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Soft Services Retinol Body Serum.

Soft Services Retinol Body Serum
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Body & Tan
About this product

A lightweight serum with 0.25% pure retinol, designed for body use to address signs of aging.

Full ingredients

Water/​Aqua/​Eau, Niacinamide, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Capryloyl Glycerin/​Sebacic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglycerin-3, Polyglyceryl-3 Lactate/​Laurate, Diheptyl Succinate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-2 Oleate, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Hydroxyacetophenone, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Sclerotium Gum, Polysorbate 20, Tocopherol, Citric Acid

More from Soft Services 3 products · Guru Score 82% →

Guru Score

84%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What the gurus are saying

This 0.25% retinol serum is notably potent for a body product, more than twice as strong as typical body retinols, and it earns praise for visibly fading dark spots. Those new to retinoids should start with just one application a week, as the strength can trigger irritation; experts recommend a maximum of four times weekly. The lightweight formula suits mature body skincare routines.
Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take January 2026

What they liked

  • Lightweight serum texture
  • Can be used on face or body
  • Gentle enough for frequent use without irritation

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    Best for

    Type

    Body & TanLiquid

    Key actives

    Formula notes

    Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

    Where to buy

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    What the gurus are saying.

    Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

    All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Dr. Shereene Idriss
    Dr. Shereene Idriss
    1.73M subs
    ✓Yay
    "Soft Services is a brand that recently launched at Sephora and they have their updated Retinol Body Serum for $44. This one is pure retinol at 0.25% and even though it is technically a body retinol you could potentially use it on your face as well and it's going to be lighter than other options. It is meant to be used on your body and they claim that body retinols are typically formulated at 0.1%, making this product 2.5 times more potent."
    Beyond50Skin
    Beyond50Skin
    32k subs
    ✓Yay
    "The retinoid of choice that I've been using is by Soft Services, but this is a 0.25% retinol. I haven't gotten any skin irritation, but I'm considering picking up the 1% because there are times throughout the winter that my body just starts erupting and sort of itchy, rashy patches and I have used the necessary through those patches in the past and I may just pick that up to have on the back burner in case this is just a bit too much."
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    "Another retinol body product that I can't recommend highly enough is the one by Soft Services. This is a bump up to 0.25% retinol. So go slow, try it out, see how you respond, and then they only recommend this max four times a week. I love all the body products at Soft Services. You cannot go wrong with this skincare line for the body."
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    "This is their [...] body serum, Soft Services Body Serum. This is a 0.25% Retinol Body Serum. Love both of these. Actually, I can't talk enough about all of the Soft Services products. I have their Ura Cream. I have their just body lotion. Love all of their products. 20% off Soft Services is a steal and they're so giftable. [...] The boxes are absolutely beautiful. [...] Just the most giftable body care I have ever seen."
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    "This is their [...] 0.25% Retinol Body Serum. It's a very lightweight serum. [...] I've been using it everywhere about three times a week. It says you can use it up to four times a week. I'm only using it three times a week. And I've been layering it with the ones body. So I'll put the ones body on as a little buffer to the retinol and then I'll put the Soft Services retinol on."
    WINTER SKIN SURVIVAL KIT ❄️ Stop Trans-Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) for Mature Skin Over 50 Skincare
    "The retinoid of choice that I've been using is by Soft Services, but this is a 0.25% retinol. I haven't gotten any skin irritation, but I'm considering picking up the 1% because there are times throughout the winter that my body just starts erupting and sort of itchy, rashy patches and I have used the necessary through those patches in the past and I may just pick that up to have on the back burner in case this is just a bit too much."
    Fails & Faves August Edit | Skincare, Hair, Body & Lifestyle (Over 50 Edition)
    "Love these both. These fit into a mature body skincare routine perfectly. I also think that this would be the perfect gift for someone that you know is struggling with crepey skin. It's got a 0.25% retinol. They say to use it conservatively starting out with one day a week, especially if you're not used to retinoids. You might get some irritation if you're using it every night. In fact, the max number of nights they recommend to use it is four."

    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.

    Source: DermNet

    Niacinamide

    Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

    Source: DermNet

    Vitamin E

    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.

    Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

    Frequently asked.

    What is Soft Services Retinol Body Serum?

    A lightweight serum with 0.25% pure retinol, designed for body use to address signs of aging.

    Is Soft Services Retinol Body Serum worth it?

    Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 84%.

    What is Soft Services Retinol Body Serum's Guru Score?

    Soft Services Retinol Body Serum holds a Guru Score of 84%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is Soft Services Retinol Body Serum best for?

    Soft Services Retinol Body Serum is generally suited to mature skin.

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