Body Oil
Body Moisturizers
Cleansers
Body Scrubs
Face Moisturizers
Travel & Sets
Written by OSEA Staff | Last Updated on: February 5, 2026.
If you’ve started (or are considering) an anti-aging skincare routine, you’ve likely heard of retinol – the gold standard in anti-aging skincare. You might also know that retinol can be harsh on the skin, so it’s not a universal choice for everyone’s skincare routine.
Luckily, there is a plant-based alternative, bio-retinol, that mimics the effects of traditional retinol but without the associated irritation. What is bio-retinol exactly? Read on to find out! Here, we take a deep dive into how bio-retinol compares to retinol while also debunking common bio-retinol myths so you feel more comfortable and confident using it.
Bio-retinol vs. Retinol: Understanding the Differences
How Each Ingredient Is Derived
Retinol is a vitamin A derivative sourced from animals or synthesized in a lab. Bio-retinol is an alternative to retinol that doesn’t contain irritating vitamin A. Instead, it is derived from green microalgae extract or other plant-based sources, such as Bidens pilosa.
What Retinol and Bio-Retinol Actually Do for Your Skin
Think of retinol as a reliable communication network. When applied topically, it starts chatting with skin receptors, encouraging them to produce collagen and accelerate cell turnover1. Both processes help transform the look of dull, saggy skin, leaving it with a firmer, smoother appearance while reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
Bio-retinol also accomplishes similar goals as retinol – visibly firming and smoothing skin as well as minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Bio-retinol doesn’t contain vitamin A and works at the dermis layer2, making it milder on the skin. Retinol, on the other hand, stimulates the epidermis, which increases skin sensitivity.
Suitability for Different Skin Types and Concerns
Retinol is a harsher ingredient, making it less tolerable for individuals who have sensitive skin. Bio-retinol doesn’t have the same inflammatory side effects as retinol3, making it an excellent option for all skin types, especially sensitive skin, to improve the look of lines and wrinkles with a lower risk of irritation.
Common Bio-retinol Misconceptions
Myth: Bio-retinol Irritates Skin
Bio-retinol is generally less irritating than retinol and is well-tolerated by all skin types, including sensitive skin. It also carries a lower risk of sun sensitivity, making it suitable for both daytime and nighttime use.
Irritation isn’t the only side effect you’ll dodge by choosing bio-retinol over retinol. The vitamin A in retinol serums and creams can cause redness and peeling while also making your skin more sensitive to the sun (which is why it’s only recommended for nighttime use). Plus, it takes time for the skin to adjust to the potent ingredient, and it is not uncommon to experience purging. Purging refers to the dryness, irritation and blemishes that develop due to the higher cell turnover rate from using retinol4.
Myth: Retinol Alternatives Are Less Effective Than Traditional Retinols
Bio-retinol mimics the effects of retinol to visibly reduce wrinkles and smooth the look and feel of the skin. In some situations bio-retinol does a better job at transforming the look of aging skin, as UV rays compromise the effectiveness of retinol5, making it less stable when exposed to light and air.
Myth: Bio-retinol Isn’t Safe for Lips
Retinol can be drying and irritating on the delicate skin of the lips, often leading to redness, itching and chapping. Bio-retinol offers a milder way to smooth lines and soften lips without irritation.
Myth: Bio-retinol Should Only be Used Sparingly
Not so! You’ll see better results with continued use of bio-retinol. Our skincare products featuring bio-retinol are gentle enough for regular use, morning and night.
Meet Our Bio-Retinol Heroes
Dream Night Serum, our most advanced wrinkle-smoothing formulation, contains algae-derived bio-retinol, plus two firming peptides, to improve the look of crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles, as well as the deeper wrinkles that develop in mature skin. Use our bio-retinol serum after cleansing and before applying moisturizer like Dream Night Cream to maximize your skincare benefits.
Our Dream Night Cream is the perfect addition to your PM routine for a noticeable transformation in a matter of weeks. It contains bio-retinol derived from blue-green microalgae extract, and combined with the other nourishing ingredients, this nighttime cream is clinically shown to visibly firm skin in 2 weeks* and reduce the look of dark circles by 80% in 4 weeks*. Apply it at night after a cleanser and serum and before putting on face oil.
*Based on a third-party clinical study conducted over 4 weeks on 29 women ages 33-60.
Did you know your lips can benefit from bio-retinol too? The skin on the lips is thinner, drier and more delicate than the rest of your skin, making it more prone to dehydration. It’s also one of the first places to show visible signs of aging. Enter Dream Lip Mask with Bio-Retinol. This dreamy bio-retinol treatment is designed to act like a restorative cocoon, helping to lock in moisture while actively softening lips and smoothing lines while you sleep. Made with bio-retinol derived from the Bidens pilosa plant, along with passion fruit oil to moisturize, nourish and condition, the luxurious gel texture melts right in, cocooning lips in a luscious layer of moisture while you sleep.
Our richest moisturizer, Advanced Protection Cream, uses bio-retinol derived from the Bidens pilosa plant, visibly improving the appearance of lines and wrinkles without irritation. It’s clinically shown to instantly increase hydration by 121%*. This luxurious formula, suitable for mature, dry and sensitive skin, can be used morning and night after cleansing and applying a serum and before using a face oil.
*Based on an instrumental measurement in a clinical study on 34 women ages 40-65 exposed to extreme, dehydrating weather conditions.
Bio-retinol benefits extend beyond the face. Meet Dream Bio-Retinol Body Serum. This dreamy bedtime treatment, formulated with a holistic blend of algae-derived bio-retinol + red seaweed, visibly firms, smooths the look of lines and wrinkles on your body, hydrates, improves elasticity and boosts radiance—all while you sleep. In an independent third-party clinical study, 100% showed improvement in skin firmness after 4 weeks*. The unique milky formula has a creamy yet lightweight texture that absorbs quickly and blankets skin in nurturing care. Lavender soothes and promotes a sense of serenity for a restful night, while magnesium helps skin feel soothed for a rested, revitalized look. Use at night, after cleansing and before body moisturizer.
*Based on an independent third-party clinical study conducted on 30 women.
1. (March 15, 2024). What Is Bio-Retinol & How Does It Compare To Traditional Retinol? Wildcraft. Retrieved January 31, 2025, from, https://wildcraftcare.ca/blogs/good-habits-magazine/what-is-bio-retinol-how-does-it-compare-to-traditional-retinol
2. Retinol is dead, long live Bio-Retinol! Horace. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from, https://horace.com/en/howtos/bio-retinol-skin
3. Piazza, O. (November 10, 2022). Bio-Retinol VS Retinol: What’s the difference? three ships. Retrieved January 31, 2025, from, https://www.threeshipsbeauty.com/blogs/news/bio-retinol-vs-retinol-what-s-the-difference
4. Singh, S. (December 20, 2024). Understanding Retinol Purging; Causes, Effects, And How To Control It. foxtale. Retrieved January 31, 2025, from, https://foxtale.in/blogs/news/tips-on-how-you-can-control-retinoid-purging
5. Venosa, A. (January 19, 2023). Is Your Beauty Routine Making You Photosensitive? Skin Cancer Foundation. Retrieved January 31, 2025, from,
https://www.skincancer.org/blog/when-beauty-products-cause-sun-sensitivity/