The Body Retinol

I recently purchased this and was really excited to try it out, because I have been using a compound tretinoin for my body the last few months, and it’s very expensive ($260+ for 2.8oz), so when I saw this, I thought “perfect!”. Well, the cream seems really nice, it’s more like very light, creamier, not greasy version of Aquaphor/Vaseline rather than a light cream. Although it’s far more easy to apply and doesn’t leave a greasy feeling whatsoever. (I put a photo of a small amount so you can see what it looks like, because I was expecting an actual solid white cream, but it’s translucent and thick.) That’s the only way I can think to describe it. If you’ve ever used Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Night cream, it has a similar consistency minus the greasiness. I actually really, really like the cream *a lot. I have very dry skin and it felt so good when I applied it, and it kept my skin moisturized. But the SMELL. Oh my goodness. I don’t know if I just got one that’s gone bad, but it smells so off, I couldn’t tolerate it more than the one time I tried it. I almost washed it off because it was that bad. Not to be graphic but it smells like you’re standing really close to someone that’s just thrown up. Or you’ve thrown up.. just that rancid smell. But it’s not totally overpowering, it’s just disgusting. But I just couldn’t bring myself to waste it by washing it off after I had just applied it everywhere, so I just sprayed on a bunch of perfume, yet I could still smell it, though it did finally go away after about 30 minutes. And the thing is, this is *supposed to be fragrance free. So I don’t know if what I’m smelling is just the ingredients or if it went bad.. but honestly, for $60+ including tax, I want something that smells light and nice, or- truly doesn’t smell AT ALL. Note to the company: please, please add a light fragrance to mitigate the smell. Fragrance isn’t a bad thing. Especially when it’s there for a reason, which is the purpose for fragrance in the majority of skincare anyway. TL;DR I would highly recommend if you’re at all sensitive to smell, go in and try a tester first- see if you can tolerate this particular smell. Because if you can, you’ll likely really enjoy this product otherwise. It seems great in every other aspect.

Nécessaire The Body Retinol had everything I could ask for. It had a creamy texture and ingredients I look for that tick all those healthy-looking-skin boxes. Important to me is there is no added fragrance; however, fragrance free doesn’t mean it is odor free. And this product has an odor that is so unpleasant that I just couldn’t bring myself to use it. I had to send it back. Thankfully, Nordstrom has a generous return policy.

I was afraid to buy because of the terrible odor reviews. I bought it because people say that it works well. I closed my eyes and held my nose but to my surprise, there was absolutely no smell. I wonder if those reviewers received a bad or expired batch. Hope nordy rectified the situation. So far, so good!

There was a reviewer who said this smells like vomit - and that is entirely accurate. It’s disgusting to the point of being unbelievable every time I apply it (I keep expecting it to “not be that bad” - but it continues to be gross). I find that it dissipates quickly, though. As far as the efficacy of the product - it’s great. Reduces dark spots, sun damage and overall skin aging. I’ll buy it again and just hold my breath when I apply :)