A² Advanced Retinal Serum .2%
The TRUology A² Advanced Retinal Serum .2% is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 36 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The TRUology A² Advanced Retinal Serum .2% is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 36 ingredients (26 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). 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
8/6
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin
1/0
Sensitive Skin
5/6
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1
|
|
Water
(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
|
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cyclodextrin
(Absorbent, Chelating Agent) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Polysorbate 20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
|
|
1
|
A
|
Squalane
(Emollient, Hair Conditioning, Refatting, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
B
|
Coco-Caprylate
(Emollient) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sodium Hyaluronate
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
Good for Dry Skin
|
|
1
|
|
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3
(Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Hydroxyethylcellulose
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
3
|
B
|
Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Beta-Glucan
(Bulking Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Resveratrol
(Antioxidant, Skin Protecting) |
|
|
1
|
|
Dimethyl Sulfone
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
5
6
|
|
Retinal
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
|
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Dextran
(Binding Agent, Bulking Agent, Binding, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
1
|
|
Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline
(Skin Conditioning, Antistatic Agent, Hair Conditioning) |
|
|
4
|
B
|
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
|
|
2
|
|
Arnica Montana Flower Extract
(Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
(Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing) |
|
|
1
|
B
|
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
(Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Astringent, Emollient, Humectant, Masking, Oral Care Agent, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Tonic, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Oily Skin
|
|
|
|
Salix Nigra Bark Extract
(Skin Protecting) |
|
|
|
|
Epilobium Angustifolium Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
|
|
Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
(Perfuming, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
(Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
|
A
|
Sclerotium Gum
(Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
|
|
4
|
A
|
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
|
|
1
|
A
|
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
|
|
1
3
|
|
Titanium Dioxide
(Cosmetic Colorant, Opacifying, Sunscreen Agent, Uv Absorber) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
|
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.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Lactic 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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