Tested - 12 weeks, 9 testers
Encapsulated Retinal Serum 0.3%
A 0.3% encapsulated retinal serum aimed at first-time retinoid users. We ran it against prescription tretinoin 0.025% and a drugstore retinol on nine testers, photographed fortnightly in fixed light.
Buy it if
- You have never used a retinoid and want the gentlest real one.
- You react to prescription tretinoin.
Skip it if
- You already tolerate tretinoin - this is a step down in strength.
- You want results in under eight weeks.
Bought at full price. No samples, no affiliate payment for a good score.
How we scored it
5 criteria, weighted before testing began.
| Criterion | Weight | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerability | 30% | 9 |
| Visible change at 12 weeks | 30% | 8 |
| Formulation quality | 20% | 8 |
| Value | 10% | 8 |
| Packaging and stability | 10% | 8 |
| Weighted overall | 8.3 |
The formula, line by line
What is doing the work, and what is filler.
| Ingredient | Position | What it is there for | Our read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retinal | 4th | The active | Encapsulated, which is doing the tolerability work here. |
| Squalane | 2nd | Emollient | Sensible base. Not a marketing hero, just a good one. |
Testers
9 faces, 12 weeks, one protocol.
Week six was when the texture changed. Nothing before that.
Tester 3, oily, 34 - No purge reported.
Alternatives
If this one is not for you.
| Product | Price | Score | Better for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prescription tretinoin 0.025% | US$15 | 8.9 | People who already tolerate retinoids |
How we test
12 weeks minimum. 9 testers across oily, dry, reactive and deeper skin tones. Fixed lighting, fortnightly photographs, one variable changed at a time. Scores are set against criteria agreed before the first bottle is opened.
How we pay for it
Bought at full price. No samples, no affiliate payment for a good score. Retail links may earn a commission; the commission is identical whatever we conclude.
Dr. Imani Osei, board-certified dermatologist (MD, FAAD), checked every clinical claim in this review on 7 July 2026. Nothing here is medical advice - patch test, and stop if it hurts.