What Makes Vivant’s Retinoid Different from All the Others?

When it comes to promoting healthy, youthful skin, nothing tops retinoid (vitamin A therapies). These high-performance cell regulators are like the master key for slowing the aging process. Every skincare brand has its own formulas, so what sets Vivant’s apart?

Topical retinoids (vitamin A)—the most used and most studied compounds in skincare—have been the gold standard for preventing and reversing signs of aging for decades. Retin-A (tretinoin) was the first retinoid. It was originally developed for the treatment of acne in 1969, and Vivant formulator, Dr. James Fulton, was the co-developer.

Many scientists had given up on retinoic acid because they felt it was too irritating and exfoliating. (Its keratolytic action peeled the surface of the skin and the lining of the pore to clear impactions). Dr. Fulton realized it was exactly those characteristics that would ultimately make it so effective. Dr. Fulton’s persistence led to a revolutionary change in the treatment of acne and aging.

In addition to peeling acne impactions, retinoid (vitamin A) works to fade age spots, even out pigmentation, increase elasticity, and induce collagen production. More than forty years later, retinoid are still the most prolific change agent in skincare. But not all forms of retinoids measure up. 

The pure form of retinoid, and the most potent, is retinoic acid (Retin-A). It goes to work on the skin immediately when it’s applied. Milder derivatives (retinol, retinyl palmitate) must be converted by the body into retinoic acid. Their effectiveness hinges on how efficiently and how quickly the conversion happens, which comes down to molecular structure. Too big, and it can’t reach its cellular target, meaning results are minimized and take longer to appear. Too small, and irritation ramps up.

In developing his patented Retinyl Propionate, Dr. Fulton employed the Goldilocks principle to get the balance just right. Vivant's Retinyl Propionate’s molecular structure is closer to Retin-A® than any other retinol. At just three carbons larger, Retinyl Propionate is able to reach deep into the skin to accelerate cell turnover from the average 30 days to just 10 to 14 days.

The chart below shows how the dosage of Retinyl Propionate compares to using Retin-A®.