spades, leaving skin feeling soft, plump and glassy.
Obagi Retinol .5: The Details
With over 35 years of experience creating cutting-edge skin care, Obagi Medical delivers medical-grade formulas designed to address signs of aging and hyperpigmentation. In its hands, retinol goes from being a superstar ingredient with a tendency towards drying out and irritating skin to a gentle and well-tolerated way to boost skin cell turnover. The Retinol .5 provides the perfect level of the ingredient for beginners and wraps it in hydrating jojoba oil and shea butter to soothe and protect skin.
Readers Say Obagi’s Retinol .5 Is ‘Transformative’
Thanks to our BeautyEngine data, we can learn more about your favorite skin-care products. According to our research, over 400 readers currently use an Obagi product in their routine, and another 400 are planning to pick up an Obagi product in the near future. And with good reason!
“This one product has shown the most improvements in my skin,” writes Colleen M. of the Retinol .5. “I use the complete skin-care line, and my skin looks like glass now with the retinol 0.5.” This retinol formulation was a clear favorite among NewBeauty readers, with Leslie P. calling the results “transformative,” and Brandy D. noting that she plans “on continuing to incorporate this product into my skin-care routine for the foreseeable future.”
It wasn’t just the noticeable results of this formula that caught readers’ attention, but also the gentle way it treated their skin. “I was surprised how effective their retinol is without the severe dryness or irritation [that] other products and prescriptions give me,” explains Carrie P. “It works like [a] prescription but goes on smoothly and is just as effective for my skin.”
“This didn’t dry out my skin like some retinol can,” adds Wendy N. “By morning, my skin did look plumper and lines seemed less intense, giving me some visible results in just one night.”
