If you’ve ever tried to use a retinol skincare product but given up because of dryness, irritation, rosacea or discomfort, hydroxypinacolone retinoate is irresistibly calling you back. HPR (sometimes referred to as “granactive retinoid”) is a newer retinoid that’s much better tolerated by dry, sensitive skins, but packs a proper punch at acne, rough texture, pigmentation, lines and other visible signs of skin ageing.
We know retinoids work better than anything else on ageing skin, but unlike previous “gentler” (and in my view, inferior) retinoids such as retinyl palmitate, HPR actually delivers the sort of results that those tolerant of punchier retinoid types get to enjoy. And while I maintain that some people can’t comfortably use any retinoids and that it’s perfectly possible to have great skin without them, I believe HPR to be so well tolerated and effective that its mass adoption will see their numbers fall.
