Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum Review

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum
2.8
/ 10
Moisturizing
0.0 Humectancy icon Humectancy
5.5 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
10Anti-wrinkle icon/ 10
Anti-wrinkle
Review

Does Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum has to offer:
 
  • Light moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 2.8 out of 10.
  • Potent anti-wrinkle effect with the highest possible efficacy rating. With an anti-wrinkle rating of 10.0 out of 10, Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum is highly potent in reducing wrinkles.

Key Benefits of Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum:
 

Moisturizer with the Right Occlusivity for Normal Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum is lightly moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 2.8 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? Purely occlusive. It has zero humectancy (we didn't find any humectant ingredients on the ingredient list) and a moderate occlusivity of 5.5 out of 10, entirely due to the high content of Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate (est. ≈11.0%).

This type of product, when used as a standalone moisturizer, may provide some occlusive moisturizing that is adequate for normal skin.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Potent Anti-Wrinkle Efficacy

According to CreamScan analysis, Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum has a maximum anti-wrinkle rating of 10.0 out of 10.

It contains one ingredient with proven anti-wrinkle efficacy: Retinol (est. ≈0.5%), 
 the most effective non-prescription anti-wrinkle ingredient. Numerous clinical studies have shown its positive effects at concentrations as low as 0.1%. A study with 36 participants (Kafi et al.) confirmed that a lotion containing 0.4% retinol reduced wrinkle severity by 21% after 24 weeks of use, compared to the same formulation without retinol (vehicle).
 

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum to your skincare routine:
 

May Increase Skin Photosensitivity Due to Retinol

This product contains retinol, which offers powerful anti-wrinkle benefits. The mechanism behind retinol’s action is boosting cell turnover. This process exposes new, more delicate skin, making it more vulnerable to sun damage.

As a result, using products with retinol may increase the skin's sensitivity, making it more prone to sunburn or irritation when exposed to UV rays.

To protect the skin, dermatologists recommend applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 throughout the duration of retinol treatment, along with avoiding direct sun exposure. Retinol should be used at night, as it is sensitive to sunlight and can lose its potency when exposed to UV rays.

Please always check the manufacturer's instructions for using the retinol-containing products, either on their website or product label.

If It’s Your Only Moisturizer, It’s Better When Paired with Some Humectants

An ideal moisturizer for any skin type should balance the right level of occlusivity (depending on skin type) with a significant amount of humectants, while Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum contains no humectants at all.

People with normal skin would definitely benefit from adding water-binding humectants to their moisturizing routine for effective dual-action moisturizing. If this is your only moisturizer, it may be worth including a humectant-rich product, such as a serum, in your skincare routine.

Pros & Cons of Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Serum to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

Pros:

  • Provides the right level of occlusivity to moisturize normal skin
  • Balanced texture, neither too light nor too heavy
  • Delivers potent anti-wrinkle efficacy with the highest possible rating of 10 out of 10 thanks to Retinol

Cons: 

  • May increase skin photosensitivity due to retinol
  • Ideally needs to be paired with extra humectants for optimal moisturizing efficacy

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
50
22
11
6
4
3
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Isohexadecane
Function:
Origin:
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Function:
Origin:
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Function:
Origin:
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
Function:
Origin:
Triethyl Citrate
Function:
Origin:
Polysorbate 20
Function:
Origin:
Retinol
Function:
Origin:
Fragrance
Function:
Origin:
Tocopheryl Acetate
Function:
Origin:
Bisabolol
Function:
Origin:
BHT
Function:
Origin:
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
0.0
None
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
11.0
11.0
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
2.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 0.0 10
0.0
None
Occlusivity All occlusives 11.0 20
5.5
11.0
Moisturizing rating
2.8
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
None
All humectants 0.0 10
0.0
All humectants
0.0
None
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
11
All occlusives 11.0 20
5.5
All occlusives
11.0
11.0
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
10 /10 0.4 0.5 10
Total
10
Retinol
10
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
10 /10
when present at, %
0.4
in this formula, est. %
0.5
Anti-wrinkle rating
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
0.3
0.3
0.3
All antioxidants 0.9 3 No
All antioxidants
0.9
Tocopheryl Acetate
0.3
BHT
0.3
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
0.3
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
0.3
All soothing 0.3 5 No
All soothing
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Isohexadecane
Est. %50
Function
Origin
IsohexadecaneA clear, colorless liquid that is commonly used as an emollient. It is made up of pure hydrocarbons and leaves a dry feeling on the skin upon application. It also increases the spreadability of a product.
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Est. %22
Function
Origin
Dicaprylyl CarbonateA very fast-spreading emollient that gives a product an incredibly lightweight feel. Dicaprylyl carbonate works well as a solvent for suspending insoluble solids such as mineral sunscreens or iron oxide pigments.
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
Est. %11
Function
Origin
Pentaerythrityl TetraethylhexanoateAn occlusive moisturizer and emollient with a good lubricity that leaves behind a glossy sheen after application. It can also control viscosity by thickening skincare products and act as a binding agent to hold pressed powdered products together.
PPG-15 Stearyl Ether
Est. %6
Function
Origin
PPG-15 Stearyl EtherA synthetic ingredient that has a slippery feel and can be combined with many other ingredients acting as a solvent.
Triethyl Citrate
Est. %4
Function
Origin
Triethyl Citrate
Polysorbate 20
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Polysorbate 20A viscous, amber-colored liquid that functions as a solubilizer to disperse small amounts of oil into a large water phase. Polysorbate 20 is frequently used to solubilize fragrance oils into water-based emulsions.
Retinol
Est. %0.5
Function
Origin
Retinol

One of the most famous and well-researched anti-aging ingredients with a maximum anti-wrinkle power of 10 out of 10. It is proven to decrease wrinkles and help the skin regain its thickness, firmness, and texture. Retinol is also effective in treating pigmentation issues such as dark spots and acne.

Fragrance
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
FragranceUnder trade secret law, manufacturers have the right not to disclose what exactly went into the fragrance and use the unspecific word Fragrance or Parfum instead. Many fragrances are highly allergenic.
Tocopheryl Acetate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Tocopheryl Acetate

An antioxidant derivative of tocopherol (vitamin E). It helps to protect cells from free radicals and UV damage through the conversion to active vitamin E in the skin. It is more stable than tocopherol.

Bisabolol
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Bisabolol

An anti-inflammatory compound found naturally in German chamomile essential oil. It has a pleasant, sweet, and floral scent. Bisabolol also has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties but can cause an allergic reaction in more sensitive individuals.

BHT
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
BHTAn antioxidant ingredient that naturally occurs in green algae and some bacteria or fungi but, for commercial use, is created synthetically. BHT is also used occasionally as a fragrance, where it presents a sweet, camphor-like odor.
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateAn antioxidant that protects vulnerable ingredients from the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, which can also lead to the generation of damaging free radical species.