Glow Lab may not command the same instant recognition as heritage beauty heavyweights yet its science forward formulas have quietly earned cult status among ingredient hawks and budget realists alike.
Enter the mouthful that is Retinol Pro Regenerate Night Cream, a title that sounds like it wants to win Scrabble in one go. Glow Lab claims this purple topped jar slips a time released vegan retinol capsule, wrinkle softening peptides and tone brightening niacinamide into a plush hydrator that works while you dream.
I worked through an entire fortnight of nightly applications, smoothing a pea sized amount over face and neck, to see whether the promises translate to fewer lines, calmer tone and an overall fresher mirror moment and whether it is worth your hard earned cash.
This is not a paid or sponsored review, every opinion is my own and individual results can vary.
What Is Retinol Pro Regenerate Night Cream?
At its simplest this is an overnight treatment, the kind of product designed to sit on skin for the eight-ish hours you are asleep so it can deliver active ingredients without daylight or makeup getting in the way. Overnight treatments tend to be richer than day creams because they are not competing with sunscreen or foundation and the goal is slow sustained absorption rather than instant feel.
Glow Lab’s entry in this category is a water-based cream that pairs a vegan encapsulated retinol called ReVitAlide with a peptide complex known as Matrixyl Synthè 6. Retinol encourages faster cell turnover which over time can help soften fine lines and improve overall skin texture while the peptide aims to support collagen so existing wrinkles look less etched. Supporting acts include niacinamide for tone unevenness and hyaluronic acid for hydration.
The formula is marketed as time release meaning the active retinol is dripped out gradually instead of hitting skin all at once, a design choice that usually seeks to lower irritation risk. The brand positions it as suitable for nightly use though standard retinol wisdom still suggests easing in if you are new to the ingredient.
To use you scoop out a pea sized amount and apply to face and neck after cleansing, then leave it to do its work until morning rinse. It is intended to replace a regular night cream rather than layer on top of one, making it a single step solution for people who prefer a streamlined routine before bed.
Did It Work?
In the name of science I benched my regular overnight serum for three days before starting this test run so my skin would not have any competing actives muddying the results. Fourteen nights felt like a fair window to spot meaningful change without crossing into placebo territory so I committed to the pea sized scoop routine religiously.
Night one through three: pleasant. The cream melted in with that classic cushy retinol slip yet never stayed tacky. I woke up with skin that felt velvety rather than greasy, a win for my combination T-zone. No sting, redness or morning-after tightness which is usually how my skin tattles when retinol is too strong. Hydration held steady through the day so I skipped my usual mid afternoon facial mist.
Nights four to seven revealed the first signs of exfoliation. Tiny flakes popped up around my nostrils and chin which I buffed away with a damp washcloth. Lines across my forehead looked a hair softer by day seven though you needed to squint to see it. More obvious was an overall smoothness that made makeup glide instead of catch on dry patches.
Week two felt like cruising speed. The earlier flaking settled and my skin tone looked a touch clearer like someone had turned down the saturation on lingering redness. Deeper smile creases and a long-standing sun spot on my left cheek stayed exactly as they were which the realist in me expected. Hydration remained its biggest brag; the formula behaves more like a night mask locking in moisture until morning without clogging my pores.
So did it live up to the brochure copy? Partly. It delivered gentle retinol benefits without irritation and kept my skin comfortably hydrated but the promised wrinkle reduction is modest at best and two weeks in I cannot say my reflection screams transformation. I will finish the jar yet I will likely return to my higher strength retinol once it is empty since I prefer bolder results. Still, for anyone retinol-curious who values a kinder introduction this is a respectable option – just not one that earns permanent residency on my shelf.
Main Ingredients Explained
The headline act is ReVitAlide, a vegan encapsulated retinol that releases slowly through the night so skin gets a steady trickle of vitamin A with less risk of the redness or peeling that free retinol can spark. Encapsulation also shields it from air and light, meaning the jar stays potent longer than many open-bath retinol creams. Because retinoids are generally off the menu during pregnancy or breastfeeding, I would still advise speaking with a medical professional before diving in.
Next up is Matrixyl Synthè 6, a well-studied peptide made of six amino acids that signal skin to top up its own collagen stores. While the brand quotes a 62 percent wrinkle depth reduction, that figure comes from an in-house test on the raw material, not the finished cream, so manage expectations.
Niacinamide sits at skin-friendly mid range levels and pulls double duty: it nudges pigment cells to distribute melanin more evenly and bolsters the skin barrier so moisture loss slows down. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin and jojoba derivatives round out the hydrators, creating the plush feel I noticed from night one.
The formula is free from animal-derived ingredients so vegans and vegetarians can use it with a clear conscience. On the comedogenic front, it does contain shea butter and soybean oil which score medium on the clog-potential scale. If your pores are easily blocked, patch test first. (Comedogenic simply means an ingredient can collect in pores and encourage blackheads or breakouts.)
One final note: the cream is scented with an essential oil blend. It is light, yet fragrance sensitivities are personal, so keep that in mind if your skin leans reactive. Overall the ingredient list balances proven actives with classic moisturisers making it a gentle all-rounder rather than a clinical strength resurfacer.
What I Liked/Didn’t Like
After two weeks here is the straightforward rundown.
What Works Well:
- Cushy moisturising texture sinks in fast so skin feels nourished yet never slick
- Encapsulated retinol offers a gentle glide path: noticeable smoothness with no sting or peeling
- Makeup sits better by morning thanks to the hydrated canvas and lack of flake zones
- Vegan ingredients plus a wallet friendly price make it accessible for curious first timers
What to Consider:
- Improvements on deeper lines and sun spots are subtle so seasoned retinol users may want more punch
- Essential oil fragrance is mild but could still trouble very reactive skin
- Jar packaging invites air exposure which may nibble at potency over time despite encapsulation
My Final Thoughts
Night creams are like roommates you never actually see awake: they either quietly tidy up while you sleep or leave a mess that greets you in the morning. Glow Lab’s Retinol Pro Regenerate fell somewhere in the first category, just not with the obsessive sparkle one might expect from the marketing fanfare. After two weeks I saw smoother texture and reliable hydration, a solid performance that earns a respectable 7/10 in my little black book of skincare scores.
I approached the jar with a passport full of stamps from other retinol and peptide formulas so I gave it a level playing field. It behaved impeccably on my combination skin with zero drama which is more than I can say for a few fiery options I have retired to the back of the cabinet. Still, if you already court high strength retinoids or chase lightning fast pigment fade, this gentle glow up may read as tranquil rather than transformative.
Who will love it? Retinol rookies, sensitive souls and anyone who wants one step instead of a serums-plus-cream cocktail at bedtime. Who might shrug? Veterans chasing prescription level results or those allergic to even a whisper of fragrance. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes, provided that friend understands it is the skincare equivalent of a reliable, cruelty-free hatchback not a turbo sports car.
If you want to window shop beyond the Glow Lab aisle, my top bench-tested alternatives are worth a sniff. Nocturnal Revive Cream by Deascal is an excellent all-rounder that covers hydration, barrier support and gentle resurfacing at a friendly price point. For a slightly more cosmeceutical vibe I rate Medik8’s Advanced Night Restore which partners mid-strength retinoids with ceramides for noticeably firmer mornings. On nights when my barrier cries for soothing rather than resurfacing I reach for the Cica Sleeping Mask from Laneige, a calming cloud that still leaves skin bouncy. And if you crave a bit more retinal firepower without crossing into derm office territory, Murad’s Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream delivers appreciable line softening in roughly the same two-week window.
Before you slather anything new please patch test on a discreet spot and give it 24 hours – sorry to sound like an over-protective parent but irritation never looks chic. Remember results are rental not ownership; keep using the product or the benefits will slowly pack their bags and move out!