X‑Strength Retinol Serum
The Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (29 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Instytutum X‑Strength Retinol Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 40 ingredients (29 low-risk) rates it Excellent (99/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
Dry Skin
14/6
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
5/8
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Cis-Retinoic Acid
(Anti Sebum) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
1
|
A
|
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
prunus armeniaca kernel oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
sh-Pentapeptide-2
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
VITIS VINIFERA SEED OIL
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hyaluronic Acid
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dibutyl Adipate
(Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent, Film Forming) |
|
|
1
|
|
Dimethyl Isosorbide
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Dicaprylyl Ether
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
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
|
|
1
|
|
Sucrose Polystearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
(Humectant, Oral Care Agent) |
|
|
|
|
Disodium Cetearyl Sulfosuccinate
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Foaming, Hydrotrope, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
|
|
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Cetyl Palmitate
(Fragrance, Emollient, Masking, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
3
|
|
Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Antistatic Agent, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
2
|
|
Alcohol
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
2
|
A
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
(Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Extract
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Pantolactone
(Humectant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
A
|
Potassium Sorbate
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
(Skin Conditioning) |
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.
Cis-Retinoic Acid, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
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.
Ascorbyl Palmitate, ASCORBIC ACID
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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