Retinol | Beauty and Fashion Tech

Review: DermaDoctor Poetry in Lotion Retinol Lotion

I am a pretty big fan of retinol. It is one of the few active ingredients that I have found that actually shows visible results on fine lines. It also brightens a bit, which I like since I have areas of melasma. Unfortunately though, it can also be irritating, especially in prescription strength. DermaDoctor Poetry in Lotion is a great middle ground for me. It has the highest concentration allowed for over the counter (1%), and it is formulated to have less irritation.

I have been using it for a month now with good success. It is pricey, but I like it better than any other over the counter retinol cream that I have used so far, although I also really like Remergent (read previous review). The lotion is on the thicker side and is quite moisturizing, which off-sets any dryness from the retinol. I had no issues with irritation and, although the lotion seemed a bit thick, it did not break me out.

If you are looking for a full strength retinol lotion over the counter, this is a good one to try! customers at DermaDoctor also rave about this one. You can read those reviews through the link above. I will also be giving away a full size bottle of Poetry in Lotion beginning Tuesday of next week. So check back to enter the drawing!

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Remergent Skin Care

A couple of weeks ago I reviewed the wonderful book The New Science of Perfect Skin: Understanding Skin Care Myths and Miracles For Radiant Skin at Any Age by Daniel Yarosh PH.D (read review). Yarosh also has a skin care line through his company AGI Dermatics. If you are a retinol fan, or have been considering trying retinol products, this is great line to look at. If you are not familiar with retinol, it is one of the most effective, if not the absolute best, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle treatment actives available.

I tried four products from the line, and today will focus on the Complete Cleanser and two retinol products, the Progressive Retinol Complex and Advanced Retinol Therapy. Watch in a few weeks for a look at the Clarifying Concentrate, aimed at treating melasma and similar types of hyperpigmentation.

The Complete Cleanser provides pH-correction to condition and prepare the skin for optimum delivery of treatment actives. This is a generally non-drying lotion type of cleanser that does a sufficient job of cleaning and removing makeup. Mostly, it is aimed at helping the treatment actives absorb the best.

The two retinol products are what really shine. The Remergent Progressive Retinol complex contains .4% retinol and serves as a good beginner product in order to acclimate the skin to retinol. It is also formulated to minimize irritation from the active ingredient. If you have not used retinol before or are sensitive to it—something that is common and is entirely normal—this is a great place to start. From there, the next step is a move up to Advanced Retinol Therapy, which has 1% retinol, the highest concentration available over the counter. Finding a product with a full 1% over the counter can be a bit difficult, and many products never tell you the concentration, so it is nice to know that you are getting the full amount with one.

I found that the Advanced Retinol Therapy was a bit more gentle than some other retinol products I have used, although I still did get a bit of redness from it, likely from a bit of overuse. Remember that a little goes a long way with this stuff! The container actually puts out pre-measured doses for your entire face and one is enough! I had no issues with breakouts using it (retinol can also help treat acne in some people, but it doesn’t seem to work well on acne for me). I also saw nicely bright and good looking skin after 4 weeks of use. I have particularly been using retinol in conjunction with various skin lighteners to treat melasma and pigmented areas.

Overall, the Remergent line is a nice option for anyone wanting to try retinol or who wants to know that they are getting the full over the counter amount. It is available online from various sources and through some dermatologists. See remergentskin.com for locations.

Comparison Shop for Remergent Skin Care Products