Retinol Expert 0.1%
The IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 51 ingredients (38 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). 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 IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 51 ingredients (38 low-risk) rates it Excellent (97/100). 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
Dry Skin
15/9
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
6/11
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
(Emollient, Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
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
|
|
3
|
A
|
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Trehalose
(Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Glycine Soja Oil
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Glyceryl Polymethacrylate
(Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
|
Polysilicone-11
(Film Forming) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
|
|
ORYZA SATIVA BRAN WAX
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Sodium Sulfite
(Antioxidant, Hair Waving Or Straightening, Reducing, Preservative) |
|
|
|
|
daucus carota sativa root extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Tromethamine
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
|
9
|
A
|
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glyceryl Caprylate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
Mannitol
(Binding Agent, Flavoring Agent, Humectant, Binding, Masking, Moisturising, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
|
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Palmitic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Surfactant Emulsifying Agentsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Palmitic Acid., Emollient) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Isostearate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
6
|
A
|
BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
|
|
2
|
|
Beta-Carotene
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
Myristic Acid
(Fragrance, Opacifying, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Perfuming) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Lauric Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Lauric Acid., Emulsifying) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
|
|
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
limnanthes alba seed oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
3-O-ETHYL ASCORBIC ACID
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Glutathione
(Fragrance, Reducing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
(Humectant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hyaluronic Acid
(Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Antistatic Agent, Humectant, Moisturising) |
|
|
1
|
|
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
(Humectant) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
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.
Retinol
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.
ASCORBIC ACID, 3-O-ETHYL 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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