Here's Our Honest Review of Go-To Skincare's Newest Product

As Sitchu's Shopping Editor, there's no denying I love a new beauty product hitting the shelves. 

But one brand always has me on the edge of my seat when it comes to dropping serious skincare news: Go-To Skincare. 

Having been a Go-To fan since the days of Properly Clean and Face Hero, when news of the latest product hit my inbox, I just had to see what all of the fuss was about and try it for myself.

It's called Very Amazing Retinal, and it's heralded as the product to use when you want to "get serious" about skincare. So, is it worth the hype?

A silky and soothing vitamin A serum, Very Amazing Retinal is clinically proven* to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, plus visibly improve skin tone, texture and elasticity for a more youthful-looking complexion. 

The hero ingredient is retinal (which you may recognise from Go-To's De-Crease eye serum, released earlier this year), which is part of the retinoid family. Retinal is the closest thing to a prescription-strength retinoid, but that doesn't mean it's harsh on the skin. 

It's much better tolerated than retinol and is much less likely to irritate the skin - a fact that definitely won me over when trying this product. 

I'm no stranger to active ingredients in skincare, but I have always been cautious of dipping my toe into the retinoid-filled waters. While my skin isn't super sensitive, I've recently had a few brushes with a damaged skin barrier, irritation and redness after trying out one too many new products. 

Luckily for me (and my skin), Very Amazing Retinal has been specifically formulated to be an uncomplicated and gentle introduction to vitamin A, and from the very first application, I knew my skin was in love.

Surprisingly gentle, the serum practically melted into my skin. Don't be alarmed by its bright orange hue: it absorbs into the skin quickly and thoroughly, without leaving the sticky side effects of some serums. 

While retinal - or any form of vitamin A - use is a marathon, not a sprint (meaning, results are best seen over time), there have been some noticeable, near-immediate benefits. 

My skin looks and feels more even, and dare I say, plumper and more radiant. According to the data, my skin will only continue to improve with regular use, with clinical studies* showing an up to 40% visible reduction in fine lines and a 33% visible reduction in wrinkles after 12 weeks of use.

Very Amazing Retinal also has some other nifty, powerful ingredients as part of the formula. Think niacinamide to brighten and strengthen the skin barrier, peptides to nourish and help reduce the depth of fine lines, Orobanche extract to help balance the skin's microbiota and mushroom extract and centella to protect the skin from irritation post-application.

The result? A formula that's designed to support the skin while making it clearer, bouncier and more luminous.

My intro into the world of retinal has been gradual - I've introduced Very Amazing Retinal into my routine slowly starting with every other night to build up tolerance and ensure my skin is happy with its new addition. 

Since I'm already seeing results - and my skin is as happy as can be - this one will definitely be a regular feature in my nighttime skincare routine moving forward.

All that's needed are 1-2 pumps of the serum, applied to the face and neck on dry skin post-cleansing. Once the serum has been absorbed, I can follow up with additional (non-active) serums, face oils and moisturisers. 

And, of course, don't forget the number one rule of using retinal: always, always wear SPF. 

Loving our review of Go-To's new Very Amazing Retinal and inspired to revamp your beauty cupboard? Check out the latest product releases we're obsessing over, or find your perfect face moisturiser fit here.

Our Sitchu editors work hard to deliver you the best products, events and venues that we hope you will love and each one is selected independently. Sitchu may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.

* Based on a 12-week clinical study of 33 participants