Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum Review

The Story Behind Strivectin

Founded in 2002, Strivectin is a skin care brand that “breaks the barrier” of conventional skin care science by creating innovative solutions for aging and changing skin. The brand formulates their products with ingredients that support a strong skin barrier, for example, the Strivectin skin care products feature the brand’s patented NIA-114 technology. Don’t worry, we’ll explain exactly what NIA-44 is and what it can do for your skin in this review. While the brand offers an extensive collection of anti-aging skin care products, we’ll be focusing on the Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum in this review. We’ll discuss the key ingredients, how to use it, Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum reviews from real customers, and more.

Related: Best Retinol Creams

What is Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum?

Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum combines two of the best ingredients in skin care — vitamin C and retinol — into one lightweight serum. The formula includes three different forms of vitamin C, as well as acerola cherry extract, a botanical extract that is naturally rich in vitamin C. In addition to vitamin C and retinol, this serum contains NIA-114, the brand’s proprietary form of niacin, to strengthen the skin barrier. Together, these key ingredients are said to restore radiance and clarity, smooth away fine lines and uneven texture, and visibly firm and improve elasticity. So can the Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum really provide all of these benefits? Keep reading to find out!

What Are The Key Ingredients in Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum?

Like we mentioned above, the key ingredients in Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum include three different forms of vitamin C, acerola cherry extract, retinol, and NIA-114. In order to determine if Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum can provide all of the purported benefits, we must evaluate the science behind these key ingredients. Let’s start with vitamin C.

The forms of vitamin C used in Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum include sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl glucoside, and ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C). While ascorbic acid is the chemically active form of vitamin C, it is the least stable form of vitamin C, meaning it easily oxidizes when exposed to heat, light, and/or air. Therefore, combining ascorbic acid with the stabilized derivatives sodium ascorbyl phosphate and ascorbyl glucoside helps to ensure that the vitamin C in this formula remains stable. Acerola cherry extract is another ingredient in the Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum that provides vitamin C.

After applying the Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum, both vitamin C derivatives convert to ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid is a potent antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. Ascorbic acid also promotes new collagen synthesis. Specifically, ascorbic acid serves as a cofactor for enzymes that are responsible for stabilizing and cross-linking the collagen molecules. According to the Indian Dermatology Online Journal, clinical studies have shown that the topical use of ascorbic acid increases collagen production in both young and aged human skin. Therefore, Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum should help to prevent and also correct signs of aging.

Ascorbic acid can also help to improve skin brightness while fading dark spots This is accomplished through inhibition of melanin synthesis. Melanin is a pigment that gives our skin color, but too much of this pigment can lead to undesirable dark spots called hyperpigmentation. Ascorbic acid decreases melanin formation by inhibiting tyrosinase, an enzyme that is required for melanin synthesis. This is why Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum should help the skin to appear brighter with fewer dark spots and a more even skin tone.

While vitamin C is known as one of the best skin care ingredients to help improve brightness, retinol is the gold standard ingredient for correcting signs of aging. The Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum includes pure retinol, although the brand does not disclose the percentage of retinol in this formulation. When applied to the skin, retinol is clinically proven to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, restore skin firmness, and shrink the appearance of enlarged pores. Retinol provides all of these benefits by first being converted to retinoic acid (its active form) after being absorbed into the skin. Retinoic acid works deep within the skin where it boosts collagen synthesis, increases elasticity, and repairs connective tissue. It also increases cellular turnover, which helps to prevent clogged pores and also promotes smoother, healthier skin.

As you can see, retinol can help to improve numerous signs of skin aging. So you may be asking: what’s not to love about this skin care ingredient? Unfortunately, retinol products are notorious for causing skin dryness and irritation. These side effects are largely due to how retinol works: increase in cellular turnover reveals a fresh, smooth layer of new skin, but this can also cause dryness and irritation because of transepidermal water loss. This is something to keep in mind before using Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum, or any product that contains pure retinol.

The final key ingredient in the Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum that we’d like to discuss is myristyl nicotinate (Strivectin calls this ingredient NIA-114). Myristyl nicotinate is a derivative of nicotinic acid, a component of vitamin B3. While this ingredient isn’t exactly the same as niacinamide, it provides many of the same benefits. For instance, a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, states that niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, acne, and wrinkling.

The only problem with Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum is that the formula does contain quite a few fragrance ingredients, including limonene, linalool, geraniol, citral, citronellol, and a synthetic fragrance blend. The problem with the use of synthetic fragrance ingredients in skin care products is that the brand uses a proprietary blend of chemicals to create the fragrance, and they do not have to disclose which chemicals they use on the label. They are allowed to list this blend as “Fragrance (Parfum)” on the ingredient list. A 2018 study by Women’s Voices for the Earth discovered that in over 3,000 chemicals reportedly used for fragrances, 1,242 were chemicals of concern – and that included at least 7 possible carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents. Fragrance ingredients also have the potential to cause skin irritation and sensitivity.

How to Use Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum

Shake well, then apply one to three drops of Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum to your face in the morning and in the evening. Follow with a moisturizer.

Where is Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum Sold?

Strivectin Super C Retinol Serum is sold on the brand’s website, as well as third party sellers such as Amazon, Ulta, Sephora, and more.

Is Strivectin Cruelty Free?

Strivectin is cruelty free and has an official cruelty-free certification by PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies program.