Retinol Cream for Face 2.5% with Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamins E & B5, 1.7 fl. oz.

I have bought multiple Amara Beauty products over the years. I have no complaints and I like that I am supporting a small business.

Ok, maybe I'm crazy here but I have super sensitive skin and I really worried this would break me out, as I tried an Olay retinol cream once and it really didn't work well, made my skin feel really greasy. I did have a couple of very small breakouts since I've been using this HOWEVER I have also been using a variety of different night moisturizers on top of this, so honestly I think it's that I'm either layering too many moisturizing items at night, or it could be the other things I'm using because I feel like I had noticed minor breakouts previously when using one or two of them. Basically, I need to be better about trying things individually.If you're wondering why I'm giving it 5 stars despite the minor breakouts and not being able to 100% say it isn't this cream (although I'm like 98% certain), it's because after I'd been using this for only a few days I was startled one morning looking into the mirror, trying to figure out what looked so different. My skin looked so clear and smooth, but I didn't think that was it. Then I realized, the very minor lines/wrinkles I'd noticed previously that were forming around my mouth (smile lines, as people call them) were completely gone. I had only been using this for a few days so I don't know if this stuff works that quickly or what's going on--all I know is, after I started using this regularly day and night, I suddenly realized those wrinkles were gone and I didn't remember them being gone before. I'm not saying this stuff is miracle cream that will remove ALL THE WRINKLES EVER on a person's face, because that probably isn't possible. But if you have the small starts of lines like I do, jeez louise it seemed like this cleared that right up. Funny thing is, I wasn't even using this cream for that reason, so that's why it totally surprised me.Also, after I purchased this, I got an email from the company giving me tips on how to use it and providing me contact information if I need it for any reason. I really, really appreciate companies that do that through Amazon, because it would be so easy to see us as faceless consumers on such a huge site. ALSO, when you get the actual cream, on the back on the directions it tells you how to use it but it also tells you that retinol increases sun sensitivity so you should use sunscreen daily. I am so thankful that they added that bit of info because I've had products now and then with retinol in it, and none of them have ever said a word about that. For me with my super sensitive and pale skin, that's really important information because I burn really quickly. I usually try to use sunscreen anyway but on weekends when I'm running out to walk my dog, I might have otherwise forgotten to throw on some sunscreen and might have run around with only the retinol cream on my face.Overall, I'm really impressed with the company, their thoughtfulness in both the directions and reaching out to the customers, and unless I'm going crazy, this stuff took away smile lines I didn't even think about having disappear. I'm definitely going to keep using it and see if the breakouts stop after I change up my other items or maybe don't go so overboard at night with multiple creams and with leftover stuff in my hair like sea spray or whatnot. (My skin is so sensitive that just using hairspray and having that fall on my face breaks me out, and if I get it on my pillow case at night and that gets on my face it breaks me out, etc, so that's why I'm pretty sure this cream is not at all involved in the minor breakouts recently because I'd been doing a lot of other things lately that I know do break me out). If I end up having some massive reaction or determine somehow this cream really is terrible for my skin I'll update this, but otherwise so far I'm really happy with it.

This doesn’t seem to work on my puffy eyes

About 6 years ago I had a house mate that was really into skin care. At that time, I really wasn't. I washed my face twice a day and used sunscreen in the morning and I felt that was enough. Then I was introduced to retinol. I didn't really have any wrinkles yet, just some light smile lines and neck lines, but I wanted to keep them at bay a long as I could and get rid of what had started. I'm 45 now, I've been using this brand of retinol serum for just about 6 years and my face continues to look great. What I love the most about this formula is that it also helps with break outs. To this day, if I'm not vigilant, I'll break out all over my face. This retinol cream has helped so much that I started to take it for granted. This winter I went on a three-week vacation without it! I came home looking like a pizza face and only now a week later and 7 nights of using retinol again (I leave it on overnight) has my face started to go back to normal. I will never leave home without my retinol serum again! I've got this one on a constant subscription so I never run out either. I have sensitive combination skin and this stuff does me right.

I love this product line. I am 79 years old. My skin has always been good until the last year or two. Up until then I only used drug store products for my skin. Then my skin started getting dry, blotchy and wrinkley. I started using middle of the line skin care products and some better department store brands but they did not help a lot and they were spendy. I saw the Amara products while I was searching on Amazon. The reviews were really good so I ordered the Amara Vitamin C serum and the retinol cream. I could see and feel the difference in a couple of days. After 2 weeks there was a big change in my skin. Nothing is going to get rid of all the wrinkles but my skin is soft and moist and smooth. Those two worked so good that I ordered the eye cream. I had huge puffy bags under my eyes. After a few days of using the eye cream most of the puffiness went away. There is stilll some under eye puffiness but there is a big difference. Even using 3 products I can still afford them. I started using the retinol cream and the Vitamin C serum 2 months ago. There is still product in the containers. I use them once a day. Also Amara’s customer service is awesome. One of the Amara products arrived with a problem. I sent an email to Amara and I received a replacement within a week. I can’t believe the great customer service. You don’t see that very much.

I have been using this going on 6 weeks. My skin is still going through upheaval. Redness, dryness, flaking, stinging, and cystic acne flare ups including white heads. I think; however, it's not the product's fault. I think retinol might be too strong for my sensitive skin. The product came with good instructions and to give it time to settle - I think that the product just does not fit my skin and so I cannot wait more time for it to settle. My skin feels like it might sustain permanent damage. However, if you don't have super sensitive skin, I would follow the instructions and give it time.Regardless of skin type, sunscreen is an absolute must (including reapplying). I applied a lot of sunscreen but a few hours in indirect sunlight caused sun burn.The product itself came in good condition, was sealed properly, and is easy to dispense/use. Ultimately, I think this is a solid product made with good ingredients - it just wasn't the right fit for me.