Pure Retinol 1% Retinol Night Concentrate
The No7 Pure Retinol 1% Retinol Night Concentrate is a treatment. Our analysis of its 31 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 No7 Pure Retinol 1% Retinol Night Concentrate is a treatment. Our analysis of its 31 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
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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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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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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Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
Silicone
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C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Antimicrobial) |
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Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Retinol
(Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Inulin Lauryl Carbamate
(Emulsion Stabilising, Surfactant) |
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Panthenol
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
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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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Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Dimethiconol
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Moisturising) |
Silicone
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Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Caprylyl Glycol
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant) |
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Behentrimonium Chloride
(Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning, Preservative) |
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Sucrose Laurate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Sorbitan Laurate
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Potassium Hydroxide
(Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Carbomer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Tetrasodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent) |
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Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning) |
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Benzoic Acid
(Fragrance, Ph Adjuster, Preservative, Bulking Agent, Masking) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Benzyl Alcohol
(External Analgesic, Fragrance, Oral Health Care Drug, Preservative, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Masking) |
Allergens
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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
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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