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e.l.f.

Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum.

e.l.f. Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum
Retinoids

About this product

A lightweight night serum combining retinal and Granactive Retinoid with antioxidants and peptides, designed to support skin renewal for those new to retinoids.

Best for

Sensitive skinMature skin
Retinoids

The Guru Index verdict

81%

Approved

✓Approved · 81%
2Reviewers
2Approved
0Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

The gurus who reviewed it praise this as an excellent entry point into retinoids, especially for those with sensitive skin or anyone stepping up from peptides. The mix of retinal and Granactive Retinoid (hydroxypinacolone retinoate) is gentler than prescription actives while still delivering meaningful results, and the price point makes it worth trying. One thing to keep in mind: the active retinoid concentration is lower than the label suggests, so those easing in may want to start two or three times a week on the neck and chest first, then gradually work up as tolerance builds.
Synthesized from 2 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

RetinoidHyaluronic acidVitamin EPeptidesFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Water (Aqua), Propanediol, PEG-8, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Glycereth-26, Butylene Glycol, Diglycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Lecithin, Tromethamine, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acrylates/​C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Retinal, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract, Sea Water, Maltodextrin, Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate, Hydrolyzed Algin, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Sucrose, Carbomer, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Where to buy

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Dr Alexis Stephens
Dr Alexis Stephens
579k subs
✓Approved
"The e.l.f. Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum is easily one of the most affordable, high-quality product launches of the year. It's formulated with 0.0% retinal, which is retinaldehyde, plus 1% Granactive Retinoid, antioxidants, and peptides."
Dr. Shereene Idriss
Dr. Shereene Idriss
1.71M subs · 50k devotees
✓Approved
"e.l.f. has their Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum which is a mix of Granactive Retinoid, also known as hydroxypinacolone retinoate, which is what you find in Caroline Hirons' retinoid as well as 0.06% retinal and other antioxidants. It's a mix of various different types of retinols on the market. It has a very very light scent to it but nothing crazy or repulsive. It is great for people who are beginners who want to actually grow beyond peptides into the retinol world but cannot fully tolerate stronger retinol or even a prescription active retinoid. Hydroxypinacolone retinoate tends to be gentler on the skin while supposedly delivering as effective results or close to effective results as an active form, which is the prescription. I'd put it on your neck and chest first and start low and go slow, maybe two or three times a week at most, and work your way up from there."
All 2 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss
Budget-Friendly Drugstore Skincare Favorites from a Dermatologist! | Dr. Shereene Idriss
"e.l.f. has their Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum which is a mix of Granactive Retinoid, also known as hydroxypinacolone retinoate, which is what you find in Caroline Hirons' retinoid as well as 0.06% retinal and other antioxidants. It's a mix of various different types of retinols on the market. It has a very very light scent to it but nothing crazy or repulsive. It is great for people who are beginners who want to actually grow beyond peptides into the retinol world but cannot fully tolerate stronger retinol or even a prescription active retinoid. Hydroxypinacolone retinoate tends to be gentler on the skin while supposedly delivering as effective results or close to effective results as an active form, which is the prescription. I'd put it on your neck and chest first and start low and go slow, maybe two or three times a week at most, and work your way up from there."
Best Drugstore Anti-Aging Budget Friendly Skincare Under $35! | Dr. Shereene Idriss
"I really do like their Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum. There is some misleading marketing actually. They say one percent Gran active retinoid but one percent active retinoid is like point one percent hydroxypinacolone retinoate. Hydroxypinacolone retinoate is the cousin of tretinoin, the active form of retinol, so it's not exactly one percent, it is 0.1 percent. It's a great beginner's retinol, there's nothing wrong with it. It comes in a pump, it has a very bright orange color to it, that's all you really need for your whole face, and at 22 bucks you might as well give it a try and see if you can tolerate it, especially if you're very sensitive. It's a good one to start with."
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