Menarini A-Ret Gel for mature skin
Tretinoin
Propylene Glycol
Isopropanol
Carbomer
Butylated HydroxytolueneLow
- LowNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for mature skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation for wrinkles and fine lines due to tretinoin, which promotes skin renewal, but it is moderately unsuitable for your normal skin as it can cause irritation and dryness.
- While the formulation is safe for your normal skin with no harsh ingredients, the potential for dryness and irritation from tretinoin outweighs its benefits for your skin type.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 11.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly effective for improving skin texture, clearing acne, and providing an anti-aging glow, especially for those with oily or acne-prone skin due to its lightweight, non-clogging formula. Users frequently mention its affordability. A significant number of reviews note a strong alcohol smell and potential for initial irritation or peeling, suggesting a need for a careful moisturizing routine.
Highlights
Highly effective results Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared up acne completely”
- “skin looks glass-like”
- “best anti-aging product”
Lightweight, non-clogging Often Mentioned
- “soaks in immediately”
- “doesn't clog pores”
- “much better than cream”
Very affordable Often Mentioned
- “unbeatable price”
- “saves me hundreds”
- “great value for money”
Alcohol smell and drying Often Mentioned
- “smells like vodka”
- “stings upon application”
- “very drying initially”
Noticeable skin radiance Sometimes Noted
- “gave me the tret glow”
- “faded dark spots”
- “skin looks radiant”
Availability and shipping Sometimes Noted
- “takes a month to arrive”
- “hard to find stock”
- “shipping delays”
Initial irritation and peeling Sometimes Noted
- “peeled like a snake”
- “burned my moisture barrier”
- “redness for weeks”
Texture inconsistency Rarely Noted
- “0.025% isn't a clear gel”
- “texture was runny”
- “thought it was expired”
Sources: lovi.care, reddit.com, reliablerxpharmacy.com, skinsort.com, incidecoder.com, wimj.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Menarini A-Ret Gel a weak match for mature skin?
Menarini A-Ret Gel is a weak match for your mature skin because, while tretinoin helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles through skin renewal, it can also cause dryness and irritation that outweighs its benefits. A treatment for this skin needs to safely target wrinkles with high-quality ingredients, combine potent antioxidants with hydrating components and skin-repairing nourishers, and avoid any risk of irritation.
The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022
Which ingredients make this gel a poor fit for mature skin?
Tretinoin is the main ingredient that makes this gel a weak match for mature skin, because it can cause dryness and irritation. A treatment for this skin needs high-quality ingredients that target wrinkles while providing deep hydration and antioxidants, without any risk of irritation.
The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022
What does Tretinoin do for mature skin?
Tretinoin helps mature skin by smoothing fine lines, fading dark spots, and improving overall texture for a healthier look. Daily use over several months may also boost collagen in sun-damaged skin to make it firmer and more youthful.
The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022
What does Propylene Glycol do for mature skin?
Propylene glycol helps keep mature skin feeling soft and smooth by holding onto moisture and boosting how well other helpful ingredients sink in. It is unlikely to cause irritation on normal skin, though it helps to watch for any sensitivity.
Where does this gel go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though it is a weak match for your mature skin as it may cause dryness and irritation. A product of this type for mature skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing moisturizers to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Can I use this gel with benzoyl peroxide, and in what order?
Using this gel with benzoyl peroxide may dry and irritate your skin, so you should use them on alternate nights or consult a doctor before combining them. Mature skin needs hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and gentle moisturizers to protect its barrier when using strong treatments.
American Family Physician, 2012Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023
How often should I use this gel?
This gel is a weak match for your mature skin because its active ingredients can cause dryness and irritation that outweigh its benefits. To safely use a treatment like this, a routine needs hydrating ingredients and moisturizers that calm the skin and keep it soft.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022
Can this gel clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This gel is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts, but it may cause initial peeling and dryness on mature skin. A product of this type needs soothing and moisturizing ingredients to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
Is this gel fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical tretinoin daily application for 10 to 12 months produced an 80 percent increase in collagen I formation in photodamaged human skin compared with a 14 percent decrease with vehicle alone.
The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993Topical tretinoin improves clinical appearance of photoaging in terms of wrinkling, mottled hyperpigmentation, sallowness, and lentigines and is safe and well tolerated.
International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is safe as used in cosmetic formulations at concentrations ranging from 0.0002% to 0.5% due to low dermal penetration and systemic exposure compared to oral administration.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2002A galenic compound containing essential oils and tretinoin demonstrated anti-acne efficacy and anti-inflammatory activity, significantly reducing papular erythema and retinoid-induced rashes compared to clindamycin-tretinoin gel in sixty volunteers over 30 days.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020Topical tretinoin precursors and tretinoin showed no significant difference in efficacy for moderate to severe facial photodamage in 20 patients, while tretinoin precursors caused erythema six times less frequently.
JAMA Dermatology, 2022Topical tretinoin significantly improved photoaging and caused histologic changes in the forearms and faces of treated patients compared to vehicle cream, with side effects limited to skin irritation.
JAMA, 1988Treatment with a combination of propylene glycol, ethanol, water, and shampoo was found effective, easy to use, and cosmetically attractive with no observed side effects in patients with dandruff.
Cutis, 1988A moisturizer containing glycerol and propylene glycol reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased epidermal thickness, increased stratum corneum thickness, and reduced dermal inflammatory infiltrate compared to untreated disrupted skin in six healthy beagle dogs.
Veterinary Dermatology, 2020The use of 70% isopropyl alcohol in conjunction with scrubbing with a bristled brush significantly reduced positive bacterial cultures at the nail fold compared to povidone-iodine with soft sponges in volunteers.
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume, 2005Friction with 70% ethyl or isopropyl alcohol immediately eliminates the heart-shaped pigmented lesion characteristic of terra firma-forme dermatosis in a 14-year-old boy.
Cureus, 2024Rubbing 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes cleared persistent reticulated brown patches in five patients with terra firma-forme dermatosis.
Skinmed, 2016Topical chloramphenicol-betamethasone combined with sodium hyaluronate/trehalose/carbomer gel compared to chloramphenicol-betamethasone alone reduced most subjective symptoms at 1 week but increased blurred vision at 4 weeks following strabismus surgery in 31 patients, with no significant differences in conjunctival inflammation between treatments.
Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2019Incorporating nanoemulsions into hydrogels with increasing Carbopol 934 proportions from 1% to 3% progressively decreased the percutaneous flux rates of terbinafine and citral, increased drug accumulation in the stratum corneum while decreasing it in the epidermis/dermis compared to nanoemulsions alone, and shifted delivery routes from skin appendages to intercellular paths.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2016Topical liquiritin carbomer gel treatment restored skin barrier function, increased barrier proteins and antioxidant enzymes, and decreased inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in a mouse model of glucocorticoid-induced skin inflammation.
Pharmaceutics, 2024
Ingredients
Tretinoin, Propylene Glycol, Isopropanol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Methyl Hydroxybenzoate, Propyl Hydroxybenzoate
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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