All scans / Serums / NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum

[ DEMYTHSKIN_SCORE · SERUM ]

NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum ingredients: is it worth it?

This is a retinoid serum diluted by marketing fluff, not a high-performance retinol treatment.

[ SCAN_RESULT ]
NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum
— NEOGEN
Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum
Anti-Aging
Does it work?
3.5/ 5.0
Modest
Is it safe?
4.1/ 5.0
Gentle
THE VERDICT[=] Fair Price$34.20

This is a retinoid serum diluted by marketing fluff, not a high-performance retinol treatment.

READ MORE

The score is dragged down because the formula relies on retinyl palmitate and a modest 475 ppm retinol rather than a clearly optimized, higher-strength retinoid system, while much of the rest of the formula is humectants, emollients, and botanical extras that support feel more than efficacy. The base is otherwise respectable, with glycerin, glycols, hydrogenated lecithin, and a bit of barrier-friendly lipid support, so it should be tolerable and hydrating, but the actual anti-aging punch is only moderate rather than strong.

Find on Amazon ↗→ Alternatives & dupes

We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Links never influence scores.

DemythSkin rates NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum 3.5/5 for efficacy and 4.1/5 for safety.

GRADED AS SERUM — ANTI-AGING

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER

◄ DRIVES RESULTSWORKS AGAINST YOU ►
Doing the work · 19 ingredients
S

Gold Standards

High clinical proof | Skin-transformative
RetinolAscorbic Acid
A

Reliable

Proven results
GlycerinHelianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed OilAdenosineTocopherolLactococcus Ferment Lysate
B

Potent

Developing evidence
Glycereth-26Retinyl PalmitateOctyldodeceth-16Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate CopolymerC12-14 Alketh-12Hippophae Rhamnoides OilSorbitan IsostearateCentella Asiatica ExtractEthylhexyl OlivateBHTCamellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractBHA
Not doing the work · 8 ingredients
C

Overhyped | Marketing

Hype | Limited data
Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower ExtractCoptis Japonica Root ExtractPolygonum Cuspidatum Root ExtractScutellaria Baicalensis Root ExtractGlycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root ExtractRosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf ExtractChamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower ExtractCollagen Extract
D

Documented Irritants

Evidence-backed flag
None detected
FORMULATION BASE (14)⌄
WaterPropanediolButylene Glycol1,2-HexanediolCaprylic/Capric TriglycerideDiphenyl DimethiconeSodium PolyacrylateAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate CrosspolymerEthylhexylglycerinTromethaminePolysorbate 20Hydrogenated LecithinSodium Acrylates CopolymerPolyglyceryl-4 Oleate
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Retinyl Palmitate(2.36%), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Octyldodeceth-16, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C12-14 Alketh- 12, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Sodium Polyacrylate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tromethamine, Polysorbate 20, Retinol(475ppm), Adenosine, Tocopherol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, BHT, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Oleate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, BHA, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Ascorbic Acid, Collagen Extract

WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (24)⌄
Water
solvent base
Glycerin
humectant
Propanediol
solvent humectant
Butylene Glycol
humectant solvent
Glycereth-26
humectant emollient
Retinyl Palmitate
retinoid ester
Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil
emollient oil
1,2-Hexanediol
solvent preservative
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
light emollient
Diphenyl Dimethicone
silicone emollient
Octyldodeceth-16
solubilizer emulsifier
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
gel thickener
C12-14 Alketh-12
emulsifier surfactant
Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil
botanical emollient
Sodium Polyacrylate
texture thickener
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
gel former
Ethylhexylglycerin
preservative booster
Tromethamine
pH adjuster
Polysorbate 20
solubilizer
Retinol
retinoid active
Adenosine
skin-conditioning active
Tocopherol
antioxidant
Sorbitan Isostearate
emulsifier
Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Flower Extract
botanical extract

EXTERNAL CITATIONS

Retinol: Well-established topical retinoid for photoaging and acne.

Glycerin: Core humectant that improves stratum corneum hydration.

Hydrogenated Lecithin: Barrier-supportive lipid/emulsifier commonly used to improve skin feel and delivery.

DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

[ 01 · SCORES_HIGHER_FOR_LESS ]

A cheaper serum that scores as high or higher

A different formula for the same concern (anti-aging) that scores at least as high on both efficacy and safety.

PURITO Retinol Retinal 2000 NAD+ Serum
PURITO
Retinol Retinal 2000 NAD+ Serum
4.5 4.1 efficacy · safety
$15.75
SAVE $18
See the score →
[ 02 · FAQ ]

NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum: common questions

Is NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum worth it?

NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum scores 3.5 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Modest) and 4.1 out of 5.0 for safety (Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. This is a retinoid serum diluted by marketing fluff, not a high-performance retinol treatment.

What are the key active ingredients in NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum?

NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Retinol, Ascorbic Acid.

Does NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum. It scores 4.1 out of 5.0 for safety.

How is NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Retinol Serum scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.

[ SCAN_YOUR_SHELF ]
Check the next product before you buy it.

Free scores for every product in the database, or see them on Sephora, Ulta and Amazon with the Chrome extension.