Dreamwave 2% Bio-Retinoid Complex Renewal Serum.

"This is a product using retinal, which converts into retinoic acid, along with tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and other antioxidants. It does have essential oils, but I appreciate that they disclosed that, since brands don't actually have to disclose essential oils the way they have to disclose allergens, and I have specific allergies to essential oils, so I know I can use this. I haven't used retinal on my face in a long time, I use adapalene and now point one percent retinal, so I'm going to try this out on my neck first since I've never been comfortable using adapalene there, my neck is too sensitive. This could be a good solution for me, and I really appreciate that this is a twist open and close system, that would prevent so many problems if more products had this."

"Kinship uses a 2% bio-retinoid complex. I think that's how they got away by using this word, by calling it a complex, but bio-retinoid is trademarked by Ren, so I don't know how they're able to use it. But it's also even more misleading because then you think 2%, so strong, but no, it's a complex of nothingness because bio-retinoid means nothing. It is a patent-pending bio-retinoid from microalgae Chlorella vulgaris that mimics the benefits of retinol without causing irritation because it's not necessarily a retinoid. The complex also includes, though, retinal, so they've married a retinal, which is stronger than a retinol, to this quote-unquote bio-retinoid. So the retinal might irritate your skin, but the good news is the retinal is so low on the ingredient list that it's probably not at a high percentage at all and it's probably put in there for a marketing claim. Chlorella vulgaris has some benefits that have been shown to improve with smoothing fine lines and increasing your overall skin appearance. If anything there's going to be some antioxidant properties to this, and if you cannot tolerate vitamin C it might be a good alternative."