Drop Zone: Clinique, Glow Recipe, Innisfree, Paula’s Choice tap into the retinol renaissance

Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, has long been considered the ‘gold standard’ of skin care ingredients for its proven effectiveness.

It has the ability to promote cell turnover and stimulate collagen production, tackling a wide range of skin troubles from fine lines and wrinkles to acne and pigmentation. In short, they are the ultimate skin care multi-taskers.

This super ingredient has experienced a resurgence in recent years as savvy beauty consumers seek out effective ingredients they can trust.

Furthermore, access to information on platforms such as TikTok has reduced the confusion and misinformation surrounding retinol, making consumers more confident in using them.

Clinique Smart Clinical Repair AM/PM Retinoid Balm​

Skin care brand Clinique has reimagined its retinoid offering in an easy-to-use format.

According to the brand’s Japanese press release, the product is formulated with a retinol derivative it has dubbed a ‘next-generation retinoid’.

It claims to reduce the appearance of fine lines, moisturise the skin to give it a “bouncy elasticity”.

The product was developed to be gentle on the skin and can be used morning and night.

The new product also taps into the demand for beauty products in a stick format (a la Kahi’s Wrinkle Bounce Multi Balm) to make it “time-saving and cost-effective”.

In this format, consumers can target specific areas of concern, such as around the eyes, mouth, and between the eyebrows.

Furthermore, the stick format also makes the product also portable and easy to incorporate into any beauty routine.

Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum

The brand behind the series of buzzy watermelon-based skin care products debuted Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum, a gentle nightly treatment inspired by prescription-strength retinoic acid.

The product was designed to be a “worry-free” nightly serum for breakouts, textures, and fine line for anyone who that is intimidated to use retinol.

The serum features a 0.16% triple retinoid blend of retinol, retinal, and retinyl ester, which is gentle yet effective on the skin.

This blend smoothes texture, reduce blemishes, and unclog pores while minimising irritation, the brand claims.

In addition to the trio of retinoids, the product contains blackberry extract, ectoin, 8% glycerin, and squalane.

Based on a consumer use study of 29 participants with acne-prone skin, 97% agreed that their skin texture looked and felt smoother. They also agreed that the serum was gentle enough to use nightly.

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Innisfree Retinol Green Tea PDRN Skin Booster Ampoule​

Korean beauty brand Innisfree’s new product combines 30 years of retinol research and 40 years of green tea research.

The product contains a Triple Retinol Complex as well as Green Tea polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN)

This is a patentedlactobacillus ferment lysate derived from patented lactic acid bacteria obtained from Jeju green tea.

According to the firm, the ampoule contains 560,000ppm of low-molecular Green Tea PDRN, which penetrates skin deeply to strengthen skin from within.

The firm says it is one-tenth the size of salmon-derived PDRN.

The latter is a trending ingredient found in many skin care products lately, including CNP Derma+’s PDRN ampoule.

Additionally, the formula uses a boosting technology that increases absorption by 3.4 times, providing quick results with a refreshing finish.

Combining next-generation skin booster ingredients with retinol, this ampoule brings professional-grade skincare into the home.

Paula’s Choice Clinical Pro Retinaldehyde Treatment

Unilever-owned Paula’s Choice brings a new product that boasts “nearly prescription-strength retinoic acid”.

The brand explained that the new formula utilises retinaldehyde, which requires only one conversion step into retinoic acid making it the closest top prescription strength.

“The transformative effects of retinoids are nothing short of extraordinary, making them a staple for anyone serious about achieving glowing, healthy skin,” said the brand.

“However, not all retinoids are created equal. Their potency depends on the number of steps required to convert them into retinoic acid, which correlates with the beneficial results seen on the skin. Fewer conversion steps mean a stronger retinoid.”

The brand’s advanced formula supports cell renewal and promotes clear, luminous skin and is suitable for all skin types.

Consumers can personalise their use of the treatment with other Paula’s Choice products.

For instance, pairing it with the cult-favourite 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant targets acne to reduce breakouts and unclog pores.

With the brand’s Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster, consumers can target the signs of ageing by smoothing out wrinkles and enhancing skin firmness.