I used a weaker drugstore retinol for years and it never felt like much. Switched to this 0.05% cream about three months ago. I put it on after washing at night and that is the whole step. Texture on my cheeks feels less rough in the morning. The jar is plain, which I actually like. A little goes far, though the lid is a bit fiddly.

I wanted one cream I could order without a pharmacy run. Had it for six weeks. I use it two nights, skip one, because my skin still complains if I go every night. Makeup sits a bit smoother on my forehead now. Not a miracle, but the routine is finally short enough that I stick to it.

I already knew I wanted retinol and did not want a ten-step shelf. This is just the cream. I have used it since January, pea-size after cleanser. My skin looks a bit clearer around the jaw. Friends asked if I changed foundation. I still get a dry patch near my nose if I forget moisturizer after.

I keep it next to the sink and use it when I remember, which is most nights now. Before this I mixed serums and never finished a bottle. After two months the skin on my cheeks feels less bumpy when I wash. Shipping took a while to my address, but the cream itself is straightforward. I would buy it again.