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100-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Use it consistently for 100 days. If your skin doesn't look smoother and more even, reach out for a full refund — bottle included.
Applies after 21 days of consistent use, once per product, and covers the product price — not shipping. See our Refund Policy for details.
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Pay Over Time
Split it into 4 interest-free payments with Afterpay, or use Shop Pay Installments — chosen at checkout.
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Made Fresh, Shipped Tracked
Freshly made for you in 1–5 business days, then shipped tracked from the USA — typically at your door in 5–9 business days.
Plenty of retinols smooth skin but wreck it first with weeks of peeling. This pairs a gentle retinol with a peptide and a calming soother.
One bottle, used a few nights a week, lasts well beyond two months.
What does this actually do?
A gentle retinol supports surface renewal to smooth texture and soften the look of fine lines overnight, while hexapeptide-11 works on firmness and bisabolol calms the flaking classic retinols cause. It's a cosmetic serum working on appearance, not a medical treatment.
Why retinol and peptides together — isn't retinol enough?
They do two different jobs, which is exactly why this serum pairs them. The gentle retinol supports surface renewal so texture looks smoother and fine lines look softer, while hexapeptide-11 works on how firm and plump skin looks. Peptides are one of the most talked-about ingredient families in modern skincare, and researchers keep exploring what different peptide chains do for the look and feel of skin. Bisabolol sits alongside both to calm the flaking retinol alone can cause. These are cosmetic ingredients working on appearance, not medicines.
How do I use it at night if it's my first time?
Wash your face, pat it fully dry, then smooth a pea-sized amount over your whole face — avoiding the eye corners, the nose creases and the lips. Follow with your moisturiser. Do that two or three nights a week for the first few weeks, then build up. Every morning after, wear SPF.
How much do I use, and how do I start without irritating my skin?
A pea-sized amount for the whole face — more doesn't work faster, it just irritates. Begin two or three nights a week on clean, dry skin, then increase as your skin gets comfortable. Buffer with a moisturiser on top if you're sensitive, and never skip daytime SPF.
Morning or night?
Night only. Retinol can make skin more sun-sensitive, so use it in the evening and always wear SPF the following day.
Where does it go in my routine?
Cleanser, then this serum on dry skin, then moisturiser. Dry skin matters: putting retinol on damp skin makes it absorb faster and sting more. If your skin is sensitive, you can flip the order and put moisturiser first as a buffer.
Can I use it with vitamin C, acids, or my hyaluronic acid and moisturiser?
Hyaluronic acid and a plain moisturiser sit happily over the top and make it far more comfortable — Austin Bloome Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a good partner for exactly that. Keep vitamin C for the morning and this for night, and avoid layering it the same night as strong exfoliating acids, which can over-irritate.
Do I really need SPF the next day?
Yes, every day, no exceptions. Retinol can leave skin more sun-sensitive, and sun undoes the smoothing you're working for. SPF each morning is what makes this serum worth using.
When will I notice a difference, and is it slower than a stronger retinol?
Texture often looks smoother within a few weeks; softer-looking fine lines build over a couple of months of consistent night use. It's slower on the sting, not on the result — a harsh, high-strength retinol gives you a peeling week and a bottle you abandon. This one is built to be used for months, which is what actually smooths texture and softens the look of fine lines.
How long does a bottle last, and how should I store it?
A pea-sized amount a few nights a week means a bottle runs well past two months. Keep the cap on and store it cool and dark so the retinol stays at full strength right to the last drop. Retinol rewards patience, so Subscribe & Save keeps the next bottle coming and you can cancel any time.
Will it make me peel — and what if my skin stings or turns red?
It's formulated with a gentle retinol level and calming bisabolol specifically to reduce the flaking classic retinols cause, and easing in slowly keeps it comfortable. If your skin does sting or flake, that's your cue to slow down rather than push through: skip a few nights, use just your moisturiser, then come back at once a week and build up. Stop entirely and see your provider if irritation doesn't settle.
Can I use it around my eyes or on my neck?
Skin on the neck and around the eyes is thinner, so go carefully. Keep it off the eyelids and the inner eye corners entirely. For the neck and chest, use a small amount once or twice a week at first and see how your skin feels before doing more.
Does it work on dry or sensitive skin?
It can, with a slow start. The gentle retinol level plus calming bisabolol is exactly why this one exists — but if you're dry or reactive, begin once a week, buffer with moisturiser underneath, and patch-test on your jaw first.
Who is this serum not for — and can I use it while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Not during pregnancy, breastfeeding or while trying to conceive — this serum contains retinol, and retinol isn't suitable in those seasons. Our Pregnancy collection and our Postpartum collection are built for exactly where you are, and a plain hydrating serum is a lovely gentle route in the meantime. It's for general adult skincare otherwise: don't use it on broken or highly reactive skin, and don't layer it with prescription retinoids without your dermatologist's guidance.
What if my skin doesn't get on with it?
Then it costs you nothing. Ease in over a few weeks — if your skin isn't smoother and your fine lines aren't softer-looking, contact us within 100 days for a full refund, opened bottle included. That's the point of the 100-Day Money-Back Guarantee: retinol rewards patience, so you get a real run at it rather than one nervous week.
