PurOrganica Retinol Serum Review- UPDATED 2023

purorganica professional correcting serum

The PurOrganica Retinol Serum has reviews online, but Does this product actually work as described or are there side effects that may occur?

We purchased this product from Amazon US to take a deeper look into it's ingredients. We also wanted to find and research some of the PurOrganica reviews on Amazon UK to see if people were experiencing results or if the ingredients were causing side effects.

What are the PurOrganica Serum Ingredients?

Highlighted ingredients:

2.5% Retinol
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A which is beneficial in numerous ways. It helps our skin cells recover more quickly (cell turnover), reduces inflammation, and protects against free radicals (1).

Propolis
Propolis is made from bees as that is what they use as "glue" to form their hives. 

It is commonly used for it's antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and soothing capabilities. These characteristics may help reduce the appearance of blemishes and pimples.

Some other benefits of Propolis are it's antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antibacterial properties (2). It may help prevent bacteria from accumulating in pores which can induce breakouts.

There are different types of Propolis which are found all over the world. They are different in their chemical structures and the compounds that they contain (3).

We are unsure of the type of Propolis that is used in this product, but the ingredients list it as "wildcrafted" which means it is foraged from it's natural habitat for medicinal use.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a well known ingredient in many skin care products as it helps skin elasticity and provides moisture. It can also reduce pimples because it has antioxidant properties which lower inflammation.

Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid has benefits for anti-aging, increasing collagen, moisturizing, and providing flexibility the skin.

Jojoba Oil
Jojoba oil has many uses; you can put it on your skin, in your hair, as a bath oil, or use it to remove makeup. It has moisturizing properties which will help your skin from becoming dry. 

Jojoba may reduce the appearance of acne scars as it has been found to stimulate collagen production (4). Over time our skin loses its elasticity and firmness due to oxidative stress. This occurs by damage from free radicals like pollution, excessive UV ray exposure, or smoking. Collagen can help repair the cells in the skin so that it retains its strength and makes skin smoother.

acne vitamin tablets

We recommend Acnetame to improve your complexion in the US.

Other Ingredients:

Organic Herbal Infusion
Refers to plants which are placed in solvents like water or some kind of liquid to help the extraction of their healthful benefits.

Witch Hazel
Contains tannins which make it a natural astringent. Astringents help clean out infected or dirt filled pores which may be beneficial for preventing pimples. It may cause irritation when used without an oil or other moisturizer. 

Organic Aloe
Aloe is an ingredient that contains numerous minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients which are beneficial to our overall health. Aloe can help skin issues by reducing inflammation throughout the body.

Aloe also contains salicylic acid (5) which is a staple in many over the counter topical acne treatments because of its ability to remove dead skin cells that clog pores.

Alexandrian Senna Seed
It is a botanical ingredient which is extracted from a native Indian plant called Senna. It contains Glactomannan which is a polysaccharide that may have some antioxidant properties.

purorganica serum ingredients

Alexandrian Senna Seed plant.

Pentylene Glycol
Pentylene Glycol is a synthetic solvent and preservative which has some antimicrobial properties which may be effective for killing acne bacteria (6).

It may cause some skin irritation such as contact dermatitis which is a rash caused by irritation. Pentylene Glycol may also make eczema worse (7).

Phospholipids
Phospholipids are present in all cell membranes as they make up the outer layer of the cell. They help determine what is let into the cell and what exits the cell.

Polysorbate 20
Polysorbate is a sugar alcohol that has 20 parts ethylene oxide added to it to help the emulsification of water and oil whether it is in oils, creams, or sunscreen (8).

There may be some concerns with this ingredient in this form as it can become contaminated with 1,4-dioxane which has been shown to cause allergic reactions and in large amounts kidney and liver damage (9).

Potassium Phosphate
Potassium Phosphate is a preservative used in skin care products as well as food products. It is considered "safe" by the US Food & Drug Administration, but side effects like itching of the nose and throat have been reported.

Hydroxyethyl Cellulose
This ingredient is used as a thickening agent in health care products. Serious reactions to this chemical are rare, but can cause minor skin reactions for some people.

Carrageenan Gum
Carrageenan is a food additive that comes from red seaweed and is also used a thickening agent in skin care products. People with gastrointestinal sensitivity may choose to keep it out of their diets as large amounts can cause stomach issues, but when applied topically it does not get absorbed into the bloodstream to cause these problems.

Wheat Germ Oil
This type of oil contains omega fatty acids 3 and 6 as well as vitamins and antioxidants which protect our skin.

Organic Green Tea
Green Tea contains EGCG which has antioxidant properties, may protect against cancer, aids in weight loss, and increases alertness and cognition (10).

Sodium Benzoate
Sodium Benzoate is a synthetic chemical added to products to keep bacteria from contaminating them. In a 2011 study, it was shown that Sodium Benzoate significantly increased damage to DNA.

Potassium Sorbate
This is another synthetic chemical that prevents the growth of mold and bacteria. It also has side effects such as skin and eye irritation.

Ethylhexylglycerin
Something this hard to pronounce probably shouldn't be added into the beauty product you are about to use. Although it is used as an alternative to dangerous Parabens which may cause cancer and are toxic to the environment; it is a surfactant which can still cause irritation to the skin.

before and after purorganica retinol serum

PurOrganica Retinol Serum Reviews from Online Customers

PurOrganica is more popular in the UK as there is a higher star and review count than in the US. The serum reviews in both the US and UK are mostly positive, but there are also customers who did not have a good experience with the PurOrganica Retinol Serum. Before and after images are also added into some reviews.

Most Helpful Review

I have been googling how to help my acne since turning vegan and retinol came up. I did a lot if looking through amazon and found this little gem! I steamed my face, did a clay mask and then put this on under my moisturiser. It soaked into my skin instantly with a non greasy feel. It’s cleared nearly all of my acne up!! I’m so pleased I never thought it would work this well. I’ll deginately buy again and try the moisturiser when my usual one runs out

Most Critical Review

I bought this as I always get scars after spots so was hoping this would fade the scars. However, since the product is oil based it just gave me a lot more spots than normally and they were also a lot bigger than normal. I do understand that this is different depending on people's skin type so it might work for some. But I am super disappointed as I now have more scars than when I started using the product 🙁

Click the video to learn more about the brand.

Is PurOrganica Fake?

A customer has called into question the actual amount of retinol in the product and even go as far to question if there is any in it at all.

Another customer stated in their review that they offered them a free bottle in exchange for a 5 star review which is against Amazon's incentivized review policy. Some reviews we have read seem to be incentivized because they do not talk about the product and only the shipping speed.

Does the Serum have Side Effects?

nootrostim

This serum contains ingredients which may cause side effects such as:

  • More pimples.
  • Irritation on sensitive skin causing it to become red, itchy, or blotchy.
  • May make skin more oily.
  • Blisters under eyes have been reported.

How Does PurOrganica Work?

This product is promoted to soften, heal, and smooth the skin by providing moisture. It is also supposed to increase collagen and elastin which are proteins that reduce fine lines and wrinkles. PurOrganica also says that their product will even skin texture, tone, color, dry skin, and acne scars.

What is a Serum?

Serums help to smoothen out fine lines and wrinkles and provide moisture to the skin. They are more concentrated than regular moisturizers so they penetrate deeper into the skin producing a greater effect. They are lightweight and you do not have to use as much as you do with heavier moisturizers and retinol creams (11).

How Do You Apply the Serum?

  1. Wash and pat your skin dry.
  2. Apply a small amount to hands and distribute over face and neck
  3. It can be used under makeup
  4. It is important to perform a "patch test" on your hand for 24 hours to ensure that you do not experience irritation before full use on your face.
  5. You can use it twice daily, but it is recommended to work your way up to that dose. We do not see why you cannot use it for days, weeks, months, or even years if you are seeing a positive difference in your skin conditions.
  6. Women mostly purchase this product and use it at night, but men can use it too.

Where Can You Buy the PurOrganica Professional Correcting Serum?

You can purchase the professional correcting serum from Amazon US and Amazon UK.

PRICE

SHIPPING

Amazon UK

£12.95 

Free delivery when you spend over £20.

Amazon US

$10.99 

Free shipping for Prime members.

When looking for the PurOrganica website; we found that a company named "AZ Amazing Products" sells three PurOrganica products. None of which are the retinol serum.

We see that this product is not now out of stock and unavailable for purchase for unknown reasons along with the rest of the product line. This can be for many reasons and are unsure when it will be back up for sale.

Other PurOrganica Products

PurOrganica Hyaluronic Acid Serum: This serum is similar to the retinol serum as it contains some of the same ingredients, but also has MSM and Chinese Ginseng.

Eye Cream

Retinol Moisturizer Cream

Vitamin C Serum: This serum also contains some of the same ingredients as the Retinol serum like Jojoba oil and Hyaluronic

There is another company named PurOrganic (without the A) which also sells skin and beauty care products, but they are not affiliated.

Pros and Cons

Inexpensive.

The bottle lasts long because you do not need to use much at once.

Can be used in conjunction with oral supplements, other skincare products, and an active lifestyle.

May cause allergic reactions and other harmful effects to the body.

May increase acne.

Ingredients are not all natural or organic.

May not work for hyper-pigmentation (dark spots).

Online reviews may not be authentic.

May not help any type of skin issue that you try to use it for.

CONCLUSION: Should You Use This Product on Your Skin?

purorganica retinol serum side effects

Many of the ingredients have antioxidant properties which is important for overall skin health, but we can not be sure of the actual potency of each ingredient.

They make it sound like it’s “pure”, “organic”, and natural when in reality it contains ingredients that do not meet this standard. 

I did not take this product after researching the ingredients because of the possibility of skin reactions. I also have rosacea which can be triggered very easily by fragrance and non-natural ingredients.

Our Recommended Choice for Optimal Acne Treatment

Serum and other topical treatments should not be used as a solely for breakouts, wrinkles, or dark circles. This is because to truly prevent breakouts and other skin issues we need to take care of our body by eating healthfully, getting a good night's rest, and drinking plenty of water.

Along with preventative measures our secret remedy is to add vitamins, minerals, and amino acids which help combat acne from the inside out. We recommend Blemless to use in conjunction with the PurOrganica Retinol Serum if you decide to use this topical treatment for healthy skin.

Blemless contains potent ingredients which are specifically designed to help decrease inflammation, redness, and oily skin. Using the PurOrganica Retinol Serum with Blemless may help contain the natural oil in your skin and keep it moisturized. Always consult your DR. before you start any new product.

Our recommendation if you are looking for a natural serum or moisturizer is coconut oil or Manuka honey cream as from experience they work better and don't cause irritation.

What natural serum or moisturizer have worked the best for you? Let us know in the comments below.

  1. https://www.bioclarity.com/pages/vitamin-a-and-acne-does-it-work
  2. https://www.heyhoney.com/propolis-benefits-in-skincare-hey-honey
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249695/#sec1-10title
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21211559
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1675525
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7085276
  8. https://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-watch-list-polysorbate-20-it-may-be-contaminated-with-carcinogenic-14-dioxane/
  9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK153666/
  10. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/egcg-green-tea-8453.html
  11. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/03/what-is-face-serum_n_6761412.html