AlphaRet, AlphaRet Intensive, and AlphaRet Clearing Serum…what is the difference?

Written by: Brielle Kirk, PA-C

SkinBetter Science has three products that sound and function similarly, yet are slightly different! The products are called AlphaRet, AlphaRet Intensive, and AlphaRet Clearing Serum. One may be confused about which one to purchase, so I will discuss below each product and who would benefit from using each.

 

AlphaRet
– Have you ever heard of Tretinoin, a prescription retinoid? If you have ever used it, I’m sure you’ve experienced dryness and irritation when initiating it, which can last for weeks! Sometimes it is so bad that people stop using it completely and miss out on all of the benefits of a retinoid. Well, AlphaRet is an award winning serum that is extremely similar to tretinoin in terms of strength and effect, but is different because there are no adverse effects! Instead of using just a retinoic acid, this product combines that with an alpha hydroxy acid (lactic acid) to form a new molecule. This new molecule has hydrating properties, so dryness and irritation do not occur during initiation of the product and still provides the benefit of a retinoic acid. What is the benefit of a retinoic acid? Skin cellular turnover to promote fresh skin, which in turn helps to alleviate fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture. So, this product is great for those with normal to sensitive skin who cannot tolerate a prescription tretinoin.

 

AlphaRet Intensive
– For those with problematic skin who need severe correction of fine lines and wrinkles and have tougher skin, this product is for you! It has the same amount of retinoic acid/lactic acid combination as the original AlphaRet, yet has a stronger glycolic acid component. This stronger amount allows the retinoid acid to penetrate deeper into the skin and intensives the result. If you are on a 0.05-0.1 tretinoin prescription, this product is for you! Also, if you have used the original AlphaRet for a while and have tolerated it well, you can bump up to this product with no problem and for a better result!

AlphaRet Clearing Serum
– This product is for individuals who suffer from acne and inflammation of the skin. It contains the same retinoic acid and lactic acid molecule as the products above, however, it replaces the glycolic acid with salicylic acid. Salicylic acid helps heal acne by unclogging pores, leading to clearer skin. The product also contains calming botanicals and peptides to soothe inflammation of the skin, helping to further heal acne and decrease redness. So, you get the benefit of AlphaRet with skin cellular turnover and alleviation of fine lines and wrinkles, paired with the healing of acne and inflammation!