
Highlights
WHAT IS IT?
Retinol Face Serum with 0.3% retinol, Contains Acacia Senegal Gum, Xylitylglucoside, Xanthan Gum, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol
FEATURES
Helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles, Fades dark spots and hyper pigmentation, Regulate oily skin and minimize breakouts, Evens out complexion
BEST FOR
sensitive
CHECKS
Does not contain parabens, sulfates, GMOs
Who Is It For?
What Does It Help With?
Fine Lines Wrinkles Dark Spots Hyper Pigmentation Oily Skin Breakouts Uneven ComplexionBudget
Affordable (under $30)How To Use
Which routine should it be used in?
Instructions:
Key Information
What The Wellness Shop Says
Product Description:
Bring out your skin's youthful glow with our powerful Retinol Face Serum with 0.3% retinol. Benefits: Helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles., Helps fade dark spots and hyper pigmentation., Regulate oily skin and minimize breakouts., Fade dark age spots, sun spots and hyper pigmentation and even out complexion. About the Brand: The Wellness Shop believes in utilizing substances produced by life that are not chemical-based. The products manufactured by The Wellness Shop aim at giving consumers the best nutrients, minerals, and protection against various dangerous elements such as parabens, sulfates, and GMOs, most commonly present in skincare products. They also believe in being eco-friendly and not being a burden on the planet Earth.
About the Brand:
Ingredients Overview
Ingredients List
Acacia-Senegal-Gum,Xylitylglucoside,Xanthan-Gum,Water,Phenoxyethanol,Anhydroxylitol,Xylitol
Key Ingredients
Retinol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xylitylglucoside
Ingredients Details
Anhydroxylitol
Common Name(s): Anhydroxylitol,cosmetic active,functional ingredient
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Delivers characteristic cosmetic function at recommended use concentration.
Why It's Used: Selected for functional contribution and formulation compatibility supported by cosmetic science and regulatory safety data.
How It Works: Works through the mechanism of its molecular class โ physicochemical or biological interaction with skin proteins, lipids, or receptors as documented in peer-reviewed cosmetic literature.
Typically Found In: Skin care formulations
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ cosmetic active
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ10%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Conditional
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Anhydroxylitol has an established safety and efficacy profile within the cosmetic regulatory framework at standard use concentrations.
Last Verified: Cosing database,anhydroxylitol technical literature
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Phenoxyethanol
Common Name(s): 2-phenoxyethanol,rose ether,ethylene glycol monophenyl ether
CAS Number: 122-99-6
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Prevents microbial contamination and spoilage in cosmetic formulations.
Why It's Used: The benchmark cosmetic preservative โ eu-permitted up to 1%, effective against virtually all cosmetically relevant microorganisms, and excellent tolerability.
How It Works: Phenol ring provides broad antimicrobial activity via disruption of bacterial and fungal cell membranes and inhibition of enzymatic activity. effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts (candida), and molds (aspergillus). activity ph range: 3-9.
Typically Found In: All cosmetic formulations as primary preservative
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ broad-spectrum preservative
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.1%โ1% (eu max 1%)
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ synthetic
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Commercially produced for cosmetic use. verify vegan/halal status with supplier.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Eu cosmetics regulation max 1%. sccs assessed as safe at โค1%. avoid use around eyes in baby products per some country regulations. ewg score: 4.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Phenoxyethanol's widespread adoption as the primary cosmetic preservative followed the phaseout of parabens from many formulations in the 2000s-2010s. despite having a comparable or better safety profile to parabens, it is often cited in 'free-from' formulations โ a consumer perception issue rather than a scientific safety concern.
Last Verified: Cosing database,sccs opinion on phenoxyethanol,cir safety assessment
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Water
Common Name(s): Water,purified water,deionised water,inci water
CAS Number: 7732-18-5
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides the universal solvent and vehicle for water-soluble actives and the continuous phase of all o/w emulsions.
Why It's Used: The most essential cosmetic ingredient โ aqua (water) is listed first on virtually all water-containing cosmetic inci labels as the highest-concentration ingredient, serving as the foundation of the global cosmetics industry.
How It Works: Acts as solvent for all water-soluble ingredients (glycols, amino acids, water-soluble actives). forms the continuous external phase of o/w emulsions (lotions, creams, serums). provides aqueous environment for enzymatic and chemical reactions between actives. ph adjustment medium.
Typically Found In: Virtually all cosmetic products โ the most universal cosmetic ingredient globally
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Functional ingredient โ water
Secondary Functions: Skin conditioning
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: Varies widely โ up to 95% in some toners and serums
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ water (deionised/purified)
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Cosmetic-grade water is purified (deionised, distilled, or ro filtered) to prevent mineral content interference with formulation stability. european pharmacopoeial water (aqua purificata ph. eur.) is the quality standard for pharmaceutical and high-end cosmetic formulations.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ non-irritant
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Well-tolerated by most skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Good safety profile at recommended concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Standard skincare actives
Avoid Combining With: No known significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Water's position as the first inci ingredient on most cosmetic labels reflects the regulatory requirement to list ingredients in descending concentration order โ meaning water is the most abundant ingredient in the majority of cosmetic products. the fundamental role of water as the universal cosmetic solvent and vehicle makes it simultaneously the most important cosmetic ingredient and the one that requires the most sophisticated formulation chemistry to control โ every emulsifier, thickener, preservative, and ph adjuster exists primarily to manage water's interaction with other ingredients in formulation.
Last Verified: Cosing database,eu cosmetics regulation 1223/2009 inci requirements,ph. eur. aqua purificata monograph
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12
Xylitol
Common Name(s): Xylit,birch sugar,xylite
CAS Number: 87-99-0
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides anticaries activity by starving cariogenic bacteria alongside humectant moisture retention.
Why It's Used: The anticaries sweetener โ xylitol's non-fermentability by s. mutans prevents acid production from sugar metabolism for comprehensive caries prevention.
How It Works: S. mutans transports xylitol into cell via glucose transporter. xylitol-5-phosphate cannot be metabolised and accumulates intracellularly poisoning s. mutans. non-fermentability prevents acid production. stimulates saliva flow for natural remineralisation.
Typically Found In: Toothpaste,mouthwash,sugar-free gum,oral care
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ dental anticaries sugar alcohol
Secondary Functions: Tewl reduction,skin plumping
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 5%โ30%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes โ from birch or corn cob
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Synthetic or naturally derived. excellent aqueous solubility.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; suitable for all skin types.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Highly toxic to dogs โ xylitol causes hypoglycemia. safe for humans at typical doses.
Works Well With: Ceramides,emollients,occlusives,glycerin,hyaluronic acid
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Xylitol's toxicity to s. mutans is bacterium-selective: the same glucose transporter that brings glucose into s. mutans also transports xylitol, but the phosphorylated product (xylitol-5-phosphate) cannot be metabolised and accumulates to toxic concentrations in s. mutans but not in human cells, which metabolise xylitol via a pentose phosphate pathway.
Last Verified: Cosing database,mรคkinen xylitol caries review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12