Mary&May

Mary&May Spicule Retinol PDRN Cream.

Retinoids

About this product

A Korean retinol cream combining nano liposome retinol with PDRN, centella asiatica, panthenol, shea butter and ceramides.

Full ingredients

Aqua(Water), Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Polypropylsilsesquioxane, C14-22 Alcohols, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Vinyl Dimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, C12- 20 Alkyl Glucoside, Arginine, Phytosteryl/Behenyl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Cholesterol, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Sponge, Polyisobutene, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Retinol, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Adenosine, Dextrin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lauryl Glucoside

Guru Score

69%

Mixed

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What they liked

A little goes a long way
Good introductory retinol before tretinoin
Moisturizer and retinol combined

What they flagged

Very strong smell

What the gurus are saying

This cream earns praise as a gentle introductory retinol that doubles as a moisturizer, with a texture where a little goes a long way. However, gurus note it has a very strong smell that may be off-putting. Those hesitant about prescription retinoids or looking to dip into retinol before moving to tretinoin may find this a good starting point, though you might want to patch-test first if you're sensitive to fragrance.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take August 2026

Best for

Dry skin Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsCream

Key actives

Retinoid Niacinamide Hyaluronic acidVitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Hyram

4.34M subs

~Yay

"This being the very first product I ever tried from Mary & May, it's a great one. It has [...] nano liposome retinol, plus centella asiatica, PDRN, panthenol, shea butter and ceramides. A little bit goes a long way, but I feel like it's a great introductory retinol if you're a little bit nervous about trying US formulas, or especially before you veer into tretinoin or prescription retinoids."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

~Nay

"I thought I should get a big bottle of that and try it out. Sadly, this one has a very strong smell. [...] It's got rose water, [...] retinol bakuchiol, which I love, but it's got a strong rose scent to it. It's got raspberry leaf, vanilla, [...] hydroxy cinnamon. Yeah, it's got a lot of different fragrance in it. [...] The actual smell of it was gross. And I have a lot of other retinoids that I like that don't have any fragrance in it. So this just won't be in my routine."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Mary&May Spicule Retinol PDRN Cream?

A Korean retinol cream combining nano liposome retinol with PDRN, centella asiatica, panthenol, shea butter and ceramides.

Is Mary&May Spicule Retinol PDRN Cream worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 69%.

What is Mary&May Spicule Retinol PDRN Cream's Guru Score?

Mary&May Spicule Retinol PDRN Cream holds a Guru Score of 69%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.