This Retinol Brightened My Skin in Less Than Six Weeks 

As a woman in my late 20s, taking care of my skin is a priority. Even though I don’t have a dedicated skincare routine, there are a few products in my arsenal that I honestly can’t live without. One of those is the Kate Somerville Vitamin C Retinol Moisturizer, which, within just six weeks, improved the texture of my skin and visibly reduced the fine lines peeking through on my forehead.

_{Prices are accurate as of March 10, 2025. Subject to change.}

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a form of vitamin A with anti-aging effects, such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It can also help unclog pores and boost collagen production in your skin for a plumper look. Retinol is also a great product for those looking to reduce hyperpigmentation or acne scars. You may have heard of the popular ingredient tretinoin, which is a prescription-strength vitamin A. It will get you results quicker than over-the-counter retinol, but can be much more drying. 

This cream has vitamin C in it as well, which also combats wrinkles by producing collagen and helps to brighten skin.

Kate Somerville +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer

How Soon Will You Notice a Change in Your Skin?

The Cleveland Clinic says retinol is almost immediately absorbed into your skin, but it will take a few weeks to show any effect. Kate Somerville’s cream wasn’t my first attempt at using retinol, but it’s the only time a product seemed to work for my skin. I used it for six weeks continuously, wearing it at night before bed after I took my makeup off. I first started to see noticeable changes in my fourth week of use.

Retinol Side Effects

With retinol, your skin will usually look worse before it looks better. I like to think I have pretty sturdy skin. I don’t break out, and apart from a few pesky blackheads, I don’t have too many skin issues. That said, I do have combination skin (with an extremely oily T-zone), which sometimes leads to dryness and skin peeling on cold winter days. This was definitely accentuated during the first two to three weeks of retinol use. My skin turned pretty red (bonus: I looked rosy-cheeked all day long), and the skin around my nose and forehead started to peel pretty consistently.

While peeling skin and redness are normal while you get used to retinol, it is still annoying, especially if you wear makeup daily. I used tons of moisturizers and facial sprays throughout the day to combat the dryness to no avail. I would calm the look of the dry skin, and within five minutes, more would appear. The worst part was that it burned too, especially when I applied more retinol at night. 

The mistake I made was that I immediately started using retinol daily. To get your skin used to it, it’s best to start slow. Use it once every two to three days to start, gradually moving to daily use. This will greatly reduce the side effects and keep the itching, burning, and redness to a minimum. Retinol makes you more sensitive to the sun, so I also recommend using a day moisturizer with sunscreen to keep your skin protected.

Once you pass the adjustment stage, that’s where the real magic happens. I noticed a daily glow and a clearer complexion in my sixth week of use. The dryness had finally abated, and now my skin just looked pink, plump, and, in general, full of color. My forehead creases were much less noticeable, and I noticed fewer blackheads and clogged pores on my nose. Of course, it’s not like my fine lines and enlarged pores disappeared completely, but I noticed how much clearer and healthier my skin looked after continuously using Kate Somerville’s retinol cream.

I’ve continued to use the cream since, even investing in a second bottle (my first lasted me about two months), and have noticed that my skin continues to remain free of breakouts, and luckily, it seems my wrinkle development has considerably slowed down.

While you don’t have to use the product for an extended period of time, bear in mind that if you do go off retinol, it will take about a week for your skin to go back to normal. Again, I’d also recommend stepping away from using retinol once summer arrives, as it can make you more prone to sunburn and sun damage.

Retinol works differently depending on your skin type. Remember to patch-test your new retinol cream to start, making sure it’s the right fit before you commit.

Verdict

All in all, there’s a lot to love about Kate Somerville’s Vitamin C Retinol Cream. The pump dispenser makes it easy for me to grab the right amount of cream every time without wasting or overusing. In addition to smoothing fine lines and fading dark spots, I was looking for a product to add some vitality to my skin, ideally hoping to make it look less worn out and tired. I found it with this cream. It has a subtle citrus scent, and a small amount goes a long way, making this a product well worth your buck. And, it really does deliver results. 

Featured image credit: Image courtesy of Kate Somerville