The purpose of a new study published in Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of treating signs of the aging skin using retinol 0.15% and 0.3%.

This was a randomized, controlled, parallel pilot study that involved patients at two sites – 20 patients presenting signs of aging applied a novel formulation of retinol at 0.15% concentration on the left side of their face and 20 applied a formulation of retinol at 0.3% on the right side of their face, daily for two months. An expert blinded evaluation of images was carried out after eight weeks. Tolerability was assessed throughout the whole study. Positive results of the observational pilot study guaranteed a follow-up trial with the use of the higher concentration and another parallel study.

The results of the observational pilot study revealed that most of participants showed an improvement in the overall skin condition. These improvements were assessed after four and eight weeks. It was observed that benefits after 56 days were more remarkable than those identified after 28 days—however, without any statistical significance. The application of retinol formula 0.3% and serum 0.15% rendered similar results after eight weeks of daily care. Both products improved the overall skin condition considerably, with respect to the skin color, hydration and radiance. Furthermore, in a VAS assessment, the number of wrinkles decreased and skin discoloration was reduced. Side effects such as burning, dryness, pruritus and erythema during the eight-week study period were minimal.

In inference, it was stated that the topical formulation of liquid crystal serum with retinol 0.15% and 0.3% improves the overall skin condition after eight weeks. Meanwhile, burning, pruritus, dryness and erythema caused by the application of retinol 0.15% and 0.3% concentrations are minimal.

Source: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2020 Feb;19(2):437-443. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13040.