Skin Better Science
Skin Better Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream
Skinbetter Science debuted in 2016 and the company says its products are “backed by decades of rigorous clinical research.” The product line is only available through its network of physicians at dermatology offices as well as select medical spas. Skinbetter Science describes its philosophy as being rooted in science—“We believe remarkable results can be achieved simply, through purposeful product innovation, which is why we leverage advanced chemistry to help skincare products do more.”
It’s formulated with the brand’s patented AlphaRet technology, which successfully combines a retinoid and an AHA (glycolic acid) for effective and tolerable skin rejuvenation.
Both of these ingredients help to increase cell turnover while also stimulating collagen production. The result? Brighter, firmer, smoother skin.
Bottom Line: An Anti-aging night cream that combines an AHA (glycolic acid) with a retinoid to rejuvenate skin.
Skin Better Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream
Like the AlphaRet Overnight Cream, this skincare cream features a unique ingredient that is made up of a retinoid combined with an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA).
The only difference is that this formula includes a higher concentration of glycolic acid, giving you a more intense rejuvenation (hence the name).
According to the brand, this cream should significantly reduce the appearance of wrinkles in as little as four weeks, with little-to-no irritation.
Bottom Line: This product is similar to the Skin Better Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream, but contains a higher concentration of glycolic acid.
Skin Better Science Even Tone Correcting Serum
A hydroquinone-free serum that brightens and evens the appearance of skin tone thanks to ingredients like alpha arbutin and hexylresorcinol.
Both of these ingredients improve hyperpigmentation through inhibition of tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme involved in the synthesis of melanin, the pigment that gives skin color. By inhibiting tyrosinase, alpha arbutin, and hexylresorcinol help to reduce abnormal pigmentation associated with aging and exposure to UV light.
There’s also hydrating ingredients like hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid and bisabolol, as well as ingredients to strengthen the skin barrier like ceramides.
Bottom Line: This Skin Better Science serum can help brighten the complexion and reduce the appearance of dark spots.
Skin Better Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment
This facial moisturizer includes a plethora of hydrating ingredients, such as glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea, sodium lactate, sodium PCA, urea, and many more. These ingredients help to increase the skin’s hydration by replenishing the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF).
The NMF is primarily composed of free amino acids and various derivatives of these amino acids, for example, PCA, urocanic acid, and inorganic salts, sugars, as well as urea and lactic acid.
The role of the NMF is to maintain adequate skin hydration. The NMF can become depleted with age and also from routine exposure to sensitizing ingredients like drying cleansing agents and denatured alcohol. This leads to visibly dry, tight-feeling, flaky skin.
Thus, by using products that help to replenish NMF — such as Skin Better Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment — the skin will be better hydrated. Ultimately, the skin will look and feel healthy, smooth, and supple.
Plus, the formula also contains ingredients to strengthen the skin barrier, such as cholesterol and ceramides, as well as emollients like squalane and caprylic/capric triglyceride to soften skin and lock in moisture.
Bottom Line: Skin Better Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment is an excellent moisturizer because it combines ingredients to replenish the NMF with emollients and barrier-strengthening ingredients.
Skin Better Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment
This facial moisturizer includes a plethora of hydrating ingredients, such as glycerin, hydroxyethyl urea, sodium lactate, sodium PCA, urea, and many more. These ingredients help to increase the skin’s hydration by replenishing the Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF).
The NMF is primarily composed of free amino acids and various derivatives of these amino acids, for example, PCA, urocanic acid, and inorganic salts, sugars, as well as urea and lactic acid.
The role of the NMF is to maintain adequate skin hydration. The NMF can become depleted with age and also from routine exposure to sensitizing ingredients like drying cleansing agents and denatured alcohol. This leads to visibly dry, tight-feeling, flaky skin.
Thus, by using products that help to replenish NMF — such as Skin Better Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment — the skin will be better hydrated. Ultimately, the skin will look and feel healthy, smooth, and supple.
Plus, the formula also contains ingredients to strengthen the skin barrier, such as cholesterol and ceramides, as well as emollients like squalane and caprylic/capric triglyceride to soften skin and lock in moisture.
Bottom Line: Skin Better Science Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment is an excellent moisturizer because it combines ingredients to replenish the NMF with emollients and barrier-strengthening ingredients.
Skin Better Science InterFuse Treatment Cream Eye
This Skin Better Science eye cream has a silky texture that absorbs into the skin quickly without feeling greasy or sticky.
We love that the formula contains a decent amount of niacinamide, which is one of the best skincare ingredients, in our opinion. And there’s research to back it up.
For example, a publication in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology; states that niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkling. Pretty impressive, right?
And like most eye care products, the Skin Better Science eye cream includes caffeine. We all know caffeine can help wake up our minds, but did you know caffeine also helps combat dark circles and puffiness when applied topically?
After caffeine penetrates the skin barrier, it’s absorbed by the surrounding blood vessels, causing vasoconstriction while also stimulating blood flow. This helps in reducing the amount of blood that accumulates under the eyes (a major factor that contributes to dark circles).
Caffeine also acts as a diuretic and can help to relieve water retention, a major cause of puffiness under the eyes.
Last but not least is the targeted Protein (palmitoyl triProtein-38), which is designed to smooth the appearance of crow’s feet almost immediately.
Bottom Line: Skin Better Science eye cream includes key ingredients like niacinamide, caffeine, and an anti-aging Protein to brighten and firm the skin around the eyes.
Skin Better Science Alto Defense Serum
This antioxidant serum helps to protect your skin from free radical damage with the potent antioxidants vitamins C and E, as well as a whopping 17 additional antioxidants.
Using an antioxidant serum is important because free radicals can damage important cellular components, including collagen. Damaged collagen manifests as signs of premature skin aging, including wrinkles, lines, and sagging skin.
There are also hydrating ingredients like hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid and bisabolol, as well as ingredients to brighten the complexion, such as licorice and turmeric root extract.
Bottom Line: An antioxidant serum that protects against environmental free radicals while also hydrating and brightening skin.
Skin Better Science sunbetter TONE SMART SPF 68 Sunscreen Compact
This is a 100% mineral sunscreen that combines zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to provide broad-spectrum SPF 68 protection.
These sunscreen ingredients are formulated into a tone-adapting, silky smooth compact that provides a hint of blendable color. It acts as a primer under makeup and you can layer it for additional coverage.
Plus, this Skin Better sunscreen provides benefits beyond UV protection, including blue light, pollution, and infrared radiation.
Bottom Line: A 100% mineral sunscreen compact that acts as a primer under makeup and provides a hint of blendable color.
Skin Better Science Sunbetter SHEER SPF 56 Sunscreen Stick
Another 100% mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that’s formulated into a weightless, transparent, and easy-to-apply stick. These ingredients provide broad-spectrum SPF 56 protection against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays.
The formula has a very silky texture thanks to a combination of several different silicones and emollients. However, unlike the sunbetter Sunscreen Compact, this product does not provide any color.
Bottom Line: A 100% mineral sunscreen stick that creates a silky, sheer effect when blended into the skin.
Skin Better Science Hydration Boosting Cream
This dual-action moisturizer delivers immediate and long-lasting hydration, creating a velvety finish on the skin.
We noticed that this formula is packed with ceramides, the waxy lipid molecules that are naturally produced by the skin and are vital in supporting the stratum corneum (outer layer of skin).
A properly functioning stratum corneum is essential for healthy skin as it maintains epidermal hydration and serves as a barrier that responds to environmental stressors, infections, irritants, and allergens.
Applying products that contain ceramides — such as Skin Better Science Hydration Boosting Cream — can help to replenish ceramide levels, thus restoring the skin’s natural barrier.
The formula also includes plenty of humectants (betaine, xylitol, glycerin, beta-glucan, and more) to draw moisture into the skin, as well as the antioxidants vitamins C and E to protect against free radicals.
Bottom Line: A facial cream that’s rich in ceramides, humectants, and antioxidants to hydrate and protect skin.
Skin Better Science Cleansing Gel
This is a mild, foaming gel cleanser that gently and thoroughly cleanses the skin and removes makeup. Like most cleansers, this formula includes surfactants as the key ingredients.
A surfactant molecule contains one end that is hydrophilic (attracted to water) and one end that is lipophilic (attracted to oil). This allows surfactants to attract and suspend oils, dirt, and other impurities that have accumulated on the skin and wash them away.
These surfactants are combined with hydrating and soothing ingredients, such as aloe vera, chamomile, and cucumber extract.
Bottom Line: A mild, foaming gel cleanser that gently cleanses skin, removes makeup, and hydrates.
