For 12 weeks, participants received daily treatment with 0.1% stabilized bioactive retinol or vehicle alone. (Colnihko/Adobe Stock)

The pursuit of effective and acceptable solutions to address signs of skin aging remains a top priority for cosmetic researchers. Recently, Kenvue published new data in his April issue. Drug Journal in Dermatology, highlights the efficacy and tolerability of 0.1% retinol as a cosmetic treatment for aging skin. This study is the largest clinical evaluation of its kind published in the scientific literature.1

Recent data analysis included 6 vehicle-controlled studies focusing on women aged 30 years and older with mild to moderate photodamage (n = 352). For 12 weeks, participants received daily treatment with 0.1% stabilized bioactive retinol or vehicle alone. The findings were reviewed by Patricia Farris, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and clinical associate professor at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dermatology Times is a member of the editorial advisory board and served as principal investigator on this study. She says, “Topical 0.1% retinol significantly improved crow’s feet, facial wrinkles, uneven skin tone, brown spots, and overall photoaging compared to the solvent control.” said. The results revealed that photodamage on the entire face and area-specific problems such as wrinkles on the forehead, wrinkles around the corners of the eyes, and age spots were significantly improved. Remarkably, these improvements were observed from her 4th week and persisted through her 12th week.2
“This retinol was excellently tolerated, with only 3 subjects experiencing peeling and only 1 subject experiencing redness after using retinol. All reactions were mild to moderate and up to week 8. ,” Faris said. Dermatology Times. “There’s a lot to learn from this study. I think the biggest takeaway is that a relatively low concentration of retinol, this 0.1% retinol, provides great skin benefits with very low irritation. ‘s superior performance is primarily due to the unique patented emollient blend used in its formulation. This emollient blend stabilizes retinol to improve its bioactivity and delivery to the skin. It is important not to generalize these results. Not all retinols have been rigorously tested, and even many retinols, including higher concentrations, are stabilized. It may not have been bioactive, so its bioactivity is not as high.”
One of the important aspects highlighted in this study was the tolerability of retinol. Despite concerns about potential irritation, researchers reported that the irritation observed was mild to moderate and temporary. Dr. Faris emphasized the importance of these study results and asserted that retinol and its excipients were well tolerated over a 12-week period. Faris also highlighted the practical implications of these results, particularly when endorsing products such as the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair line. , incorporates 0.1% stabilized bioactive retinol.
Retinol is often touted as the foundation of many skin care products and has long been recognized for its ability to combat various symptoms of skin aging. “I have always considered retinol to be the ideal retinoid because it can provide the same skin benefits as tretinoin without the irritation. This data allows practicing dermatologists to recommend retinoids to their patients. When making recommendations, we hope to reassure people that a well-formulated, clinically tested retinol is worth considering,” Faris said. Kenvue’s extensive expertise in aging skin research spans decades, with notable advances including the introduction of the first prescription retinoid in 1971 and pioneering the stabilization process for retinol; It culminated in a patent application.
“Not all retinol products are created equal…this ingredient is formulated to stabilize “Kenvue has special expertise,” he said, underscoring the uniqueness of their approach. ”1
References
- Kenvue publishes the largest clinical dataset on retinol, the gold standard in anti-aging. news release. Kenview. April 1, 2024. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.kenvue.com/media/kenvue-publishes-clinical-data-on-retinol
- Faris P, Berson D, Bhatia N et al. Efficacy and tolerability of topical 0.1% stabilized bioactive retinol against photoaging: an integrated vehicle-controlled analysis. J drug dermatol. 2024;23(4): doi:10.36849/JDD.8124