Shoppers Over 45 See a ‘Noticeable Glow’ Thanks to This Gentle Retinol

Whether you’re in your 30s, 40s, 50s or older, you’ve probably been inundated with the same message: retinol is the gold standard for reducing wrinkles, firming skin, preventing breakouts and generally delivering a more youthful complexion. On the other side of the coin, retinols have a reputation, especially among first-time users and sensitive skin types, for causing irritation, skin purging and overall discomfort. If this sounds familiar and you’ve written retinol off in the past, allow me to introduce you to Mother Science Retinol Synergist ($96, $77), a next-generation serum that 100 percent of users said was gentle on their skin.

Powered By Malassezin

Mother Science Retinol Synergist’s unique approach to retinol is thanks to an ingredient called Malassezin. (In fact, Mother Science “is the first and only brand to use Malassezin,” according to its CEO Edna Coryell.) Malassezin is a molecule that is naturally found on the skin (however, this formula uses lab-created Malassezin, so it is vegan) and serves as a powerful antioxidant (it’s 10 times more powerful than vitamin C, says the brand) and actively fortifies the skin barrier. New York dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD explains further: “Malassezin works through different mechanisms to reduce discoloration including reducing melanin synthesis, and is also gentle on the skin and won’t lead to skin sensitivity or irritation.”

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Malassezin when coupled with retinol has been shown to mitigate the negative side effects of retinol use like dry, irritated skin. The combination also “reduces the retinization process,” a fancy way of saying you can increase your nightly usage more quickly than you could with other retinols. Together, retinol and Malassezin help firm skin, even out skin tone and dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines and deeper wrinkles.

Why Shoppers Love It

Reviewers of all ages swear by Mother Science’s powerful Retinol Synergist. “My skin is glowing and smoother. Fine lines are definitely less noticeable. I use on my hands too!” raves a 65-year-old. “My skin is looking the best it has in a long time. My sun spots have faded and my skin looks clear,” says a second shopper over 65. A 40-something user says it “doesn’t irritate [their] skin at all” and their “skin texture has improved so much.” A second shopper in their 40s comments it gives them “a noticeable glow,” while a 50-year-old says “I can feel my face tightening up.” Another user in their 50s who used to “break out in hives” from retinol says Retinol Synergist is “gentle enough [to] use consistently” and now their skin is “smoother and brighter” and “sunspots fading.”

Mother Science Summer Sale

Retinol Synergist isn’t the only Mother Science product to harness the power of Malassezin—all of the brand’s skin-care solutions do. And from June 24-29, Mother Science is hosting its Summer Sale where its next-generation collection of products are 20 percent off site-wide (excluding sets and subscriptions) with the code SUMMER20.