Versed

Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum.

Retinoids

About this product

A lightweight retinal serum combining microencapsulated retinal and bakuchiol to address fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, and dark spots.

Full ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Silica, Retinol, Bakuchiol, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Glycerin, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carica Papaya Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Opuntia Vulgaris Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Seed Oil, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex (Ci 75810), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Trehalose, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Oleate, Glucose, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Maltodextrin, Lecithin, Polysorbate 20, Hexylene Glycol

Guru Score

84%

Yay

4 experts · Moderate agreement

What they liked

Fast-absorbing, minimal feel on skin
Encapsulated retinal reduces irritation risk
Fragrance-free

What they flagged

Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

What the gurus are saying

The lightweight, fast-absorbing feel is what gurus keep coming back to; it doesn't leave skin feeling heavy, greasy, or shiny, so it's easy to layer into other products. The microencapsulated retinal formula is gentle enough for people just starting with retinoids, and those with oily skin get extra protection from irritation. Combined with bakuchiol, aloe, and rose hip oil, it delivers anti-aging benefits without the harshness that makes many hesitant about retinoids.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take July 2026

Best for

Sensitive skin Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Retinoid Hyaluronic acidVitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google →

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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.

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No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"They say it's a retinol serum without the potential for irritation, made for aging, dullness, dark spots, problematic skin, and acne and clogged pores. In addition to the bakuchiol and retinol it contains aloe, vitamin E, rose hip oil, and sea buckthorn oil. I really enjoy this stuff, no scent to it and still pretty affordable."

Dr. Jenny Liu

323k subs

✓Yay

"From Versed, their Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum is great because I love the fact that it is fast absorbing. It leaves minimal feel on your skin like you don't feel like you put anything on your skin, so it doesn't leave your skin feeling heavy, greasy, or add to that shine. [...] It also contains encapsulated [retinal] that's very gentle, so even if you have oily skin, you may be a little bit more protected from getting irritation."

All 2 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu

Oily Skincare, tips from a dermatologist | Dr. Jenny Liu

Dermatologist Reviews VERSED Skincare | Dr. Jenny Liu

"It retails for $22. It's got an encapsulated retinol which enhances the delivery, reduces irritation, and improves stability. It contains 0.03 percent, so a lower concentration, but that doesn't mean it's not effective. It's great for those with sensitive skin or just starting off. It also contains bacoccio and other plant-derived extracts that may work together to improve the signs of aging and enhance and support the skin barrier. I love the fact that this is lightweight and fast-absorbing."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"The Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum, that is a good one too"

All 2 takes from Doctorly

Saturday Skincare Live!

"The Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum, that is a good one too"

Black Dots on the Nose? Here's How To Treat Sebaceous Filaments

"I've been trying out and using this Versed Gentle Retinol Serum. It's another super lightweight retinol with bakuchiol, so it's kind of like that gel lotion hybrid."

Sincerely Miss Ash

195k subs

✓Yay

"I really like their gentle Retinal Serum. If you're new to retinol and you're looking for something quite gentle on the skin, this would be a great intro retinol to introduce into your nighttime skincare routine. When I used it [...] on my neck, I honestly did not see any irritation whatsoever. Of course, we are all different when it comes to retinol and we can experience irritation and dryness depending on the formulation and how sensitive our skin is."

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

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

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum?

A lightweight retinal serum combining microencapsulated retinal and bakuchiol to address fine lines, wrinkles, dullness, and dark spots.

Is Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum worth it?

Yes. All 4 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 84%.

What is Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum's Guru Score?

Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinal Serum holds a Guru Score of 84%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.