As I sat down to create this post, the first thing that flashed through my mind was an in-depth discussion that I had with a customer on retinol. Actually it wasn’t just on the topic of retinol alone, it was also regarding AHAs, BHAs and Vitamin C and if it’s wise to pair any of the ingredients together.
The conversation was an interesting one as I ended up almost being called an idiot who didn’t know what I was talking about and that I should do my research.
Why I brought up this terrible incident is because the star of today’s post is a retinol serum which also contains Vitamin C. And by the way, I personally think it’s absolutely fine to pair Vitamin C and Retinol together, they are both antioxidants which help to protect your skin from free radicals. That said, I was taught (by a Neostrata trainer) that any product that has 0.3% or higher concentration of retinol should be limited to evening use, anything with a lower concentration is okay to be used during the day paired with high SPF sunscreen.
Robin McGraw is a brand that has been featured here before and while I wasn’t impressed with the products in my original post (read here), I have since fallen head over heels in love with both the serum and night cream. However, I still stand by my original thoughts on the scrub, I still hate it.
Welcome Back Youth Retinol Serum 0.3%* (US$38.00)* came into my life at the end of last year and I have been consistently using it since the beginning of the year. And oh boy, it has been quite the journey with this little bottle. This serum comes in an opaque plastic pump bottle and is created to diminish fine lines, wrinkles and hyper pigmentation. The texture is a light lotion that absorbs really quickly into the skin. I have to note that even though fragrance is listed as an ingredient, this serum does not smell nice. I don’t know how to describe the scent but it’s not pleasant at all. 
Nasty scent aside, this powerhouse serum definitely delivers a powerful punch. It’s key ingredients are: • Squalane – a saturated lightweight oil, skin conditioning • Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C) – a lipid soluble form of Vitamin C that pairs really well with Retinol to enhances effectiveness. • Retinol (Vitamin A) – skin restoring ingredient, antioxidant • Anadenanthera Colubrina Bark Extract – a moisturizing and healing ingredient that is bio-compatible to the skin. • Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) – antioxidant I have been using this serum for almost two months and even though my skin is used to Vitamin C and Retinol, I had to start really slow. I made the mistake of using this serum again after two days and my skin didn’t like it. My skin was left red and dry and I had to quit using this serum for a week to get my skin back to normal. 
Starting once a week and slowly building it up to twice a week worked wonders for my skin. My skin is clearer, my pores look more refined and the best part, my spots are fading faster. I also noticed the fine lines at the high point of my cheeks look softer and I am not getting as many breakouts during that time of the month. I thoroughly enjoy using this serum however I wish that it came in a bigger bottle. I might be wrong but the only size I see on the site is 15mL instead of the usual 30mL. I also wish there’s a way of seeing how much product is left in the bottle but that’s just my personal preference. To whom do I recommend this serum? If you are 35 and above and need the extra boost in your current skincare routine. And yes, this will definitely be a repurchase in the future! Robin McGraw Revelation Welcome Back Youth Retinol Serum 0.3% retails for US$38.00 and is available for purchase on www.robinmcgrawrevelation.com. *Product marked with * was received for free but my thoughts and opinions are 100% unbiased, honest and my own. There is no place for any sort of BS here.