Retinol is dead, long live Bio-Retinol! Retinol is dead, long live Bio-Retinol!

Retinol is dead, long live Bio-Retinol!

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Big news for everyone into retinol: the max authorized concentration of Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, and Retinyl Palmitate will be 0.3% in all skincare products starting November 1st, 2025, in the European Union. This means most of the products you know will either be banned or reformulated. Why, though? Because retinol is derived from vitamin A, and too much vitamin A is bad for your health.

That’s a long intro, but now you know why we at Horace have chosen Bio-Retinol as an alternative to Retinol in our anti-wrinkle and dark spot serum, aka Bio-Retinol + Argireline® Peptide Serum.

Let’s explore what the ingredient is all about, the benefits of bio-retinol, and why we chose to use it instead of traditional retinol.

 

What is bio-retinol? And why is it better than retinol?

 

Bio-retinol is like the friendly, natural cousin of retinol. Bio-retinol is derived from marine algae.

Like retinol, bio-retinol is great for reducing wrinkles, fine lines, and the appearance of dark spots on your skin. It speeds up skin renewal and stimulates skin elasticity, resulting in smoother, evenly textured skin. Retinol and bio-retinol are the holy grails for slowing down the effects of aging.

Yet retinol and bio-retinol are not equal when it comes to side effects. Unlike retinol, bio-retinol is not derived from vitamin A. This means bio-retinol works at the dermis level of your skin without stimulating the epidermis. By avoiding the epidermis, bio-retinol does not sensitize the skin. Retinol and retinoids create a sensorial hypersensitivity that can lead to skin burns or redness because they activate receptors at the epidermis level.

So TLDR: bio-retinol has the same benefits as retinol and retinoids, yet bio-retinol is gentle on the skin, unlike retinol and retinoids, which are sensitizing and photosensitive. Being gentle means you can use a product containing bio-retinol if you have sensitive skin. You can also use it during the day.

Retinol is so harsh you have to use it at night because during the day, your skin would get burnt. If you have sensitive skin, you need to apply a moisturizing serum, like our Hyaluronic Acid + Panthenol Serum, first and then apply retinol to avoid any tingling and redness on the skin.

So now you know why we’ve chosen bio-retinol over retinol in our latest serum. Horace is about democratizing beauty for all men, so let’s share the retinol benefits with everyone and not just those who are able to tolerate it.

 

How does bio-retinol benefit aging skin?

 

Bio-retinol fights the signs of aging by stimulating collagen production and promoting cellular renewal. This helps cells to regenerate more effectively, visibly reducing wrinkles and fine lines, and reducing the appearance of dark spots and sagging skin. Basically, it helps your skin stay young.

 

So why did Horace mix bio-retinol with Argireline® Peptide?

 

Our serum contains Argireline® Peptide, an active ingredient designed to reduce the repeated facial muscle contractions that lead to wrinkles, crow’s feet, and expression lines. A non-invasive alternative to Botox, Argireline® can reduce the size and length of wrinkles by up to 20% after 7 days of use.

Our serum’s formula is also enriched with plant-based collagen, which boosts the skin’s firmness and elasticity.

So basically, our Bio-Retinol + Argireline® Peptide Serum is the fountain of youth. Because it’s gentle, you can use it every day, in the morning, or evening. Three drops are enough. Apply it before your moisturizer on clean skin. Over 8 weeks, your skin will regain elasticity, firmness, and tone.

If you have sensitive skin, there’s no need to use a hydrating serum beforehand. Also, there’s no conflict between bio-retinol and vitamin C, or between bio-retinol and hyaluronic acid, or equally between bio-retinol and niacinamide. This means you can use our serums at the same time if you want to!

For best results, finish your routine with our Face Firming Gel. These two products work in harmony, strengthening the firmness and radiance of your skin. They’re a dream team for your wrinkles and dark spots!

 

Long live Bio-Retinol

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