“Attendance at the annual general meeting was very high and reminded me of pre-COVID levels,” Kisoulis recalled. “San Diego was very vibrant and the dermatologists were very engaged.”
The paper may be new, but Kenvue is no stranger to retinol. The company launched his first prescription retinoid in 1971. He was also the first to perfect the stabilization of retinol and filed the first retinol patent in 1990.
No.1 dermatologist
“Retinol is the number one anti-aging cosmetic ingredient available over-the-counter (OTC), recommended by dermatologists, and sought after by consumers. However, not all retinol products are created equal. “We’re not doing that,” Kizoulis argued. “This ingredient is difficult to formulate and stabilize, but Kenvue has particular expertise with over 30 years of experience in formulating and patenting retinol products. “We demonstrate how formulated, stabilized, bioactive retinol formulations promote clinical skin health benefits.”
The impetus for this study began two years ago, when Kenvue convened an advisory panel of dermatologists. The committee recognized that there was a lot of data on retinol, but wanted confirmation of the efficacy and tolerability of the ingredient. Kenview did just that. Researchers conducted more than six studies involving more than 200 subjects. Kisouris called it one of the largest studies of its kind.
Extensive retinol research
Specifically, Kenvue’s data analysis included six vehicle-controlled studies of 0.1% stabilized bioactive retinol in women 30 years and older with signs of mild to moderate UV-induced photodamage. It was included. Across all studies, using numbers

Kenvue offers a variety of retinol-based formulas, including this one from Neutrogena.
This scale allows a single dermatologist researcher to measure overall facial photodamage and site-specific photodamage, such as forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and age spots, at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks. Evaluated at 12 weeks. Tolerability was also assessed. A total of 237 participants received daily treatment with retinol and 234 received vehicle only.
The researchers found that retinol caused greater improvements from baseline in all signs of photoaging compared to vehicle, and the changes were evident from week 4 and continued through week 12. Of the few participants who experienced irritation, all events were mild to moderate and transient, and the authors found that both retinol and its vehicle were well-tolerated throughout his 12 weeks, with no severe It was concluded that there were no signs of severe irritation.
“This vehicle-controlled analysis provides compelling new evidence that this ingredient effectively reduces signs of skin aging without causing irritation,” said the study’s lead author, Dermatology. said Patricia K. Farris, MD, MS, FAAD4, clinical associate professor in the department. She received her doctorate from Tulane University School of Medicine and practices as a dermatologist in Louisiana. “These findings further support the use of products including Neutrogena Her Rapid Her Wrinkle Her Repair Series that target signs of aging with 0.1% stabilized bioactive retinol.”
Resolving stability issues
Like other retinoids, retinol is sensitive to oxygen and light. Kenvue has stabilized the material and developed a controlled release system that minimizes irritation and maximizes effectiveness at usage levels of 0.1%.
“We’re working with dermatologists to tell them that not all retinols are created equal,” Kisoulis said. “They have been very receptive to this research.”
For Kenvue, the publication was not all that surprising since it was an integrated analysis of previous research. Kizoulis noted that improvements were seen across all parameters, including fine lines and wrinkles, under-eyes, tone, and hyperpigmentation.
“[This study]reaffirms that retinol is the go-to ingredient that dermatologists recommend to their patients,” Kizoulis explained. “It will also help further educate healthcare professionals about the different levels of retinol. Creating the right formula will give you all the benefits without the frustration.”
Because of retinol’s inherent instability, there is considerable variation when comparing retinol-based consumer products, Kisoulis said. Kenvue relies on emollients to slowly release retinoids. This release is determined by the polarity of the emollient, a system patented by Kenvue. Additionally, properly formulated retinol-based products will continue to perform well.
“A common misconception is that anti-aging products reach a plateau in effectiveness,” notes Kizoulis. “However, in our hands with a properly formulated retinol, we have seen a steady increase in efficacy, rather than a plateau in efficacy.”
Peptide and antioxidant research
Kenvue researchers are finalizing a research paper demonstrating the effectiveness of peptides against early signs of aging while educating healthcare professionals about the benefits of applying properly formulated retinol-based products. Masu. And research into the mechanisms of action of antioxidants is still in its infancy.
“We want to understand the effects of free radicals, the effects of pollution on different age groups. This space is very dynamic,” Kisoulis explained. “But there’s always a place for the tried and true. Retinol is the core solution for most photoaging needs. There may be others in the future.”