sciote advanced retinol serum

Our Rating: 2 stars

Reviewed by Valerie on January 23, 2015

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I have been testing the Sciote Advanced Retinol Serum ($68 in the shop). I'm in my early 40s, and in truth, I haven’t used a retinol serum in a long time. The last time I did, my eyes were drying out, even though I never applied it directly on the delicate eye area. It was very uncomfortable the following morning and the remainder of the next day. This was the primary reason I abandoned retinol products.

Since the Sciote products have been providing results for others in the TIA community, I was pretty excited to test it out and give retinol another chance. In addition to Sciote products being well-received by others, I’ve been impressed with their clean ingredients.

Marta and the TIA community have written several articles about retinol and its various forms. This particular formula uses Retinyl Palmitate, which is actually my least favorite form. There have been studies linking retinyl palmitate to cancer risks when it reacts with sunlight. For this reason, this ingredient should only be used in the evening! Oddly, on Sciote’s website the ingredient deck lists the ingredient as “Retinol,” while the bottle states “Retinyl Palmitate.” In addition to the Retinol, this product also contains glycolic acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid. Both of these ingredients are exfoliating in nature. There is also salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid, which is great for acne-prone skin. Accordingly, the directions state to use the serum two to five times per week. I used it three times a week during the test period. This formula also boasts a variety of plant extracts such as jojoba oil, gotu kola, green tea and aloe vera. The serum has been formulated without any of the preservatives I typically avoid, which is great.

Sciote’s website states that the serum is a proprietary brightening complex designed to facilitate younger-looking skin. They claim that the end result is firmer, plumper, healthier-looking skin for a radiant complexion. So, how did I fare? The product is a light serum, which absorbs completely. I used it on my face, neck and décolleté. The first thing I noticed is that I did not experience any sensitivity while using the serum and I did not experience the dry-eye issue referenced earlier. However, after using the product three times a week for five or six weeks (at night), I haven’t noticed any significant changes in my skin. I experienced no noticeable reduction in wrinkles, discoloration or pores. I still experienced my usual monthly hormonal breakout. I do wonder if using a product only a few nights a week would require a longer test period to see results. I have about half of the bottle remaining. I’ll finish up the bottle and see if results come with a longer test. I am definitely interested in trying some of Sciote’s other products!