Potent Retinol Complex
The NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (27 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The NeoStrata Potent Retinol Complex is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (27 low-risk) rates it Excellent (94/100). 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
11/9
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/1
Sensitive Skin
1/6
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
(Binding Agent, Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, 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
|
|
1
|
|
Caprylyl Methicone
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Stearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foambooster, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Foam Boosting, Masking, Opacifying, Refatting, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Acetyl Glucosamine
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
3
|
B
|
Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Isohexadecane
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cellulose
(Absorbent, Bulking Agent, Slip Modifier, Opacifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
9
|
A
|
Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
1
|
B
|
Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
2
|
A
|
Citric Acid
(Chelating Agent, Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
|
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
|
|
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
C13-14 Isoparaffin
(Emollient, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Glyceryl Dilaurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
3
|
B
|
Laureth-7
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Steareth-10
(Emulsifying, Refatting, Surfactant) |
Bad for Oily Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer
(Viscosity Controlling) |
|
4
|
B
|
Polyacrylamide
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Antistatic Agent, Binding) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
2
|
A
|
Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
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
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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