SkinMedica • RETINOL COMPLEX • Treatments

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mihailo1980 on 5/6/2012 1:27:00 PM more reviews by mihailo1980

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

Nothing special. Even after using it for two months I noticed almost nothing. A lot of parabens and preservatives lurking, so all together it is not worth it... ...oh - one more thing: it's pricey, given the results it provides.

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cartersmom on 3/19/2012 4:17:00 PM more reviews by cartersmom

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

The P.A. at my doctor's office recommended this to me for hormonal breakouts, especially on the chin, old acne markes, and uneven skin tone. I am in my 40's and have not been able tolerate Retin-A since 35, when I was diagnosed with midl rosacea. When I used Retin-A my skin was flawless. Katie Rodan was my derm at the time and commented on how great my skin looked, so that was big coming from her. Once the Retin-A usage stopped, my skin was not the same clear, glowing skin I was used to.

This is the only retinol product I can tolerate! After a few applications, the cystic acne on my chin is going away, and the marks are lightning. I am starting to get my old skin back, of course its older now and not as tight. The PA recommends using SM's Essential Serum for collage production and the peptides lightners in the am (and also as an eye cream-she said don't bother with an eye cream if using the Essential Serum, and the Retinol Complex at night. She said its the best combo out there. My doctor had echoed similar thoughts at a prior appt. I am sticking with Skin Medica; I really believe its the best line out there. Also, FYI, they have purchased Colorscience, so I am interested to see if the line grows and becomes more accessible. If you are over 40 and want products that really work, stick with Skin Medica-they awards they receive and the research on their products supports this conclusion.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

sharonweng1994 on 8/5/2011 1:30:00 PM more reviews by sharonweng1994

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

this is the best night time moisturizer, period. i live in a humid climate and this retinol keeps my skin clear, glowy and perfectly moisturized. i don't even use other moisturizer on top, just this. PERFECTO. i don't know how i'd live without this baby.

product: it's a yellow paste. fragrance free. highly recommend for all skin type except very dry.

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cheekymar on 3/30/2011 6:37:00 PM more reviews by cheekymar

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

HG product! I use this every other night and it has transformed my skin!! I use after I wash my face in the evenings followed by La Mer -- When I wake up my skin is silky smooth & flawless. Its a bit expensive, but worth every penny in my opinion!! I have repurchased 3 times --- it lasts me about 9 months +/-

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mookie65 on 2/6/2011 9:16:00 PM more reviews by mookie65

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I've tried a lot of retinol products (prescription and OTC) and this is the first one that has not ruined my skin. All the other products either made my skin break out in cysts (!) or dried it out to a flakey mess. My dermatologist gave me sample of this and my skin has been clear ever since. I've only used it for three weeks, so it's hard to tell if it's smoothed out any fine lines, but I'll continue using it just for making my skin clear and glowing!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

BeachBunniee on 2/3/2011 10:29:00 AM more reviews by BeachBunniee

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Other    

This is by far the best retinol product on the market. I've used a few retinol products: Retin-A, generic tretinoin and Roc Wrinkle Repair...all of which caused intense dryness and mixed results. I was previously using Roc's Retinol when my derm gave me a sample of Skinmedica's Retinol Complex. Surprisingly it makes my skin feel moisturized, not dry at all! My skin has never been clearer or smoother. I use it every night where as with the other retinol products I could only use every other night because of how harsh they were. It is totally worth the price!

Update: Still an amazing Retinol Product, but I tried Atralin .05% gel and it was even more moisturizing than this! Atralin and Skinmedica's Retinol Complex are the first moisturizing and non-irritating retinols I've used. I highly recommend trying either of them!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

teacher56 on 12/10/2010 10:43:00 PM more reviews by teacher56

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

Wow! I love love love this product. I'm already on my second tube and I really wanted to share how great it is. For the past few years my skin has been ultra sensitive and I have had a patch of stubborn pimples on my cheek that wouldn't budge. The dermatologist said i had acne rosacea... Tried lots of products to clear up the cheek but mostly all irritated my skin and make the problem worse and more noticeable. Finally i have discovered which products are making my skin glow and finally that patch of pimples is gone and my face is sooooo smooth! Here it is---- at night i wash with Spa Face spirulina cleanser, followed by Skin Medica purifying toner, followed by Skin Medica Retinol Complex, sometimes after the retinol i might add Skin Medica ultra sheer moisturizer.... In the morning my skin is smooth and plump and clear!! In the am i just wash with the spa face and use the ultra sheer moisturizer and then some light foundation. Skin Medica products are amazing..... I'm soooo happy that they are working for my skin...yay!!!w

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heavanlyblue on 11/25/2010 1:49:00 AM more reviews by heavanlyblue

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I work for a cosmetic dermatologist and this is one of the products we carry. I'm a big fan of the SkinMedica line in general, and this product in particular.

It's a very well tolerated yet concentrated retinol product. I am pretty sensitive especially around my mouth/chin, yet this has never caused me any peeling, redness or irritation. Our rep said it is comparable in strength to a .05% retin-a but much more gentle because it is in a 12 hour timed release formulation.

I always use this at night, and I put it on cleansed, bare skin. I let it absorb for a few minutes (usually while I brush my teeth then apply my latisse), then I moisturize.

I plan on continuing with this product, and the only reason I can think of switching is if I decided to try their higher concentration retinol product!

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shelly7130 on 3/8/2010 2:02:00 PM more reviews by shelly7130

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is a great Retinol. There is no fragrance and it goes on smooth and creamy. It doesn't irritate or sting but is highly effective. I've tried other Retinol products and always always always go back to Skin Medica. I love this product!

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evien on 2/17/2010 7:58:00 PM more reviews by evien

Age: 30-35   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

I had great results with this upon first application! Yes, finally an effective and gentle retinol treatment. I was recommended to use this at night, following cleansing as the first product on my skin if i would be using moisturizer, blemish spot treatment etc. Immediately reduced size of my pores, complexion more even, decreased break-outs. I constantly get compliments on my skin - I have a hunch the SkinMedica Retinol Treatment might have something to do with that!
Been using this for 4 yrs.

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munchiemunchie on 8/3/2009 6:58:00 AM more reviews by munchiemunchie

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I love this product! I found retin A and renova a little harsh for my skin but this is perfect. I use it on my neck and I think that is one of the reasons I have had improvements in the crepiness(I used it in combination with sisley Elixir first followed by skin medica retinol followed by a quality neck cream.

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*TOP REVIEWER* flairgirl8 on 6/6/2008 9:51:00 AM more reviews by flairgirl8

Age: 36-43   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

I was looking for a replacement for Skinceuticals .5% retinol and tried this. It is a lightweight lotion that absorbs easily into the skin and does not cause my combo skin to breakout. Contains a blend of three types of vitamin A. This makes my skin feel great. Most retinol creams are very drying for me and I have to apply a moisturizer on top. However, I would have to say that the retinol strength of this product is not any different than the much more affordable OTC retinols ( Neutrogena and Avon) that I have tried. I would repurchase if it was a higher percentage retinol and did not have paraben preservatives in it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* zernelle on 3/24/2008 12:43:00 PM more reviews by zernelle

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I received a sample of the SkinMedica Retinol Complex with my last skinstore.com order. I would be more interested in this product if I didn't know how much more effective retinaldehyde (found in Avene products such as Retrinal, Eluage, and Ystheal) and prescription retinoids are than retinol. (Tetrakis's notepad explains this.) For those whose skin is so sensitive that they truly can't use retinaldehyde or prescription retinoids, this is a nice, though pricey, option. It is moisturizing (though those with dry skin may not find it hydrating enough), and it has a nice texture. It is not fragranced, but it does have a slightly unpleasant smell that fortunately dissipates quickly. Overall, this product isn't really for me, but it might be great for others.
Ingredients: Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Phosphate, Retinyl Palmitate, Retinyl Acetate, Retinol, Rice Bran Extract (Tocotrienol), Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopheryl, Canadian Willowherb Extract, Green Tea Extract, Bisabolol, Phytantriol, Sodium Polyaspartate, Soybean Oil, Cyclomethicone, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Steareth-2, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA.

7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Laurelqueen on 3/17/2008 6:09:00 PM more reviews by Laurelqueen

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Its so fantastic! After using it for 2 weeks i can see the changes im my face. It smells suck but does work. The acnes disappeared und even the pores are visiblly getting smaller.
Love it. Will buy it again!

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*TOP REVIEWER* vesuvana on 3/2/2008 5:58:00 PM more reviews by vesuvana

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

This is the first retinol treatment that actually had a visible effect on the fine lines and overall tone of my face. Plus it was not irritating to me and absorbed in right away. I really like it. My derm has put me on prescription tretinoin 0.5% but when I get to my desired level of repair, I intend to switch back to this product!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

moncj66 on 1/6/2008 7:40:00 PM more reviews by moncj66

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Dark   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This stuff is better than green cream. I received samples of this with my green cream purchase and immediately saw a difference in my skin texture and tone. this is great so far, well i just started using it 2 days ago. So, ill probably update, and its cheaper. Im definitely purchasing the big bottle!!
EDIT: ok, this was great in the beginning,but when my face started getting use to it, it really stops working. Ive switched to skinceutials retinol!

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*TOP REVIEWER* my3sons5 on 10/30/2007 8:59:00 PM more reviews by my3sons5

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I am in my 40's and always looking for an effective retinol product. I heard this was as good as prescription strength retinol products, so decided to give it a try. I really like this product. I have been using it for a few months now and my skin looks fresh and more even in tone. I also like Neutrogena's Advanced Solutions though and am not sure I am getting that much more "bang for the buck" with this product. The cost difference between the two is significant so I am not sure I will repurchase this!
Edit 2/12/08: I have continued with Neutrogena's retinol products and have been VERY happy with the results. The SkinMedica did not produce any significant difference, but cost much, much more.

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Stephanie42286 on 10/23/2006 10:22:00 AM more reviews by Stephanie42286

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I am only 20 years old but my skin is pretty beaten up - I've never had full on acne but have always had blemishes, large pores, and really bad texture. After the first day of using this I noticed a difference. My pores are noticeably reduced and it added elasticity to my skin and got rid of all of the redness. My skin has never looked this healthy before. The packaging is nice and easy and it goes on smoothly just like a moisturizer. It is about 40 bucks which is more than I normally pay but not over the top and totally worth every penny.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* SaraLee2 on 10/12/2006 2:58:00 PM more reviews by SaraLee2

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

UPDATE: I take it back. I ran out of this. Between orders I started using my left over tube of Avene again and WOW...it really does do a much better job than this, just didn't realize it until I took a break from it. This is still a good product and definitely not as harsh as Avene, but my skin just looks 10x's better using Diacineal and Eluage and Avene is so much cheaper. Will not be using this anymore.

This is the 3rd retinol product I've used, and it will be the only one I use from now on. Tried green cream (6 & 9) and Avene. This one beats them both hands down. I don't know if it's because of the 3 different type of retinol or the inclusion of Vit E or what, but this one does what I was hoping the others would do...make my skin more even toned, regulate oil, reduce fine lines, and make pores appear smaller. I use this with a 20% glycolic cream (1st the cream, let it soak in for a few, then this) and my skin has never looked smoother. I was using it every other night, but the morning after my 'off' days, my skin just looked dull and lifeless, so now I use it nightly. Great stuff!

6 out of 9 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

vickyc123 on 3/3/2006 4:45:00 AM more reviews by vickyc123

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This is the first and only retinol product I've used and I have no plans on seeking out others. This product is truly amazing! For the past 1/2 year I've had some pretty damaging acne breakouts that have left brigh red marks. The acne is long gone, but the marks remained up until I started using this.Like another reviewer mentioned, it only takes a pea-sized amount to cover my face, and it sinks in quickly. I do use the Ultra Sheer Moisturizer along with this because it leaves me with some minor dry patches, but other than that.... this stuff has been nothing short of amazing for me!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No