Hyaluronic + Retinol Radical Youth Activator Serum
The able skincare London Hyaluronic + Retinol Radical Youth Activator Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 64 ingredients (57 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
The able skincare London Hyaluronic + Retinol Radical Youth Activator Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 64 ingredients (57 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin. Heads up: it contains fragrance, which can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Dicaprylyl Carbonate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Betaine
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Retinyl Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Miscellaneous) |
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RNA
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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Arachidyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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Erythritol
(Humectant, Moisturising) |
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Polyacrylate
(Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Skin Conditioning Agent Emollient, Viscosity Controlling Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Skin Conditioning) |
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Behenyl Alcohol
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Emollient, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
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Arachidyl Glucoside
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Urea
(Buffering Agent, Humectant, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
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Trehalose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
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Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Serine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Arginine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Masking) |
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Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate
(Absorbent, Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Sorbitol
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Humectant, Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning) |
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Pyridoxine HCl
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent) |
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Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding) |
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Inulin
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Calcium Pantothenate
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning) |
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Disodium Adenosine Triphosphate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Mannitol
(Binding Agent, Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Binding, Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning) |
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Pullulan
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Binding) |
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Glyceryl Polyacrylate
(Film Forming) |
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Algin
(Binding Agent, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Oily Skin
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Disodium Phosphate
(Buffering Agent, Anticorrosive, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Masking) |
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Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
(Antioxidant) |
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Histidine HCl
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Antioxidant, Reducing) |
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Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
(Cleansing, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Phenylalanine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Thioctic Acid
(Antioxidant) |
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Glyceryl Linoleate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Glyceryl Linolenate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Tyrosine
(Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Proprietary, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antistatic Agent, Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
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Ubiquinone
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Glyceryl Caprylate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Polyvinyl Alcohol
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Phenylpropanol
(Masking, Perfuming, Solvent) |
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Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Heptapeptide-15 Palmitate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Potassium Phosphate
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Copper Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-14
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinyl Palmitate
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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