Night Ritual Vitamin A

Retinol in a night cream

Pure retinol delivered in a cushioning cream rather than a serum, so the vitamin A step and the moisturiser step become one. Overnight it encourages fresher surface turnover, smoothing the look of fine lines and uneven texture.

Built for comfort

Squalane, olive-derived emollients and hydrogenated lecithin form a soft, barrier-friendly base, with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin for water, so the usual retinol dryness has less to work with.

The ritual part

A blend of lavender, Roman chamomile, patchouli, vetiver and bitter orange flower oils gives it a calming evening scent. It is a feature, not an afterthought, and it does mean this is a fragranced retinoid.

Skin that wants a gentle, cream-based introduction to retinol; drier skin that finds retinol serums too stripping; and anyone who likes the evening routine to smell like the end of the day.

Worth knowing

Contains essential oils and fragrance allergens (limonene, linalool, geraniol). Sensitive, reactive or rosacea-prone skin, and anyone who has reacted to essential oils, should look to Crystal Retinal or Intelligent Retinol instead, which are fragrance-free. Not for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Evenings, after cleansing (and after any serum): smooth a pea-sized amount over face and neck, avoiding the eye area.

Start two or three nights a week and build to nightly as skin tolerates. Daily SPF the next morning is essential.

Use alongside

Gentle Cleanse before it and Hydr8 B5 under it if skin runs dry. Keep exfoliating acids and other retinoids to different nights. Mornings belong to vitamin C and a listed SPF.