Retinol has attracted immense interest in recent years, owing to its exceptional anti ageing potential. I too thought of starting my retinol journey once I turned 35. And since we should start with lowest concentration, I started with Foxtail 0.15% Retinol. Now, after emptying an entire bottle, I am here to give you my brutally honest Foxtail Retinol Review.
Packaging
The product is packaged in a purple colored cylindrical bottle, with a pump nozzle. What I didn’t like about the packaging is that the nozzle, once opened, does not have a cover or cap, opening gates for microorganisms. Otherwise, rest if okay.
Price:
Rs. 599 for 30 ml
The price is just fine, neither expensive nor inexpensive.
Claims
- Preserves skin’s radiance
- Protects from signs of Ageing
- Causes zero purging
- Targets fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, age spots
- No added fragrance
- Vegan
- Cruelty free
- Paraben free
- Sulfate free
- Dermatologically tested
Ingredients
- Propylene Glycol – Solvent, humectant, penetration enhancer; improves product stability
- Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate (Olivem 1000) – Emulsification, barrier-repairing, moisturizing, soothing benefits
- Dimethicone – Emollient silicone: smooths skin, provides barrier effects, minimizes fine lines
- Behenyl Alcohol – Fatty alcohol used for viscosity control and emulsion stability
- BHT (Butylated Hydroxy Toluene) – Antioxidant and preservative
- BHA (Butylated Hydroxy Anisole) – Antioxidant and preservative; some safety concerns at high dosage but considered safe at cosmetic levels
- Retinol – Vitamin A derivative; core anti-aging active
- Poloxamer 235 – Emulsifier/surfactant
- Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) – Powerful antioxidant (from green tea), soothing and anti-inflammatory
- Polysorbate 20 – Emulsifier and surfactant; enhances solubility of other ingredients
- Disodium EDTA – Chelating agent; stabilizes product by binding metal ions
- Phenoxyethanol – Preservative, although a safer one
- Sodium Ascorbate – Antioxidant (a form of Vitamin C)
- Garcinia Indica Seed Butter (Kokum Butter) – Emollient; soothes inflammation
- Palmitoyl Glycine – Surfactant/cleansing agent
- Ethylhexylglycerin (usually paired with Phenoxyethanol) – Boosts preservative efficacy; emollient and deodorizing properties
Uff… there are so many ingredients. There are more:
- Octenidine HCl – Antimicrobial/antibacterial agent
- Glyceryl Monostearate – Emollient and emulsifier; adds texture and smoothness
- Allantoin – Soothing, skin-conditioning, promotes healing and reduces irritation
- Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate – UVA chemical sunscreen (Uvinul A Plus), highly photostable
- Niacinamide: A form of Vitamin B3, improves skin elasticity, reduces inflammation, and enhances skin brightness.
- Propanediol: A humectant that helps retain moisture in the skin, often used as a solvent or emollient.
- Sodium Hydroxide: A strong alkaline substance often used to adjust pH levels in products or as a neutralizing agent.
- Polymethylsilsesquioxane: A silicone-based ingredient that provides a smooth, silky texture to products and can help with skin feel and appearance.
- Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer: A thickening agent and stabilizer that helps with product texture and stability.
- Tocopherol (Vitamin E): An antioxidant that helps protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, promoting healthy skin and reducing signs of aging.
- Palmitoyl Glycine: An amino acid derivative that can help soothe and calm the skin, often used in products targeting sensitive skin.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: A form of hyaluronic acid that helps retain moisture in the skin, providing hydration and plumping benefits.
- Allergen free fragrance
What’s the point of adding a sunscreen in a product which is meant to be used only at night? I am still thinking.
Color
Yellowish
Consistency
Light cream like
Odor
Mild Perfume
My Experience: Honest Foxtail Retinol Review
Let’s talk about the first impression of Foxtail Retinol. The formulation seemed fine, as per the texture and feel on the skin. It has a low concentration, that is 0.15%, so it is a good option for beginners, as directly starting higher concentration may pose problems.
Ingredients list looked fine, with no objectionable ingredients. However, I am failing to understand the logic of adding a sunscreen in retinol formulation which is strictly meant to be used at night.
Anyway, let’s talk about the real deal…. anti-ageing. The purpose of retinol is to reduce wrinkles. Fortunately, I still didn’t have any wrinkles, except a few lines appearing under the eyes while smiling. So, I had a little scope of assessing foxtail retinol’s anti wrinkle potential.
Whatever lines I had on my face, Foxtail Retinol DID NOT fade them much. Overall, there was a little improvement in the skin, but nothing significant. The skin appeared a little better, only a little.
Pros
- Beginner Friendly
- No purging
- No other adverse reaction on skin
Cons
- It just didn’t deliver what I expected; otherwise there’s no con. Although, what’s the point then.
Does it fulfil its Claims
Let’s see Claim wise:
- Preserves skin’s radiance: Preserves? Yes. But increases? NO
- Protects from signs of Ageing: Again… Protects? May be. But does it reduce the signs of ageing that are already present? Not much
- Causes zero purging: Yes, that’s true
- Targets fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, age spots: Not much. At least I don’t think so
- No added fragrance: It has, but mild. As can be seen, it’s mentioned in the ingredients list too. I don’t understand the basis of this claim
- Vegan: Yes, although doesn’t matter
- Cruelty free: Ok, if they say so
- Paraben free: As per the ingredients list, Yes
- Sulfate free: Yes, but why would a cream or serum contain sulphate (which is a cleanser)?
- Dermatologically tested: Obviously. That is not even a question.
Final Verdict
Foxtail Retinol is fine, but not the best retinol.
Rating*: 2.5/5
Will I buy it again: No
Because now I know a better Retinol
Do I Recommend it: NO
So, this was my Foxtail Retinol Review, Brutal and Honest.
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