So Indeed Labs quietly changed their Retinol Reface formula. No fanfare. No apology. Just… different.
They swapped retinol for a gentler retinoid (HPR). The original was a punchy workhorse — this new version feels like someone handed you decaf and called it espresso.
📉 **What You Think You’re Buying**
C$28-32 at Shoppers. The claim: “visible results in 4 weeks.” I bought it because the original was the only drugstore retinol that actually gave me peel-and-reveal texture.
1. **HPR instead of Retinol** — Gentler on paper, less oomph in practice
2. **Added Ceramides** — Meant to buffer irritation, but now it barely tingles
3. **Same price, smaller bottle** — 30ml vs the old 30ml (no change), but the texture feels thinner
🆕 **New Formula, Old Lies**
It’s now a 2% HPR blend with ceramides NP, squalane, and bakuchiol. Sounds good. Feels… safe. The old formula had actual retinol (0.5% or so) and you could *feel* it working. This one just sits there.
– *HPR:* Direct-binding retinoid, no conversion needed — but weaker per molecule
– *Ceramides NP:* Barrier support, nice touch
– *Squalane:* Silicone-like slip, helps spread
– *Bakuchiol:* Plant-based “retinol alternative” — marketing fluff here
🧴 **First Pump, Second Thoughts**
It’s a milky gel. Absorbs in 8 seconds flat. No residue. Smells faintly like clean plastic — not bad, not good. First week: zero irritation. That’s not a compliment. A retinol that doesn’t make me flake even once? Suspicious.
Week 3: my skin looks… the same. Pores unchanged. That “texture refinement” the original delivered by day 10? Didn’t happen. The one unexpected thing: my dry patches actually got *less* hydrated. The ceramides aren’t enough to offset the retinoid’s water loss.
💡 **One Thing**
Apply to damp skin — the HPR absorbs deeper and you’ll at least get *some* reaction. Dry skin = invisible results.
📊 **Numbers Don’t Lie**
Measurable changes after 4 weeks: slightly smoother forehead (barely), zero new breakouts (but that was never my issue), same fine lines. The old formula visibly shrank pores. This one just maintains whatever baseline you have.
✅ **Buy if** you’ve never used retinol and want to dip a toe in without peeling
⏭️ **Skip if** you actually want texture improvement or have used retinol before
💰 **Worth it?** For $28, it’s a fine starter. But you’re paying for the brand name now, not the results.
💬 **Final Call**
This reformulation is a downgrade for anyone who actually needs retinol to *do* something. It’s gentler, sure — but gentler doesn’t mean better. It means watered down.
7.0/10 — A safe bet that plays it too safe
🛍️ **Where to Buy**
Shoppers Drug Mart or Ulta. Don’t blind buy — get the travel size first if you can find it.