I was so excited when Zelens launched the three Power Treatment Drops to customize and boost your skincare regimen. Power A is the retinol treatment drops. Details per Zelens:
A high potency Vitamin A concentrate containing a powerful combination of pure, encapsulated retinol and two retinoids. This time-released, oil-free retinol treatment promotes skin renewal and improves skin tone and texture with minimal or no irritation. Reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots resulting from aging and sun damage. Additionally helps to clear blemishes and diminish the look of enlarged pores. Fortified with a proprietary botanical blend containing extracts rich in Vitamin A. Leaves skin visibly smoother, clearer and younger looking.
Benefits
- Refines and smooths skin texture
- Reduces the appearance of the visible signs of aging
- Helps clear blemishes and skin imperfections
Power A has a light dry oil texture and it's yellow in color. It has a very light facial oil type scent, nothing big that distracts or annoys me. I started with this by adding one drop every other night, then built it up to three drops every night. Always start a new retinol 3x/week or every other night then build up to daily. This is to avoid some of the side effects of retinol like redness and irritation.
I mixed the drops into my regular night serum I was using at the time. I liked this way to customize my night routine. You can continue using a retinol free serum of your choice but add the benefits of retinol to it. I found Power A to be a mild retinol serum. It was never harsh or irritating even at three drops a day. That's actually my only complaint about it. That it was pretty mild. There is another retinol booster serum I've been testing as well that I feel is more powerful and costs a very small fraction of what this does. However, I do prefer Power A to the Paula's Choice 1% retinol booster I recently reviewed.
The ingredients of Power A are just amazing and top notch. As even just an anti-aging facial oil this formula is fabulous. This comes packaged in a frosted glass bottle with a dropper for application. It doesn't come cheap at $215 for 1 oz. Though Zelens is always well done and worth it. I find this type of facial oil hard to use all over during the warmer months. I usually don't use any facial oils during those hot months. I prefer a serum retinol booster to an oil retinol booster for that reason. If you like a light dry facial oil at night and want to try some added benefits of retinol you might want to go for this one. If you don't like facial oils stay tuned for my next retinol booster review.
Active Ingredients
Retinoids: Zelens uses two cosmetic grades retinoids: Hydroxypinacolone retinoate and Retinyl palmitate.
Hydroxypinacolone retinoate is an ester of all-trans retinoic acid. This retinoid demonstrates activities of pure retinol without irritation.
Retinyl palmitate is an ester of retinol and palmitic acid. This retinoid facilitates cell communication and enhances skin renewal process.
Phospholipids: Major building components in the structure of any cellular membrane essential for all vital physiological processes. These natural skin-identical ingredients demonstrate moisturising, restructuring and protective properties.
Sterol complex: A blend of vegetable-derived esters structurally similar to skin lipids. Demonstrates moisturising, conditioning and repairing properties. Reinforces skin barrier function.
Soybean sterols: Phytosterols derived from soybeans are lipid molecules with strong biomimetic and soothing properties. Structurally similar to skin natural lipids, these sterols moisturise skin, reduce water loss and strengthen natural barrier function.
Glycolipids: Lipid molecules analogous to the intercellular lipids of stratum corneum (SC) demonstrate structuring, repairing and protective properties. Strengthen the barrier function and hydro-retaining capacity of skin.
Omega-3 and Omega-6: Essential fatty acids derived from safflower oil. Help restore and maintain lipid barrier function and balance the moisture of the skin. Omega acids act as skin protectors and revitalisers.
Proprietary botanical blend: This unique botanical blend contains 6 fruit and vegetable extracts (pumpkin, carrot, broccoli, sweet potato, tomato and spinach) rich in Vitamin A (carotenoids).
Vitamin E: An antioxidant with a key role in the protection of cellular membranes from free radicals. It is the major antioxidant in the human epidermis with strong protective - effects against UV-induced skin damage.