What is Shani Darden Retinol Reform?

Celebrity esthetician Shani Darden has her own line of skincare products that includes a cleanser, toning essence, moisturizer, and several serums, one of the most popular being Shani Darden Retinol Reform. This night serum is claimed to provide multiple anti-aging benefits without the dryness and irritation often experienced with other retinol products. It is said to work by boosting collagen production and improving cell turnover to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, uneven tone, dullness, blemishes, and acne scars. Lastly, this serum is said to help brighten and smooth skin, so you get both immediate benefits and long-term results. 

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What are the key ingredients in Shani Darden Retinol Reform?

You can probably guess that retinol is the key ingredient in Shani Darden Retinol Reform. But what exactly does retinol do for your skin? Read on to learn about the benefits of retinol, as well as the other key ingredients you’ll find in Shani Darden Retinol Reform. 

Retinol is another name for vitamin A, which is found in certain foods and can also be synthetically made as a dietary supplement or for use in topical formulations such as facial creams and serums. 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. Then, retinoic acid interacts with the retinoic acid (RAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR) located in the nucleus of the cell. These nuclear receptors increase the production of procollagen and function to block the release of inflammatory mediators. Finally, retinol functions as an antioxidant and helps the skin combat free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin

With all of the anti-aging benefits provided by retinol, 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. Fortunately, Shani Darden took this into consideration, which is why Retinol Reform contains a stable, quick penetrating, slow release form of retinol that minimizes irritation.

Another key ingredient in Shani Darden Retinol Reform is lactic acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA). AHAs exfoliate the skin by targeting corneocytes (dead skin cells that make up the stratum corneum) in a process called corneocyte desquamation. By enhancing their breakdown and increasing the separation of skin cells, the rate of cell turnover is increased, leading to smoother, more radiant skin. Compared to other AHAs, lactic acid is pretty gentle due to its large molecular size. Additionally, lactic acid is known to boost the skin’s hydration, thereby helping the skin to look and feel healthy, smooth, and supple. 

Shani Darden Retinol Reform also includes Lactobacillus ferment, a type of probiotic that helps to balance the skin’s microbiome. The microbiome is a population of many types of bacteria (over 10,000 different species) that are both good and bad. When there’s more bad bacteria than good, skin conditions like acne, sensitive skin, and bumpy, uneven skin texture can develop. Thus, keeping the microbiome balanced is critical in maintaining healthy skin. 

The final key ingredient in Shani Darden Retinol Reform is Pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract. Apple fruit extract contains several types of flavonoids (i.e., catechins, flavanols, and quercetin). Flavonoids possess antioxidant activity, which helps to protect the skin from free radical damage caused by things like UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental factors. Apple fruit extract also contains pectin, a type of fiber. A study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that apple pectin can promote epidermal growth and improve the skin barrier function. 

The rest of the Shani Darden Retinol Reform formula contains emollients like carnauba wax and phospholipids, as well as several more antioxidants like green tea leaf extract, vitamin E, and aloe vera leaf juice. Fortunately, Shani Darden Retinol Reform is formulated without harmful ingredients like fragrance, sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. 

How to use Shani Darden Retinol Reform

Shani Darden Retinol Reform should be used in the evening after your cleanser and toner. Apply the serum to dry skin and follow with a moisturizer. The brand recommends to only use Retinol Reform 1 to 2 times a week initially. Then, add a day each week, building up to using as often as your skin can tolerate. Do not use Shani Darden Retinol Reform if you are pregnant or nursing. 

Where is Shani Darden Retinol Reform sold?

Shani Darden Retinol Reform is sold on the brand’s website, as well as third party online retailers like Sephora and Amazon. 

What is the Shani Darden Skincare return policy?

The Shani Darden Skincare return policy states, “If you’re not 100% satisfied with your order, please email us at [email protected] with your order number and reason for return within 30 days of your delivery date so we can review and authorize your return.”

Is Shani Darden cruelty free?

Shani Darden Skincare is cruelty free and the brand supports alternative, cruelty-free methods of safety testing

Shani Darden Retinol Reform reviews

Shani Darden Retinol Reform reviews on the brand’s website are overall very positive, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars after nearly 300 customer reviews. Most of the reviews are 5-star, raving reviews from very happy customers. We noticed that many reviews mention an improvement in skin tone and texture. For example, one Shani Darden Retinol Reform review says, “I will always use this product, It’s fantastic I use it every night after using cleansing serum to wash my face. My face looks and feels amazing. Retinol Reform has improved my skin tone, the consistency in my skin has been amazing. I can’t wait to apply it at night.” Other customers mention reduced acne breakouts, as well as improvements in hyperpigmentation (dark spots). 

While most of the Shani Darden Retinol Reform reviews are positive, it’s important to take a look at the negative reviews, too. We gathered that most of the customers who left negative reviews either didn’t see the results they were looking for or broke out in a rash (or both!). For example, one reviewer shares, “I was reading reviews about this product and I have decided to try it. It’s been a month since I’ve been using it and nothing changed. Every time I use it my skin breakout even more. I’m very disappointed with the product. I use it every day, it seems like it’s not even working on my skin! Would never spend my money on it again!”

What are some alternatives to Shani Darden Retinol Reform?

Overall, we think that Shani Darden Retinol Reform is a good choice if you want to start incorporating retinol into your nightly routine. We like that the brand uses encapsulated retinol to avoid irritation, and we like that the product is fragrance-free and doesn’t contain harmful ingredients. But if you’ve tried retinol products in the past without any noticeable changes in your skin, you may need to use other anti-aging skincare ingredients, such as peptides. One peptide serum we recommend is Formulyst’s Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum. 

The Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum is a fragrance-free, anti-aging serum that combines six rejuvenating peptides into one formula. All of these peptides have a unique mechanism of action, and they work together to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The peptides are combined in a base of several potent hydrating ingredients, including glycerin, Chondrus Crispus extract, and sodium hyaluronate. Ultimately, Formulyst Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Serum can help to promote skin that looks and feels smoother, stronger, and more youthful.

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