Allergan, the makers of Botox, has a skincare brand that takes anti-ageing seriously, and in the line is a serum that fans say is great for reducing wrinkles and firming the skin.
The brand is called SkinMedica, and it is a dermatologist skincare line that launched in 1999. It has amassed more than 80 beauty awards, and its products fall more into cosmeceuticals than regular skincare.
It is well known in the US, but it has landed on our side of the sea, and this face serum from the brand is the most popular anti-ageing product.
SkinMedica
SkinMedica has had 50+ patents granted on its skincare, and it is seen as the leading brand in using growth factors for regenerative products that tackle ageing and acne.
The line features a three-step approach to retinol, offering three different strengths of the powerful anti-ageing ingredient, allowing customers to 'step up' as needed from the weakest to the strongest. Outside of getting injectables like Botox, retinol is the best ingredient you can use for reducing wrinkles and getting younger-looking skin.
Reducing Wrinkles
The Retinol Complex serum comes in three strengths: 0.25% for beginners, 0.5% for those who have tolerated the ingredient and wish to increase the concentration, and 1.0% for those who have tolerated the 0.5% concentration and wish to further increase the concentration.
The 1% serum was named one of the top five retinol products of 2025 by The New York Times, so this line-up has serious clout. What has arrived from SkinMedica is the 0.5% Retinol Serum, which is still a well-tolerated strength if you use it correctly for reducing wrinkles and getting glowing skin. It is on sale at Look Fantastic for €87.45, which is likely half the price or more compared to similar brands.
How To Use
Beginners (with any retinol product) should start slow, using the serum once or twice a week to allow the skin to tolerate the ingredient. It should be easier with the SkinMedica 0.5% because, as well as retinol, it contains comforting ingredients like squalane, glycerin, ceramides, marine and plant extracts, plus soybean and rice bran oils.
That combination will counteract the drying effects that come with retinol, but reviews of the serum are overwhelmingly good for reducing wrinkles. One shopper on Amazon US says 'This is an excellent product for wrinkle reduction and firming. I've been using it for over three years and get tons of compliments on my 50-year-old skin.' Another on the Dermstore site said, 'This retinol works fantastically! A little goes a long way. Fine lines and dark spots are fading. Will definitely keep purchasing.'
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