
About this product
A nightly retinoid cream combining a proprietary retinoid with alpha hydroxy acids (lactic and glycolic acid) designed to address fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture while minimizing irritation.
Full ingredients
Aqua/Water, Ammonium Lactate, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Persea Gratissima Oil/Avocado Oil, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Niacinamide, Argilla/Magnesium Aluminium Silicate, Ethoxydiglycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Salicylic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Silica, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Oleate, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Squalane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate
Guru Score
Yay
14 experts · Strong agreementWhat they liked
What they flagged
What the gurus are saying
Dermatologists who reviewed this consistently praise it as one of the most effective non-prescription retinoids available, with research showing it performs comparably to tretinoin 0.025% for fine lines and wrinkles but without the typical irritation, dryness, and peeling that make prescription retinoids hard to stick with. The pairing of retinoid with AHAs in a single product means people get both cell turnover and gentle exfoliation, plus additional benefits from niacinamide, peptides, and ceramides. The main trade-off is price; experts suggest starting slowly (twice weekly) if someone has sensitive skin, using just a pea-sized amount per application, and moisturizing over it.
Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
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 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
Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.
Source: DermNet
A nightly retinoid cream combining a proprietary retinoid with alpha hydroxy acids (lactic and glycolic acid) designed to address fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture while minimizing irritation.
Mostly yes. 12 of the 14 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 82%.
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream holds a Guru Score of 82%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 14 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream is generally suited to sensitive skin and mature skin.
Lower-priced moisturizers the gurus still rate highly, versus this luxury pick.
See how they stack up →Other products the same gurus have weighed in on, plus more from this brand and category.
Compare side by side →Stories where our editors dug into this product or its brand.
A weekly read of the takes worth catching up on: the raves, the splits, the ones the gurus won't shut up about. Free, no spam, unsubscribe whenever.
Subscribe to the digest