The product was added next to the standard anti-acne regimen of1,709 patients for 90 days and the study concluded that the formula was both very well tolerated as well as effective next to other standard anti-acne medications such as benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics. For me personally, at 28: whilst tretinoin is something I want to use intermittently, as it give incredible results, it's a lot of dedication. If you have sensitive skin I recommend you start with the A-Game 5 from Geek & Gorgeous and work your way up to A-Game 10 in time. Good question! 100% CRUELTY-FREE: Geek & Gorgeous is a 100% cruelty-free brand. NO HARMFUL INGREDIENTS: Geek & Gorgeous philosophy is based on maximising what is good for the skin and minimising everything else. With Geek and Gorgeous, you will know the exact concentrations of each products active ingredients, helping you to make smart, informed product decisions. Have you tried retinal? JELLY JOKER GENTLE LOW PH CLEANSER: This is gentle but hard-working jelly cleanser is designed to cleanse the skin thoroughly without drying it out or disrupting the skin barrier. This silky, light emulsion contains a medium-strength amount of retinAL to help against all signs of ageing while being gentle on the skin. BHA (Salicylic Acid) is a gentle exfoliant known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The disadvantage of pure Vitamin C is that it is super unstable and hard to formulate with. The formula is simple, effective and to the point. For example, Geek & Gorgeous bestseller C-glow boasts a combination of 15% Ascorbic Acid with a considerable amount of Ferulic Acid (a potent antioxidant of plant origin) and a small amount of Vitamin E, which together may help to increase the efficacy of Vitamin C. INTELLIGENT FORMULAS: Geek & Gorgeous formulator researches, sources and selects the gold standard of active skincare ingredients along with innovative ingredients, which are used in effective combinations, at powerful concentrations. The synergistic effects of these unions will perform significantly stronger than each of the ingredients individually. It can be used in many types of formulations as it has great thermal stability (can be heated up to 85C) and works on a wide range of pH levels (ph 3-10). Its recommended used range is 0.3-3%. I think you should give it a try. ", "It also speeds up the renewal process of the upper skin layers making it smoother and more even. Keep it classy, anddont forget tosubscribe to our free newsletterfor more skincare tips, online deals, and fashion trends. What is it? As a side note, animal testing for cosmetic purposes was banned in the European Union in 2009. To ensure maximum freshness, Geek & Gorgeous creates C-Glow in small batches once a week on average, by the time a C-Glow reaches customers, it is about two to three weeks old. Its the most commonly used version of pure vitamin E in cosmetics. It is usually used as a helper ingredient to adjust the pH of the formula. It's usually encapsulated due to the strength and instability of the ingredient and typically has a deep yellow colour to it, so dont worry that its oxidised or turned: it's meant to look like that! You can read more about the key ingredients of A-Game 10 Geek & Gorgeous below: I want to start with something that I think its important: my skin type. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they pull in the moisture from the outside environment, or from Geek and Gorgeous is vertically integrated with its own development and manufacturing, enabling the brand not only to have full control over its formulations but to create products more cost-efficiently than having to go to third-party contract manufacturers. Not enough, and you will not see the results, leading to frustration. Other than having a good safety profile and being quite gentle to the skin it has some other advantages too. either apply it at the end of the evening routine or mix with moisturizer; in the first 2-3 weeks I recommend 2-3 applications, with caution, to be able to observe skin reactions; it is possible because you have sensitive skin, to face purging (redness, acne breakouts, flaking, or excessive dryness of the skin). Geek and Gorgeous takes clinically proven ingredients, formulates them for effectiveness, and offers them at a fair price. A vegetable-basedemollient ester that makes your skin feel nice and smooth. A form of vitamin E that works as an antioxidant. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. According to the manufacturer its a S.M.A.R.T. sugar: Super common soothing ingredient. While retinol needs two metabolic conversion steps to reach the active form, retinoic acid (aka tretinoin), retinAL is the direct precursor, only one conversion step away from the active form the skin cells understand. 6% Mandelic Acid and BHA. Last, but not least, we want to mention a pretty big (but subjectively evaluated), Avene (the French pharmacy brand famous for its Retinal products) sponsored study that examined the tolerability and efficacy of a 0.1 Retinal + 6% glycolic acid product in the treatmentof acne. This sounds good, but how does Retinal compare to retinoic acid? A-Game 10 has an intense yellow hue, a color due to the retinal content. The addition of Allantoin and Biosaccharide Gum-1 to the formula ensures that the serum also has soothing and hydrating qualities. With ongoing use, it boosts the skins own collagen production, smooths fine lines, fades hyperpigmentation and boosts the effectiveness of treatments and moisturisers used afterwards. Without any sticky feel, the brands elegant textures sink into the skin beautifully. It oftencomes to the formula coupled with Sorbitan Olivateas the two together form the well-known, naturalemulsifier trade named Olivem 1000. More is not always better. It is also useful as an adjacent product for fading pigmentation, as well as helping acne-prone skin. the hydration level: panthenol, Join the WIMJ community to get skincare help and use personalized These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels Overall, if you are into retinoids, Retinal is a really awesome and well-proven member of the family that is absolutely worth trying. One more thing: the water used in cosmetics is purified and deionized (it means that almost all of the mineral ions inside it is removed). They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Once converted, the retinal helps skin cells produce more collagen and other structural elements, increasing firmness, elasticity and reducing the appearance of aging skin. Why am I obsessed with it? A-GAME 5 0.05% RETINAL SERUM: When it comes to anti-ageing skincare, vitamin A is the absolute gold standard in keeping your skin looking younger for longer. Please try again later! HA has a quicker effect and provides more instant hydration (much more hydration was measured after 1h of application), while our nice sugar has a somewhat delayed effect demonstrating stronger hydration after 3h of application. The dark packaging helps protect the serums for example, those containing potent antioxidants like Vitamins C, E and Ferulic Acid from breaking down when exposed to light. Perhaps there's a time in my life when I'll feel the need to up the ante and will have the determination to push through that phase of using tretinoin, but I'm not there yet. There is also research showing that panthenol can help our skin to produce more lovely lipids that are important for a strong and healthy skin barrier. It is estimated that retinAL can convert more than ten times faster to retinoic acid than retinol, making retinAL an outstandingly effective member of the retinoid family (Vitamin A family). For starters, I recommend applying A-Game 10 (or 5) once every two days, to increase skin tolerance; if you do not experience sensitivity, after two weeks you can switch to daily use if you want to, of course. It does not affect in any way the price you pay for the product. Read more: A cult-favourite face mask that helps your skin thrive and maintain balance, The leading authority in copper peptides for skin, Supercharge your health and wellness routine, 100% natural artisanally-made beauty products that are sure to wow skincare aficionados, Craftsmanship, heritage and the eternal French elegance. Judit came up with the concept of the brand, the products, and the active ingredients to be used, Helia-D helps to bring the products to life, and the result of this collaboration is Geek and Gorgeous. If that wasnt enough panthenol is also useful in nail and hair care products. A-Game 10 Retinal Geek & Gorgeous promises the following: A-Game 10 Geek & Gorgeous Retinal has the following list of ingredients: Aqua (Water), Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Erucate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate / Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Allantoin, Retemorus Oil, Se Panthenol, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol. Retinol is two conversion steps removed and is converted to retinAL first and only then to retinoic acid. As you might guess from the pro part, its a precursor to vitamin B5 (whose fancy name is pantothenic acid). It's not only soothing but it' also skin-softening and protecting and can promote wound healing. The 12% glycolic and lactic acid combination removes the dead skin cells gently but effectively from the skins surface and gives you a healthy glow overnight. A real oldie but a goodie. To increase the retinal skin tolerance I advise you to follow the tips below: Use 30/50 sunscreen every morning in the right amount (1.25 ml for the face). Encouraged by the success of Kremmania and by her passion for science-based skincare, she started INCIDecoder in 2015. The Jelly Joker cleanser is formulated with a skin-friendly pH of between 5 and 5.4, making it a gentle everyday cleanser. Once converted, retinAL helps the skin cells to produce more collagen and other structural elements, making the skin more youthful, firm and elastic. According to manufacturer info, it's also amoisturizer and helps to make the product feel great on the skin. The brand celebrates the simplicity of the daily routine with an edited line of essentials that can benefit everyone. An ester coming from sorbitol and the fatty acids of olive oil. See also the complete. From email subject lines to full on blog posts and even Facebook adverts. It is worth noting that most retinoid studies proving their efficacy have been done on retinoic acid and retinol, however this is my anecdotal experience of retinaldehyde. And sensitive skin is clearly in for a treat. Its Vitamin C product is thoughtfully prepared every week in small batches for optimal freshness and effectiveness. The application in the area close to the eyes will be done with great care, you must make sure that the serum will not enter the eyes. Derived from coconut and glycerin, Helps soften the upper layer of the skin and create a nice product texture, One of the best moisturizing ingredients. The low-cost premium skincare range is for everyone, from the skincare obsessed to beginners. It's also given me faster and more obvious results than retinol, which I was always kind of 'meh' about. it is suitable for all skin types, with a comfortable texture for combination or oily skin. contains This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Biosaccharide Gum-1 is a pretty interesting kind of sugar ingredient that is created from sorbitol via bacterial fermentation. The skillfully crafted, quality-obsessed formulation process employs a focused yet multi-faceted combination of potent actives and innovative ingredients. The brand also follows the latest research publications to err on the side of caution. I'm actually going to insert a little infographic from a different blog post to explain how different forms of retinoid work: I'm in Cosmopolitan UK May 2020 edition talking skin, Sachi Skin Ursolic Acid & Retinal Overnight Reform, Allies of Skin Retinal + Peptides Overnight Mask. Touch: our fermented sugar is not only good to the skin, but it also feels great on the skin. The cosmetically elegant formulas absorb quickly with no greasy residue. INFORMATIVE WEBSITE: Each product is explained brilliantly on the website, so it does not leave any room for guessing. Each product provides an easy-to-digest breakdown of its ingredients, concentrations of actives, pH value, what it is, what it does, who it is for, the texture, how to use it and research references. The result was good: the tingling was decreased by 47%. She launched kremmania.hu in 2010, and today it is the biggest beauty website in Hungary. It can be found naturally in the roots & leaves of the comfrey plant, but more often than not what's in the cosmeticproductsis produced synthetically. It can be purchased on the official website Geekandgorgeous.com. The following ingredients in this product do the job: In a nutshell, it is everything you expect from an anti-aging superstar such as decreased wrinkles, smoother, firmer and more elastic skin. caprylic/capric triglyceride, oleyl erucate. A vegetable-basedemollient ester (oleyl alcohol + erucic acid) that makes your skin feel nice and smooth. WHICH DO YOU NEED? If we go with our royal familyanalogy, Retinal is Prince Charles, directly next in line to the throne. Ive started using Geek & Gorgeous products about 4 5 months ago, and Ive introduced each one slow in my pm routine, being very careful at my skin reactions. It comes from coconut oil and glycerin, its light-textured, clear, odorless and non-greasy. With the other forms, you're relying on your skin to convert the topical ingredient up this ladder and into retinoic acid, and with each conversion, the ingredient gets weaker. to Good old water, aka H2O. This product can help reduce breakouts and clogged pores because it contains the following We love everything this quality skincare brand stands for from the ingredients and the formulations to the ethos and the results. The brand offers a range of efficacious but accessible products made with science-backed actives at the right percentages. GIVING BEAUTY PIE ANOTHER TRY | IS IT WORTH SUBSCRIBING TO. Resurfacing: The sirtuin-1 stimulation also results in quicker cell renewal - something that happens anyway but slows down as we age. Geek & Gorgeous product prices are low, but it is important to be mindful that this is not budget skincare. You will always see both what we like about a product and what we dont like. The other evenings are for gentle exfoliation, and once every ten days I apply, within the pm routine, the salicylic acid mask from The Ordinary. The formulas contain no alcohol, no essential oils and as few allergens as possible. Allantoin and Biosaccharide Gum-1 have been added to the formula, which means that the serum also has soothing and moisturising properties. It is part of the popular emulsifier trade named Olivem 1000 that is well-known for generating biomimeticliquid crystal structures. A silky, light emulsion containing a high-strength amount of retinal (0.1%) to help against all signs of aging. That is especially nice for fragile, sensitive skin. Its a nice ingredient that just feels good on the skin, is super well tolerated by every skin type andeasy to formulate with. Pretty much the current IT-preservative. The additions of Ferulic Acid and Vitamin E are antioxidants that help to stabilise Vitamin C and increase its antioxidant power by up to 8%. The beauty landscape is awash with brilliant and affordable skincare lines, yet one we return to time and time again is Geek & Gorgeous. The brands exfoliation collection contains three all skin type exfoliators that combine different acids in different strengths to suit everyones individual sensitivity to exfoliant acids: CHEER UP MANDELIC (AHA) & BHA EXFOLIATOR: Another bestseller, Geek & Gorgeous medium-strength exfoliator, with Mandelic Acid (AHA) and Salicylic Acid (BHA), addresses enlarged pores, oiliness, acne and post-acne marks. The TL;DR version is that retinoids are the royal family of skincare withtretinoin being the queen, the only FDA-approved ingredient to treat the signs of photoaging. If going to the fridge every day for your C-Glow does not sound comfortable, the brand recommends using its empty 10 ml mini bottle. She decided to launch a skincare blog Hungarian makeupalley.com-CosDNA all rolled into one website called kremmania.hu. She tried out tons of cosmetic products, facials, and visits to the dermatologist for years, without any success. It is proven to accelerate the regeneration of the upper layers of the skin, rejuvenate, smooth, and even out the skin. Pro-Vitamin B5 is a goodie that moisturises the skin, has anti-inflammatory, skin protecting and wound healing properties. If you are looking for a medium-strength retinol product, choose the A-Game 5. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly. You can usually find it right in the very first spot of the ingredient list, meaning its the biggest thing out of all the stuff that makes up the product. (Interestingly, in both groups, the results were less significant at week 44, soit might be a good idea to have a retinoid break from time to time?) Also, Geek and Gorgeous is mostly a DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) brand and currently does not work with any big retailers needing huge margins. RetinAL is only one conversion step removed from retinoic acid, also known as tretinoin. CALM DOWN PHA & BHA EXFOLIATOR: Calm Down is a super-gentle, soothing exfoliator with 4% PHA and BHA acids that works to give you a healthy glow while soothing, protecting, and hydrating the skin. This one is the so-called esterified version. It often comes to the formula coupled with CetearylOlivate and the two together help water and oil to blend (emulsifier). We found a study (a pretty good one with 125 patients) that compared 0.05% retinal with 0.05% retinoic acid (and vehicle). Most of the products are Malassezia-safe, and with only one exception, they are also vegan. Today we're talking retinaldehyde (or 'retinal'). Established in 2015, Geek and Gorgeous was founded by Pter Budahzy and Judit Rcz, who is a computer scientist turned cosmetic formulator. They were originally created and are still used to treat acne so are amazing for scarring and uneven skin tone too. The result? A more stable but less bio-available form of vitamin E compared to Tocopherol. The evidence-based actives are carefully formulated, with far less irritation potential. ingredient: retinal. It can be found naturally in the roots & leaves of the comfrey plant, but more often than not what's in the cosmeticproductsis produced synthetically. It is also useful as an adjacent product for fading pigmentation, as well as helping acne-prone skin. It also speeds up the renewal process of the upper skin layers making it smoother and more even. Retinal is a bit tricker to formulate so can be a little more expensive than retinol, and these are all high-end products. For this reason, unless you're very sensitive and have never used a retinoid before, I'd tend not to bother with retinol esters. It's not only soothing but it'. Remember that retinol needed two conversion steps to become retinoic acid? Yes, you are right, Retinal is the intermediate step betweenretinoic acid and retinol, meaning it needs only one conversion step to become active in the skin. To let Geek and Gorgeous glycolic exfoliator works its magic, the product is formulated at a pH range between 3.5 and 3.9. You can read all about the pure form here. No wonder its popular. RetinAL is the big brother of retinol, the more well-known anti-ageing superstar. This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients. An error has occurred. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products, Medik8 - Crystal Retinal - Advanced Regimen, skinmade - Tranexamic acid + Retinal serum, Avne - RetrinAL ADVANCED Wrinkle Corrector, By Wishtrend - Vitamin A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream, Eau Thermale Avene - PhysioLift Night Smoothing Balm, Skin Functional - The Powerful Vitamin A Serum | Products | SKIN Functional, "A-Game is a smart-aging must-have, but it is also useful as an adjacent product for fading pigmention, as well as helping acne-prone skin. If you have spottedethylhexylglycerinon the ingredient list, most probably you will see there also the current IT-preservative,phenoxyethanol. moisture to the outside environment. An ester coming from sorbitol and the fatty acids of olive oil. After success with her own skin, Judit realised that there was nothing in her native Hungarian language on the internet to help people learn about skincare and choose products wisely. If the pH is less, glycolic acid works stronger; if the pH is more, it works milder. If you have sensitive skin or are looking for a really gentle, almost impossible to overdo exfoliant, Geek & Gorgeous PHA & BHA exfoliator is for you. They concluded that "at week 18, a significant reduction of the wrinkle and roughness features was observed with both retinaldehyde and retinoic acid." It also helps to deliver water-soluble actives such as caffeine more effectively, and can even boost SPF in sunscreen formulas. I chose Geek & Gorgeous A-Game for the star retinal ingredient. They found that "the natural retinoids ROL and RAL do have a good tolerance profile, in contrast with the irritating potential of RA", meaning retinal is an awesome alternative if you have irritation and flaking issues with prescription products, such as Retin-A. People with rosacea or sensitive skin can introduce A-Game 10 Geek & Gorgeous in their skincare regimen, but with caution. There is also some research showing that citric acid with regular use (think three monthsand 20% concentration) can help sun-damaged skin, increase skin thickness and some nice hydrating things called glycosaminoglycans in the skin. Thank you for your comment - I read and appreciate every single one :)There's no need to spam - I will check out your blog if you leave a click-able link under a genuine comment!If you have a question please check back for my reply or tweet me @jasminetalksblgxx, Retinoic acid is available by prescription only (adapalene and tretinoin are popular forms) and can have side-effects for many people, but it's the end goal. Overall, areal multi-tasker with nice sensorial properties. The brand has designed Smooth Out to give your skin a clinically proven collagen-boosting amount of AHAs and, at the same time, to be as gentle as possible. It can be found in nature - in green tea - but the version used in cosmetics is synthetic. Normal (well kind of - it's purified and deionized) water. Disclaimer: Mujomagazine.com is registered in affiliate networks. It has a rich and caring skin feel, very similarto jojoba oil. The following ingredients in this product do the job: Apply as much as a pea on double-cleansed and dry skin as part of the evening routine. Geek and Gorgeous recommends storing it in the fridge, where it keeps fresh at least for three months (if unopened, it keeps for a couple of months more), while it keeps only about six weeks at room temperature. An easy-to-formulate, commonly used, nice to have ingredient thats also called pro-vitamin B5. Be gentle to your skin, especially if its sensitive. within deeper layers of the skin. She has an MSc in Computer Science from Budapest University of Technology and Economics and also a Diploma in Cosmetic Science from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists in the UK. allantoin, biosaccharide gum-1. Retinol is like a grandkid, it has to be converted (through two steps) in the skin to become retinoic acid. As for the hair the hydration effect is also true there. A study shows that it can reduce the irritation caused by less-nice other ingredients (e.g. Premium ingredients without the price tag and the confusion it is something we all want, but finding the right formula can seem like an overwhelming task. MADE IN EUROPE: By keeping product manufacturing, testing, and packaging within Europe, you can be sure that Geek & Gorgeous product quality meets high European standards. The brand also stores C-Glow in the fridge in all of its warehouses. Geek and Gorgeous is a super premium skincare brand that has not got the price tag attached to it. is used for treating acne and can have a noticeable effect. I did see the more affordable brand Geek & Gorgeous do one, so let me know if you want me to review that and compare it to these (I want to try their Vitamin C too but - as its freshly-made - Im holding off on ordering until I can use it right away). It works over a very wide pH range (3-12)and can be used to thicken up low-ph formulas, such as exfoliants. The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with The bottom line is that the above info is from the manufacturer (and we could not find any relevant independent research) so obviously take it with a grain of salt. These were my thoughts after using A-Game 10 Geek & Gorgeous. it is a very light serum, it is well absorbed into the skin and is gentle with it, it does not dry it excessively; the skin looks more even, the spots seem to have faded (they have not disappeared, but their appearance has visibly improved after months of using the A-Game 10 ). wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging. THE INKEY LIST | WHICH AFFORDABLE SKINCARE BRAND IS BEST? Geek & Gorgeous results-driven products are honest, straightforward and effective, at a fair price. The non-irritating and non-drying formula is also gentle enough to use on sensitive, redness-prone skin.