Retinal Smooth
The ISDIN Retinal Smooth is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 44 ingredients (37 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). 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 ISDIN Retinal Smooth is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 44 ingredients (37 low-risk) rates it Excellent (98/100). 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
9/9
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
6/9
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dibutyl Adipate
(Plasticizer, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent, Film Forming) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Isoamyl Laurate
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
|
|
3
|
A
|
Lauryl PEG/PPG-18/18 Methicone
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antimicrobial) |
|
|
1
|
|
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
(Viscosity Controlling) |
|
4
|
|
Alcohol Denat.
(Antifoaming Agent, Antimicrobial, Astringent, Masking, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling) |
Bad for Dry Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
A
|
1,2-Hexanediol
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Fragrance, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Hydroxyacetophenone
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
|
|
4-t-Butylcyclohexanol
(Masking, Perfuming) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
|
PARFUM
(Fragrance, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2
(Absorbent) |
|
|
1
|
|
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Vigna Aconitifolia Seed Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
3
|
|
Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
3
|
A
|
Sodium Benzoate
(Fragrance, Preservative, Anticorrosive, Masking) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
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) |
|
|
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
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sorbitan Laurate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding) |
|
|
1
|
|
Melatonin
(Antioxidant) |
|
|
1
2
|
A
|
Silica
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
C18-36 Acid Glycol Ester
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
|
C18-36 Acid Triglyceride
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
(Bulking Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
|
|
CI 77891
(Colorant) |
|
|
5
6
|
|
Retinal
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Phospholipids
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
t-Butyl Alcohol
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Solvent, Perfuming) |
|
|
|
|
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Tin Oxide
(Abrasive, Bulking Agent, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
(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.
Retinal
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
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
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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