iS Clinical Retinol+ Emulsion 0.3

iS Clinical Retinol, and What the 0.3 Means

iS Clinical Retinol+ Emulsion 0.3 is a 1 oz night emulsion built on a retinol iS Clinical describes as being of botanical origin, encapsulated with bio-identical lipids, alongside a proprietary blend of bakuchiol. The 0.3 in the name is the retinol strength. iS Clinical does not print a percentage on its product page, and it states "RETINOL 0.3% and 1.0%" in its own Retinol+ Emulsions trade notes, where 0.3 and 1.0 are the two strengths in the line. We stock the 0.3. It sits with firming treatments across brands.

What iS Clinical Publishes, and What It Does Not

iS Clinical's benefit list for it: reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, diminishes the appearance of uneven skin tones, textures and blemishes, protects from environmental and oxidative stressors with Extremozyme technology, strengthens and hydrates the skin, and increases firmness and elasticity. Those are iS Clinical's claims, not measured outcomes.

On evidence, iS Clinical's trade notes go further than its product page. They describe gene-activation work for both strengths, and for the 0.3 a subject study with ultrasound imaging, quoting "There was a statistically significant and continuing increase in the absolute amount of skin density". What the notes do not give is a panel size, a duration, or a single number. So there is study material, and there is nothing in it you can check.

Because iS Clinical names blemishes in its own benefit list, this also sits in our picks for blemish-prone skin.

Product specification

iS Clinical's directions are two to three pumps on clean skin, smoothed evenly over face and neck, at night every three days for three weeks. If well tolerated, every two days or as directed. That is a slow ramp, and it is the brand's own schedule rather than our suggestion.

On the ingredient order in the table above: under the FDA's labeling rules, ingredients above 1% appear in descending order and ingredients at 1% or less may be listed in any order. Retinol at 0.3% sits in that second group, so position 17 of roughly 70 is consistent with the stated strength and does not contradict it. Bakuchiol has no published percentage, so its position at 14 tells you it is present and not how much. For the rest of what we carry from this brand, start on the iS Clinical shelf.

What percentage of retinol is in it?
0.3%. iS Clinical states "RETINOL 0.3% and 1.0%" in its Retinol+ Emulsions trade notes. Its public product page leaves the figure out, which is why the number is easy to miss.

What are Extremozymes?
Extremozyme is iS Clinical's own term, and it names Extremozyme technology in this product's benefit list. The one it identifies here is ectoin, which iS Clinical describes as an Extremozyme found in several plants thriving in high-salt environments, and credits with helping protect against environmental stressors.

Is it suitable for blemish-prone skin?
iS Clinical names blemishes in its own benefit list. It gives no separate instruction for congestion-prone skin, so its standard every-three-days schedule is the one to follow. Compare it against the other evening treatments and serums we stock.

Is the retinol synthetic?
iS Clinical describes it as a retinol of botanical origin. That is the brand's stated description; the sourcing is not something we can verify independently.

Full ingredient list: Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Squalane, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ectoin, Glyceryl Citrate/ Lactate/ Linoleate/ Oleate, Polyglyceryl-4 Cocoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Cocoate, Glyceryl Caprylate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Bakuchiol, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Retinol, Phragmites Communis Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Phosphatidylcholine, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Polysorbate 20, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Lecithin, Lactic Acid, Polysorbate 40, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoalkane, Laureth-7, Tripeptide-1, Dextran, Ascorbic Acid, Colloidal Gold, Glutathione, Panthenol, Heptyl Undecylenate, C13-16 Isoalkane, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Phenylpropanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl/ Capryl Glucoside, Diisopropyl Adipate, Triethyl Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitol, Fragrance/Parfum.

Transcribed from iS Clinical's own list. The brand publishes no percentage for any ingredient, including the retinol. Bakuchiol appears at position 14 and retinol at position 17.

Evening only. Our suggestion is to start two or three nights a week and build from there rather than going nightly from the first bottle, and to keep it away from the eye area. iS Clinical publishes no frequency instruction, no warning and no patch test note that we could read, which is not the same as saying none applies.