Retinol Vitamin C Vitamin E Ampoule Serum 40ml
What it's good for
Key actives from our research database. Click any to read the full evidence dossier.
A natural acne spot-treatment that kills the bacteria behind red, painful pimples. Slower than benzoyl peroxide but with fewer side effects when used at 5%.
Good for: Anti-acne, Anti-inflammatory
The protein your skin loses with age, broken down small enough to absorb. Multiple meta-analyses of RCTs show measurable wins in wrinkles, elasticity, and hydration after ~12 weeks. Most evidence is oral, but topical helps surface hydration too.
Good for: Anti-aging, Hydrating
A heavy-duty hydrator that also reduces irritation. Often called "better than hyaluronic acid" for sensitive skin.
Good for: Hydrating, Anti-inflammatory
A traditional Japanese brightener with built-in antioxidants. Softens, hydrates, and adds glow.
Good for: Brightening, Antioxidant
Speeds up how fast your skin renews itself so old, dull cells shed faster and fresher skin shows through. Builds collagen over time, smoothing fine lines.
Good for: Anti-aging
Brightens dull skin and helps fade dark spots. Also defends against everyday UV and pollution damage when worn under sunscreen.
Good for: Brightening, Antioxidant
Evidence behind the ingredients
Real citations from our research database, one per tracked active in this product. Click any ingredient name to read its full evidence dossier.
A natural acne spot-treatment that kills the bacteria behind red, painful pimples. Slower than benzoyl peroxide but with fewer side effects when used at 5%.
Najafi-Taher R et al., A topical gel of tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene versus adapalene marketed gel in patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized clinical trial, Archives of Dermatological Research 2022;314(7):673-679 — RCT showed tea tree oil + adapalene nanoemulsion gel produced significantly better reduction in total, inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions than standard adapalene
Zambello A et al. Tea tree oil contact sensitization in children. Contact Dermatitis. 2021;84(2):123-124. doi:10.1111/cod.13699 — Documents allergic contact dermatitis from tea tree oil exposure in pediatric patients identified through patch testing; highlights sensitization risk in children.
Malhi HK, Tu J, Riley TV, Kumarasinghe SP, Hammer KA, Tea tree oil gel for mild to moderate acne; a 12 week uncontrolled, open-label phase II pilot study, Australasian Journal of Dermatology 2017;58(3):205-210
The protein your skin loses with age, broken down small enough to absorb. Multiple meta-analyses of RCTs show measurable wins in wrinkles, elasticity, and hydration after ~12 weeks. Most evidence is oral, but topical helps surface hydration too.
Reilly DM, Kynaston L, Naseem S, Proudman E, Laceby D. A Clinical Trial Shows Improvement in Skin Collagen, Hydration, Elasticity, Wrinkles, Scalp, and Hair Condition following 12-Week Oral Intake of a Supplement Containing Hydrolysed Collagen. Dermatology Research and Practice. 2024. — Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial; 12-week oral collagen supplement showed 44.6% decrease in collagen fragmentation, +13.8% hydration, +22.7% elasticity, -19.6% wrinkle index vs placebo.
Demir-Dora D, Ozsoy U, Yildirim Y, et al. The Efficacy and Safety of CollaSel Pro® Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptide Supplementation without Addons in Improving Skin Health in Adult Females: A Double Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2024 Sep 11. — Double-blind RCT (n=112); significant improvements in skin elasticity (p=0.009), hydration (p<0.001), and roughness vs placebo.
Pu SY et al., Effects of Oral Collagen for Skin Anti-Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Nutrients 2023;15(9):2080 — 26 RCTs / 1,721 patients: hydrolyzed collagen significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity vs placebo across multiple collagen sources
A heavy-duty hydrator that also reduces irritation. Often called "better than hyaluronic acid" for sensitive skin.
Feng X et al., Exploring the Properties and Application Potential of beta-Glucan in Skin Care, Food Science and Nutrition 2025;13(4):e70212 — review concludes beta-glucan exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, barrier repair, and moisturizing bioactivities
Kussie HC et al., Avenanthramide and beta-Glucan Therapeutics Accelerate Wound Healing Via Distinct and Nonoverlapping Mechanisms, Advances in Wound Care 2024;13(4):155-166 — in vivo: beta-glucan accelerated wound closure with increased angiogenesis
Cao Y et al., Improving the outcome of treating striae gravidarum by combined therapies using topical β-glucan and 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser, Journal of Dermatology 2022;49(9):829-836 — RCT; topical beta-glucan twice daily for 12 weeks on stretch marks
+−3 more ingredients
A traditional Japanese brightener with built-in antioxidants. Softens, hydrates, and adds glow.
Zhou J et al., Exploratory study on the effect of ferulic acid derived from rice bran on dull skin, Drug Discoveries & Therapeutics 2026 (online ahead of print) — topical rice-bran ferulic acid improved facial dullness/melanin index
Zamil DH et al., Dermatological uses of rice products: Trend or true?, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2022;21(11):6056-6060 — review of rice-derived ingredients with antiaging, anti-inflammatory, brightening, photoprotective effects
Miyasaka K et al., Anti-melanogenic effects of glucosylceramides and elasticamide derived from rice oil by-products in melanoma cells, melanocytes, and human skin, Journal of Food Biochemistry 2022;46(10):e14353 — rice-derived ceramides/elasticamide suppressed UV-induced pigmentation
Speeds up how fast your skin renews itself so old, dull cells shed faster and fresher skin shows through. Builds collagen over time, smoothing fine lines.
SCCS Revision of the Scientific Opinion on Vitamin A (Retinol, Retinyl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate), SCCS/1639/21, final version adopted 24-25 October 2022
Chien AL et al. Biomarkers of Tretinoin Precursors and Tretinoin Efficacy in Patients With Moderate to Severe Facial Photodamage: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Dermatology. 2022;158(8):892-900. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2022.1891 — RCT comparing topical retinol precursors vs tretinoin for photoaging; both showed equivalent wrinkle reduction at week 24 with retinol formulation causing 6x less erythema than tretinoin.
MFDS Approved Functional Cosmetic Active — Retinol (anti-wrinkle). Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cosmetic Functional Active Ingredient List — listed alongside Adenosine, Retinyl Palmitate, and Polyethoxylated Retinamide in the Korean Functional Cosmetics Codex anti-wrinkle category
Brightens dull skin and helps fade dark spots. Also defends against everyday UV and pollution damage when worn under sunscreen.
Krutmann J et al. PINGing Sunshine: A Review of the Evidence for Adding Non-Filtering Photoprotective Ingredients to Sunscreens. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2025;41(6). — Review of Photoprotective INGredients (PINGs); L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) identified as a top-ranked PING demonstrating efficacy across multiple photodamage endpoints.
Pullar JM et al., The roles of vitamin C in skin health, Nutrients 2017;9(8):866 — concluded topical efficacy "poorly understood"; supports dietary vitamin C
Lee JH et al., Effects of VitabridC12 on Skin Inflammation, Annals of Dermatology 2017
Sources: 10 clinical journals and regulatory databases across the US, EU, Korea, Japan, and China. Every entry points to a specific document. See methodology for the full list and what each outcome label means.
Layering conflicts
Ingredients in this product that can react with common actives. Avoid stacking unless noted.
- Salicylic Acidhigh
Retinol + salicylic acid can over-exfoliate and damage the barrier. Alternate nights.
- Glycolic Acidhigh
Retinol + glycolic acid is a classic barrier-buster. Use on different nights.
- Lactic Acidmedium
Retinol + lactic acid is gentler than glycolic but still alternate nights to be safe.
- Mandelic Acidmedium
Retinol + mandelic acid — alternate nights to preserve barrier integrity.
- Benzoyl Peroxidemedium
Benzoyl peroxide can break down retinol. Use one in the morning and the other at night, or pick a stabilized formula made to combine them.
Similar comparisons
Not medical advice. GlowPal is educational. Patch-test new products and talk to a qualified healthcare professional before changing your routine, especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or have a diagnosed skin condition. See our terms.