If you are obsessed with anti-aging skincare products, you would be obsessed with Retinol as well. Retinol is known to be THE ONE anti-aging ingredient that is well-known to fight signs of aging and also the most sought after product. However finding the right product with the right Retinol ingredient can be a little tricky. Most of us ended up buying and trialing whatever come our way, with the hope that it work and no money was wasted. Most Retinol products are relying heavily on a single form of Retinol. Nothing wrong with that except that it can take several weeks for the effect to be noticeable. Murad’s latest Retinol Youth Renewal Serum, which was launched a few months ago are the result of years of research and development of Dr. Howard Murad. And, it is formulated with a combination of three Retinol technologies for a quick noticeable result minus the irritation.

Regular user of Murad products will know that their products are really good and effective. So when the Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum was launched, it got many of us excited. Oh God, age is really catching up when we are excited with anti-aging products lol. Now, as I mentioned earlier, the serum has 3 types of Retinol technology namely Retinol Tri-Active Technology for optimal levels of Retinol to be delivered to the skin for a faster, delivering sustained results and boosting efficacy.

Retinol Tri-Active Technology delivers and worked in three ways:

1. Fast-Acting Retinoid: Retinoid and Retinol are basically the same and made from Vitamin A. This boost the results for it to kick in much faster by boosting the skin cellular’s turnover.
2. Time-Released Retinol: This is a Retinol that is encapsulated in a lipid shell which will melts on the skin slowly for a consistent, sustained levels of Retinol supply for the skin over time.
3. Retinol Booster: You have result boosting Retinol and long-lasting Retinol and so the third one is also a booster and this efficacy booster enhances the Retinol efficacy by turning itself into a magnet-like to assist the skin’s receptivity to accept Retinol benefits.

I had the opportunity to bring home a bottle and I was particularly excited with the part where I was told that this Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is efficient in minimising deep wrinkles. We all know my all-time concern is my forehead wrinkles due to the way I lift my eyebrows when I do my eye makeup. Bad habit, I know. But I have typical Asian hooded eyes with limited lid space so that is the only way I can do my eye makeup. Because of that, I have forehead wrinkles forming and it is getting worse. I do not want to get Botox all the time so the only way I can tackle this issue is through Retinol skincare. The launch of this got me really excited.

I started using the serum the same night I got home. I used two pumps for the whole face. One pump I generously applied onto my forehead alone, while the second pump is for everywhere else. The pump does not really pump out a lot of product per pump so I was quite glad about that.

It does have a scent to it, which I can’t quite put my finger on it. The scent does not bother me, just like every other Murad products. Besides all the Retinol goodness, Murad also used Swertia Flower Extract, the first ever brand and product that ever adopted the use of this flower extract. This Swertia Flower Extract is a native ingredient to the Himalayas for the ability to aid the regeneration of skin cells after a burn. Hyaluronic Acid Spheres were also added in for skin hydration to plump and smooth up the skin.

For me the result is almost immediate. Over the next few days, I continued with my normal skincare as usual with the implementation of this Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum. After I did my makeup is where I was amazed. Forehead wrinkles still formed, again because due to how I do my eye makeup BUT, it is almost 50% smoother thereafter. Usually it takes a long time. If I had super matte base makeup, it takes even longer. Over the course of a month, I did spontaneous test to see if it is really the serum or I was over reacting. On the day where I did not have the serum on before makeup, true enough those nasty deep forehead wrinkles stay on. On days where I diligently applied the Retinol Youth Renewal Serum, especially with a pump full on the forehead alone, those wrinkles are smoother. It is still there no doubt but relatively smoother. Results can be seen on the recent few photos I had on other product review.

Because I have been using this Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum a lot, I am also paranoid that I would ran our without knowing. You see, the product is enclosed in a opaque white case. I can see the bottom of the bottle which revealed a little bit on how much I have left. Not being able to know and get a backup freaks me out. There is a reason behind the opaque packaging. Any forms of Vitamin A tend to deteriorate when it is exposed to light or even air. That is why you see most Retinol products are in an opaque packing. If you ever see one without, don’t buy it because opaque packing eliminates and minimizes the product exposure to air or light. Those without opaque packaging are probably not good to use anymore.

Here’s the downside. The price. This Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum costs RM498 / 30ml. Ouch! I would definitely repurchase this serum provided the wallet permits. So far the serum has been working well on the area I am most concerned about so I don’t see why I won’t repurchase. The only thing that refrain me from doing so is the price LOL 😛

Disclaimer: Product was press gift given to me at the launch event. This doesn’t affect my judgement in the review in any way.