Stratia

Stratia Night Shift Retinol Cream.

Name: Stratia Night Shift Retinol Cream
Brand: Stratia

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Retinoids

About this product

A night cream with encapsulated retinol and a moisturizing base, formulated to deliver retinoid benefits with reduced irritation.

Full ingredients

Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Squalane, Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Panthenol, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Hydrocotyl (Centella Asiatica) Extract, Retinol, Allantoin, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Copernicia Cerifera Cera, Propanediol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Guru Score

Not verified

Score withheld

Not independently verified

2 of the 3 takes here are sponsored by the brand. That leaves a single independent take, which is not enough to verify a score, so we are holding it back rather than publishing a number built on paid reviews. The takes are below, each labeled.

What the gurus are saying

Encapsulated retinol (retinol wrapped in a protective layer) keeps this cream stable and gentler while still delivering retinoid benefits that dermatologists and cosmetic chemists praise for managing irritation. At 0.15% strength it's less potent than prescription retinoids, but the nourishing base (squalane, marula oil, cholesterol, allantoin) supports skin through adjustment. This suits anyone introducing retinoids to their routine or those with sensitive neck and chest skin.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take July 2025

What they liked

Creamy, luscious texture
Gentler than prescription retinoids
Tolerated on sensitive neck and chest

What they flagged

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

Best for

Dry skin Sensitive skin Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsCream

Key actives

RetinoidVitamin ECeramidesSqualane

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Amazon → Google →

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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. Sam Ellis

898k subs

✓Yay

"I'm using the Stratia Night Shift. [...] I talk about this retinol all the time. I think it is a beautiful product, encapsulated retinol, so creamy and luscious, so nourishing. [...] I have plenty of people who use this on their face—it's a great face retinol as well. It still packs a punch, it's still effective, but much less irritating on the more delicate structures."

All 3 takes from Dr. Sam Ellis

Dermatologist Shares the Best Order to Apply Your Skincare Products (PM Skincare Routine)

What is Skin Cycling? Dermatologist Tips to Add Retinoids & Exfoliants to Your Skincare Routine

"Something that's even less irritating but also less potent than adapalene is a retinol product and I love the Stratia Night Shift. [...] If you are looking to start bringing a retinoid into your routine and you're nervous about having irritation I totally recommend that you check out that video."

Dermatologist's Favorite Skincare Products of 2022: Cleansers, Moisturizers, Sunscreens, & More!

"Finding a retinoid that works in your routine that agrees with your skin can be really challenging because one of the main side effects of retinoid products is irritation, and this Stratia Night Shift has sort of been a game changer. [...] This uses 0.15 encapsulated retinol, so certainly not the strongest retinol on the market, but still very effective."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"I put my friend on their retinoid product to start with helping with fine lines and wrinkles and things like that. And so far so good. Stray does a really great job."

Sponsored

All 3 takes from No BS Beauty

Stratia Skin Product Favorites - The Best Affordable Skincare Products From Stratia

"In here we've got obviously retinol, which is the gold standard ingredient for anti-aging. We've also got squalane, marula oil, panthenol, ceramides, and centella, so this is really nice. [...] If you've used retinol, or if you're new to it, this is a nice product because they include some hydrating ingredients to kind of prevent skin from getting too dry or flaky."

4 Skincare Brands That I (Almost) Blindly Trust - What Are Yours?

"I put my friend on their retinoid product to start with helping with fine lines and wrinkles and things like that. And so far so good. Stray does a really great job."

Custom Skincare Routines I Created For My Friends - 30 Day Plan to Turn Back 10 Years!

"I picked out the Stratia one. [...] It's got encapsulated retinol, I think about the same percentage, and I thought that was a nice place to start."

Lab Muffin Beauty Science

863k subs

✓Yay

"I really like Night Shift from Stratia. This has encapsulated retinol and [...] it's more stable and more gentle. They have studies on the raw encapsulated retinol ingredient that they used as well as on the finished product. [...] It's got a really moisturizing base and it just works really well. It's like an all-in-one retinol product."

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

Urea

Urea both holds water in the skin and gently loosens dead surface cells. At higher strengths it has good evidence for very dry or thickened skin.

Source: DermNet

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet