A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum.

"My husband also liked the Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum because the texture is really lovely. Despite the name, it's the weakest of the four retinoids I showed, [...] because the retinoid in here is a blend of retinol esters and others to reach the percentage they claim. He loved the texture but it's quite expensive. If he was willing to splurge I'd opt for it, but as he isn't, we'll stick to the Geek & Gorgeous ones."

"When you read '6.5% retinoid' on a product like the Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum, you probably expect it to be seriously strong, but that number can be a little misleading and might not mean what you think. Sunday Riley calls this an advanced-strength retinoid serum with a 6.5% solution of stabilized retinoid blends and botanical retinol-alternative extracts. If you have read anything about this product online, you probably know that it has a controversial smell, some say it smells like unwashed feet or melted crayons, others aren't bothered by it at all. I think it has a distinct and unpleasant musky smell, my husband claims he doesn't notice any scent at all, but whatever you perceive, the scent isn't strong or overpowering. The product is runnier than I expected and slightly yellow, something not uncommon in retinoid blends. The texture is beautiful, spreads easily and leaves the skin feeling soft without tackiness. The 6.5% is a mixture of 5% retinol-ester blend, 1% liposomal encapsulated retinol blend, and 0.5% blue-green algae claiming retinol-like activity, plus 0.5% Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, also known as Granactive Retinoid. Taken all that into account, I would argue that this is a low to medium strength product, depending on the actual potency of the retinol ester blend that I can't judge. I admit I am torn if the Sunday Riley A+ High Dose Retinoid Serum is something I would recommend. On the pro side it has a beautiful texture and makes the skin feel instantly smooth. The cons are the 'high dose retinoid' claim that in my opinion isn't backed by the ingredients they are using, I think it is medium strength at best, and that feels slightly misleading with the 6.5% prominent on the label when only a fraction of this 6.5% is actually retinol. My husband who doesn't really care about claims is a fan due to how his skin feels after using it, so I think in the end it comes down to how you personally feel about that and how much you are willing to pay as it isn't exactly cheap. The lower strength means it might be a good option for people not experienced with retinoids and the high price point makes it probably more suitable for those among us that are more mature and willing to splurge, because a significant part of the price reflects the branding and luxurious packaging, not just the formulation itself."

"Sunday Riley sent me the A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum. I'm not going to lie, I read high dose retinoid serum, looked at the ingredient list, and haven't used it enough, might change my mind, but I think that's more of a mid dose retinoid serum than a high dose retinoid serum. I will keep testing it and report back. What I can say is the packaging is beautiful, metallic blue with silver specks."