This retinaldehyde serum's standout is its price, with many takes calling it among the best budget retinoids. Its bright yellow tint can stain pillows unless it has time to sink in, and some gurus say it can leave some skin types more sensitive. Those with sensitive skin may want to start with a lower strength in the line, though a few gurus felt it didn't make skin look as nice as other retinal products.
Synthesized from 11 expert reviews · most recent take September 2026
"The Geek and Gorgeous A Game [...] 10 is the retinol that I have put my husband on to prevent him looking like an old shoe eventually. He hasn't finished the other one yet, but I figured with daily use he will get through it eventually."
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"When I'm asked, I always recommend the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game products. Usually I recommend the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10."
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"He usually uses the A-Game 10 because there's no difference in effect or irritation potential between the strengths. The A-Game 20, their newest and strongest version, takes longer to sink in and leaves a yellowish cast in his stubble that he doesn't like, while the 10 doesn't do that. If you aren't as hairy in the face, the 20 might still be a good option. [...] These are the ones I keep purchasing for him."
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"This one is for my husband, the Geek and Gorgeous 101A Game, the 0.1% retinol. They also do a 0.2% with a higher strength, but that one takes a little longer to absorb and leaves a more yellowish cast in his stubble, which isn't really a problem but just doesn't look that good. So for him, the 0.1% is the one that he prefers."
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"They have an A-Game 10, which is a 0.1% retinaldehyde serum. [...] I really enjoy their 0.05% and 0.1% formulas, I often recommend them to friends and family. This is basically the step up if you've been using the 10 for a while and want something stronger."
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"My husband used the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 10, one of three over the counter retinoid products he trialed for me. Overall I'd say that this one and The Ordinary Retinal are better suited for those that look for a retinoid specifically."
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"The other repurchase is the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game for my husband, in 0.05% retinal amide, though he usually uses the 0.1% retinal amide, the A-Game 10. I picked both up at my local DM which is very handy because I don't have to order online and worry about meeting the requirements for free shipping."
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"It is the one I have been recommending most, as it is effective but very well tolerated."
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"So the one he uses is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum (0.1%). It is a retinaldehyde serum, the strongest form available without prescription in Germany, but it is very gentle and easy to tolerate. You might remember I already put my sisters on it two years ago."
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"From the different retinoid options I can recommend the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game one, featuring Retinaldehyde."
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"The Geek and Gorgeous A Game [...] 10 is the retinol that I have put my husband on to prevent him looking like an old shoe eventually. He hasn't finished the other one yet, but I figured with daily use he will get through it eventually."
"So you can start with a lower strength of this and work your way up. Geek and Gorgeous is a great resource for my European viewers. You can get their vitamin C serum, you can get their retinaldehyde serum, you can get their cleansers, their peptide serums. They make all really well-formulated products. You can get them in Europe. They also do have an American store now, so you can get them here in the US. Their prices are great, and I love just about everything of theirs that I've tried."
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"I also love their A-Game 10 Retinal Serum."
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"For travel, instead of bringing my prescription retinoid, I would just bring the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum, because it's retinaldehyde, and it's in a nice small, compact package, so it fits right in there. That ought to be good for a week. I could use it on my face, my neck, and my hand."
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"These are two that I like. I kind of have just been using both interchangeably."
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"I started buying the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum. This is their retinaldehyde serum, and it has 0.1 percent retinaldehyde, which is the percentage I like. It has some botanical extracts and oils in it, so definitely read the ingredient label before you purchase it to make sure you're not going to have any kind of a known reaction to those things. I don't have any reaction to it. I find it very soothing and very easy to use, and I love it."
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"So you can start with a lower strength of this and work your way up. Geek and Gorgeous is a great resource for my European viewers. You can get their vitamin C serum, you can get their retinaldehyde serum, you can get their cleansers, their peptide serums. They make all really well-formulated products. You can get them in Europe. They also do have an American store now, so you can get them here in the US. Their prices are great, and I love just about everything of theirs that I've tried."
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"I did try the geek and gorgeous A-game 101 this is their retinaldehyde serum this is great for those of you in Europe."
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"For my European fans, this is the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 101 Retinaldehyde Serum. I use these on my neck because I can't use my prescription retinoid on my neck except for like once a week because it's way too sensitive, but these are great."
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"I currently use the Geek and Gorgeous 101a Game, which is their retinaldehyde lotion, on my neck. Retinaldehyde needs to be converted by your skin in a one-step conversion into all trans retinoic acid, which is what tretinoin already is, so this is [...] much less effective than tretinoin but also much less irritating. I can use this every night on my neck and have no irritation from it."
"If you love a good budget pick, Geek & Gorgeous A-Game makes three retinaldehyde products, and you can't beat this product for this price. It's so good."
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"If you love a good budget pick, Geek & Gorgeous A-Game makes three retinaldehyde products, and you can't beat this product for this price. It's so good."
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"It's still probably my favorite of all the budget retinaldehydes I've ever tried. [...] This one comes in three strengths: the A-Game 5 at 0.05%, the [...] A-Game 10 at 0.1%, and the A-Game 20 at 0.2%. [...] I really love that because if you've never used a retinoid, I don't love starting at 0.1%. I really like starting at 0.05%, and you can do that with the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5. I love the Geek & Gorgeous brand because they're really everything I look for in a skincare brand."
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"One of my newer discoveries this year is Geek & Gorgeous, and their A-Game 10 Retinal Serum. I love this product because not only is it very, very affordable, but it comes in several strengths. And you know how I feel about products where we can choose what strength we want, or we can kind of ladder up as our skin adjusts and get used to it. So, this is another great option."
"I find this one works pretty well with fine lines and wrinkles. [...] The nice thing is it will work well for most skin types, including dry and oily. For acne-prone skin, there are a few ingredients of note, though, so keep that in mind. It has Haba oil, vitamin E, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, and carbomer. Some of those are very comedogenic, so if you have acne-prone skin, this may not be the best. Although the retinal may kind of cancel some of those out."
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"For 30 bucks, I think you can get the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game, which is absolutely amazing. That one's a little stronger too, so maybe start with a gentler one and then move up to the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game. I really, really have a preference for that one. It's a little bit larger in size, but it's still overall affordable."
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"I'm going to give you the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game. I love this product, it's wonderful. It's also very affordable if you like to repurchase it, and it's super effective and efficient. I really enjoy this brand."
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"Next up I've got the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10, which uses 10% retinal. Great product overall, you can't go wrong with it. Geek & Gorgeous just does a wonderful job, so it's really nice. You can't go wrong with that one."
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"It's a good combination between retinol and tretinoin, which some people can find too strong or too drying. This stuff is a nice medium in the middle there, and it has a really nice hydrating formula in it, and it's really affordable. So this is The Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 10. If you're newer to retinoids or retinols, get the A-Game 5."
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"Version the A-Game 10 is a little bit stronger. They're both very affordable, and they're wonderful if you're newer to retinoids. I'd start with the 5, and if you're experienced with retinoids, go with the 10. Wonderful, affordable. It also has cloudberry oil, vitamin E, and panthenol."
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"The first one I'd recommend is Geek & Gorgeous A-Game. There's a five and a 10, and the 10 is stronger while the five is a little bit weaker. They're both great forms of vitamin A, or retinal, which is a stronger form of retinoid."
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"If you're not into the super strongest retinoids, Geek & Gorgeous has the A-Game 10, which is more gentle. Always be very cautious and start slow in your routine, and use it with moisturizers. The sandwich method is a great one: in your evening routine you apply a thick moisturizer, then you apply your retinoid, and then you apply a thicker sleeping mask or a thicker moisturizer over it to prevent dryness."
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"After your next one, you can work up to the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum, which is wonderful."
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"I find this one works pretty well with fine lines and wrinkles. [...] The nice thing is it will work well for most skin types, including dry and oily. For acne-prone skin, there are a few ingredients of note, though, so keep that in mind. It has Haba oil, vitamin E, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, and carbomer. Some of those are very comedogenic, so if you have acne-prone skin, this may not be the best. Although the retinal may kind of cancel some of those out."
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"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 is great as well. You can't go wrong with any of these."
"Another great option at a very affordable price is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum. This is a retinal formula, and it's a very lovely formula at a slightly lower price. The one thing you'll notice [...] is that it's quite yellow. [...] If you start to get irritation, [...] you can easily back down to a lower percentage in the [...] Geek & Gorgeous formula. They have these sliding scales, so it's really easy to find the exact retinoid for your skin's readiness."
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"Another great option at a very affordable price is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum. This is a retinal formula, and it's a very lovely formula at a slightly lower price. The one thing you'll notice [...] is that it's quite yellow. [...] If you start to get irritation, [...] you can easily back down to a lower percentage in the [...] Geek & Gorgeous formula. They have these sliding scales, so it's really easy to find the exact retinoid for your skin's readiness."
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"I use a retinaldehyde, which is one step down from tretinoin. Your skin does have to do the conversion to vitamin A. I've been trying the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 on your recommendation. It's a really yellow formula, which I was worried about, but if I start early enough in my skincare routine, it sinks in and doesn't stain my pillows. It's very affordable."
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"I'm in the middle of the geek and gorgeous both of the two percentages"
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"A win in the retinoid category is the A-Game 10 by Geek & Gorgeous. This is fragrance free, and it's a wonderful retinoid. It's also super affordable."
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"I love this formula. I found it about six months ago and haven't looked back, and I've recommended it over and over again. If you're looking for a one-and-done evening serum and you don't have sensitivity to using retinols or retinaldehydes every single day, I would say go for this. It has retinol or retinal. It has glycolic acid, peptides, Matrixyl 3000, and Argireline. It has antioxidants ferulic and resveratrol. It also has a touch of glycolic acid for gentle exfoliation."
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"I use a retinaldehyde, which is one step down from tretinoin. Your skin does have to do the conversion to vitamin A. I've been trying the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 on your recommendation. It's a really yellow formula, which I was worried about, but if I start early enough in my skincare routine, it sinks in and doesn't stain my pillows. It's very affordable."
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"I've enjoyed both of these products. I've been using a retinaldehyde this year. If you're having trouble getting your skin to cooperate with a prescription retinoid, try retinaldehyde or granactive retinoid. Those are two vitamin A retinoid products that really help with cell rejuvenation and turnover without causing irritation to the skin."
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"My absolute favorite this year is the Geek & Gorgeous 101, a 0.1% retinal serum, retinal being a derivative of vitamin A. I think it's about a third the price of the alternative, it's only $20 and I love it. It has panthenol and allantoin to help soothe the skin, especially helpful when you're using a retinoid. It's in a cream base, very moisturizing, and the perfect choice for a vitamin A for your evening skincare routine."
"If you love retinol as an ingredient for anti-aging but want to keep the cost really low, I don't think it gets better than this. It has an airless pump, and it does come with a cap to keep everything secure, though I've lost mine. It's just a wonderful product. Geek & Gorgeous don't really need to do Black Friday sales because they're already so affordable year round, which I absolutely love. This is one of the best for anti-aging."
"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum is a wonderful high-strength retinal. It's super creamy, nourishing and hydrating, and it has a higher concentration, so it's for those of us with a much more resilient skin type. It packs a punch and will definitely give you amazing next-level anti-aging, but it could be a little sensitizing on certain skin types."
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"Geek & Gorgeous is probably the retinoid that I've bought most frequently over the years. It's the one I keep going back to time and time again, and for good reason. It's definitely drugstore affordable. This is probably the cheapest of all of the recommendations today. When you look at it per ml, because this is a 30 ml product, it comes to a really affordable price point. It's a pump, [...] so it's really easy to dispense. Geek & Gorgeous are definitely the good guys in the skincare world."
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"That means you don't have to break the bank, but you also don't have to compromise on the results. This packs a punch. It's a high-strength option and comes in a beautiful airless pump, and they've actually recently changed the pump. This is so much better than the original pump, so if you had trouble with the pump, say a year ago, give this another try, because this new pump is amazing. One pump is all you need for the face and neck, so it's really easy to dose and get the right amount."
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"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum is a high potency retinal delivering game-changing results, and it's superb if you're on a budget. If you're someone who likes to restrict the total cost of your skincare routine, you can pick this up in the UK for like £14, and the euro equivalent is about 16. It's super affordable and really easy to get your hands on, and I think this is one of the best of the best, particularly when you consider that price point."
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"We've got the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10, which is stronger than most retinols on the market. It's not impacted by any of these restrictions and new legislation, and it just works so, so well with minimum risk of irritation."
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"For years I've reached for the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum. It's a wonderful retinal serum."
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"You can buy the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum now for 15 pounds for the same amount, and you'll get three to four times the results."
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"To me this is just wonderful, it's absolutely phenomenal, and the fact that you can get it for £14 is something other brands should take note of. You can absolutely do retinal on a budget, and Geek & Gorgeous is proof of that. I've been recommending this all year round, and I know a lot of people have made the switch. I haven't heard a single person say they haven't gotten better results from retinal, so I believe those studies. Give it a try. Geek & Gorgeous is a great place to start."
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"If you prefer a cream, this is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum (0.1%). It's great and hydrating, and if you're looking for a cream base, this is a great option. I love this. My skin just loves it. I get great anti-aging benefits, and it doesn't strip, dry, or irritate. Geek & Gorgeous is also a brand that is based and ships within the European Union, so if you're impacted and you want to shop with an EU brand, Geek & Gorgeous is a great option."
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"If you want the same results in the long term as the pricier option but at a fraction of the cost, the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 costs 14 pounds, versus 100 for the same strength. You do get less of that encapsulation technology, so you might get a tiny bit more irritation when you first use it."
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"I think they're just an amazing blackhead-busting brand. I've actually sat down and thought about it, and this is again a great retinol-based serum. It has a slightly creamier texture, so it'll come down to whether you prefer the oil or the cream. It's up to you. But an affordable retinol in your skincare routine will definitely help over time reduce the prevalence of any breakouts and blackheads that you have, and it can be a game changer for your skincare routine."
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"It's also less sensitizing on the skin than retinol, so it's one of those few times where you can get better results and less sensitivity out of a product, and that honestly, for me, is holy grail territory. There are three retinal products that I always recommend. This is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10: great, high-dose retinal, super hydrating, works for everyone."
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"If you love retinol as an ingredient for anti-aging but want to keep the cost really low, I don't think it gets better than this. It has an airless pump, and it does come with a cap to keep everything secure, though I've lost mine. It's just a wonderful product. Geek & Gorgeous don't really need to do Black Friday sales because they're already so affordable year round, which I absolutely love. This is one of the best for anti-aging."
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"The two that I always use are these two. This is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum, a wonderful cream-based retinal. This is my own product."
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"This is a retinoid, similar to The Ordinary one and similar to the Medik8 one, but it's the cheapest on the market. So if you want to do retinal on an absolute budget, Geek & Gorgeous, I've got you covered with this. It's so good, so rich, and great for dry skin types. Just an amazing all-round product."
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"This is what I mean when I say it packs a punch. Lots of people use the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 and get great results, and if you're happy with the results you're getting from it, stick with it. If you're feeling like you need a little bit more, then you can obviously graduate to a double-strength option from The Ordinary. This one is packed full of hydrators and beautiful humectants, which are going to really deeply nourish and hydrate the skin."
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"This is a super high potency retinal, which might not work on super sensitive skin types out there, but for a lot of people it can give you the best anti-aging experience. Again, on a really fair budget, Geek & Gorgeous is super affordable. This is a great option for people who were using a super high strength retinol and need to make the switch to a retinal in order to still be able to comply with those EU regulations. This is a great product and one of my favorites."
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"Last year I awarded this to the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum, a product that I still use and stand by 12 months later."
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"If you like medicated retinal but don't like the price point, switch to this super affordable option, which is basically the same formulation. Retinal is better than retinol when it comes to anti-aging results, and it's less sensitizing on the skin, so I recommend everybody switch from retinol to retinal, and this is a great place to start. They do two strengths: the A-Game 10, which is high strength, and the A-Game 5, which is mid strength. I use both."
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"If you really want a retinol in a cream base, reach for this: the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum. It's a wonderful option that's super hydrating because of all of the moisturizers in here, and it just glides onto the skin. It's a wonderful retinol-packed cream that's so drugstore and affordable."
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"This is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 at 0.1% strength. It's wonderful and [...] super affordable. I think this is the cheapest of all the recommendations. It's great for everyone and super hydrating. Like I said, that 0.1% strength makes this work for almost all skin types."
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"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 is a great high strength retinal option for those who are more advanced. Retinal works better than retinol because it is closer to the retinoic acid the skin needs, so I recommend a retinal serum."
"Don't forget, vitamin A is very drying to the skin. Allantoin, which is your anti-inflammatory, which is excellent, plus panthenol, so this is really made for sensitive skin. There are no other actives in this, but I really love this, actually, for people who are looking to treat their fine lines but maybe have a damaged skin barrier or have just recovered from a damaged skin barrier. This one I love. Well done, Geek & Gorgeous. Not much smell either."
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"I looked at vitamin A. The best vitamin A on the market for skin of color is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum. It's got 0.05% retinaldehyde and 0.05% retinol, and it's £12.90, so it's the cheapest I could find."
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"Don't forget, vitamin A is very drying to the skin. Allantoin, which is your anti-inflammatory, which is excellent, plus panthenol, so this is really made for sensitive skin. There are no other actives in this, but I really love this, actually, for people who are looking to treat their fine lines but maybe have a damaged skin barrier or have just recovered from a damaged skin barrier. This one I love. Well done, Geek & Gorgeous. Not much smell either."
"If you told me you want the best over-the-counter affordable retinoid for anti-aging, hands down it is the Geek and Gorgeous retinaldehyde options, they have it in different levels, brilliant. The reason I do not use that myself is because I have acne and there is a specific retinoid for acne, so that is what I use instead."
"If you're looking for a budget-friendly [retinal], the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game is the most budget-friendly one I've seen. I feel like it doesn't really make my skin look as nice as the other [retinal] products, and I think that's because it's just got less supporting ingredients, but this is a good option if you just want to try a [retinal] and you don't want to spend too much money."
"The AAME 10 with 0.1% retinaldehyde is definitely worth trying. It's actually not that common to find a retinaldehyde, and these are well formulated, free of common allergens and irritants, and affordable."
What the evidence says.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what
the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
Retinoids
Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.
Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.
Mostly yes. 10 of the 11 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 90%.
What is Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum (0.1%)'s Guru Score?
Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum (0.1%) holds a Guru Score of 90%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 11 expert reviewers we have collected. It is also Guru Certified, our mark for products that hold broad approval across many expert reviewers.
Who is Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum (0.1%) best for?
Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10 Retinal Serum (0.1%) is generally suited to mature skin.
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