Mary & May - Retinol 0.1% Bakuchiol Cica Serum 80ml

Mary & May Retinol 0.1% Bakuchiol Cica Serum (80 ml)

What It Is

Mary&May’s Retinol 0.1% Bakuchiol Cica Serum is a skin‑care serum designed to offer anti‑aging, pore refining, barrier strengthening, and soothing benefits. It combines:

• Pure retinol (0.1%) for more traditional retinoid‑type effects (stimulating cell turnover, reducing fine lines/wrinkles, improving texture),

• Bakuchiol, a plant‑based “retinol alternative” known for more gentle retinoid‑like effects,

• Cica (short for Centella Asiatica) extracts / PDRN / exosomes to soothe, regenerate, and support skin barrier and healing,

• A triple‑peptide complex, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and various other hydrating, calming, and barrier‑supporting ingredients.

This formula aims to give visible anti‑aging and pore‑refining results while being more skin‑friendly and less irritating than high concentration retinols, by balancing retinol with bakuchiol and soothing agents.

Key Ingredients & Their Functions

Here are the major actives & supporting ingredients, and what they do:

Claims & Performance Statistics

Mary&May provides some clinical / measured claims, including:

• Improves fine lines by ~57.4%

• Reduces wrinkles by ~42.9% 

• Enhances appearance of pores by ~56.5% 

• Improves overall skin texture by ~21.1%

Also, it is vegan certified, dermatologically tested, and tested for sensitive skin. Free from 16 harmful ingredients: no parabens, artificial fragrance/colors, alcohol, mineral oil, surfactants, allergens etc

Texture, Absorption & Sensory

• The serum has a texture that is a bit richer than a water‑light serum due to oils, lipids, ceramides and emollients, but still formulated to absorb well without leaving heavy residue.

• Because of compounds like vinyl dimethicone, lecithin, shear butter etc., there is a balance between lightweight feel and nourishing barrier support.

• There are soothing extracts to reduce sting / irritation which often accompany retinol. The Cica components (Centella etc.) are included for that purpose. 

How To Use

To get best results with minimal irritation, a suggested usage protocol:

1. Cleanse — Make sure skin is clean, free of makeup/sunscreen/residue.

2. Tone / Prep — Use a gentle toner or essence to lightly prep skin and restore pH (if used).

3. Apply Serum — Use an appropriate amount (pea‑sized or as instructed) over face and neck, avoiding eye contour and lips. Gently smooth for absorption. 

4. Moisturize / Barrier Seal — Because retinol / actives can compromise the barrier, follow with moisturizer.

5. Sunscreen — Very important: retinol increases photosensitivity, so using a broad spectrum sunscreen daily (in the morning) is essential.

6. Start Slowly — If your skin is new to retinol, begin with 2‑3 times per week, then gradually increase frequency as tolerance builds.

Skin Types & Suitability

Best For:

• Normal, combination, and oily skin types wanting anti‑aging benefits (fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture).

• Skin concerned with enlarged or visible pores.

• Those who have used retinol or actives before and can tolerate them, but want a gentler combo (retinol + bakuchiol + cica).

• Skin suffering from dullness, early signs of aging, or uneven texture.

Be Cautious / Patch Test:

• Sensitive skin, reactive skin, or skin prone to irritation may need to test first or use less frequently.

• Very dry skin might need heavier moisturization / buffer layering (i.e. using a more moisturizing serum or cream underneath or after).

• Avoid use on broken skin / active eczema / severe irritation.

• If pregnant or nursing: generally retinol is not recommended; consult a healthcare provider.

Advantages & Unique Selling Points

• Combines pure retinol with bakuchiol, giving you the potent results of retinol, with some of the gentleness of bakuchiol.

• Soothing Cica components to offset retinol’s potential irritation.

• Peptides + ceramides + barrier lipids help to strengthen skin barrier — important when working with retinol.

• 16‑free formulation (no harsh/additional irritants).

• Vegan, cruelty‑free, dermatologically tested.

• Large volume (80 ml) offers good value if used properly.

Possible Drawbacks & Considerations

• Even at 0.1%, retinol can cause purging, dryness, flaking, irritation especially when first using or if skin barrier is weak.

• Because of multiple actives, there’s always risk of sensitivity; may need to go slow.

• Needs consistent sunscreen usage; otherwise risk of sun damage, sensitivity.

• Might not be suitable for those who must avoid retinoids (pregnancy, some medical conditions).

• Texture/richness may be too heavy for very oily skin or in very humid weather— layering might feel somewhat occlusive.

What To Expect

• After first few uses: mild tingling or slight dryness may occur (normal). Skin may feel smoother.

• After few weeks: improved skin texture, slight reduction in fine lines; pores may seem more refined; tone may become more even.

• Over longer period (e.g. 8–12 weeks): more visible improvements in wrinkles and firmness, if used consistently and as part of full skincare routine (cleansing, moisturizing, sun protection, etc.).

Summary

The Mary&May Retinol 0.1% Bakuchiol Cica Serum 80 ml is a thoughtfully formulated serum that bridges potency and skin comfort. It offers traditional retinol benefits (fine lines, wrinkles, skin turnover, texture) enhanced by bakuchiol for gentler retinoid mimicking, supported by Cica (Centella) for calm and regeneration, peptides and ceramides for barrier strength, and hydrating ingredients for moisture. For many, it will be a powerful step in their anti‑aging / skin refinement routine — especially if used with care and protecting the skin properly.