Why I Made My Own Retinol (and Why Yours Might Be Holding You Back)

From Whitney, Founder of DREAMLAB PEELS

After over 20 years as an esthetician—and more than a decade in cosmetic formulation—I got tired of recommending retinol products that only kind of worked.

Some irritated my clients’ skin. Others did nothing. Most felt like they were created by a lab technician who’s never treated an actual face. So I did what I always do at DREAMLAB: I made my own.

I call it Overnight Retinol Repair, and it’s the retinoid I wish I had my entire career. Clinical-strength, barrier-respecting, and handmade in small batches—by me. It’s the one I use on my own skin, and the one I recommend to clients who want real results without burning their barrier to the ground.

Here’s the truth:

Retinol is one of the most proven ingredients in skincare—but that doesn’t mean every formula is worth your face. Most products stop at a single form of Vitamin A (if that). They don’t penetrate deeply enough, convert efficiently enough, or include anything to support your skin while it adjusts.

Overnight Retinol Repair is different—because I designed it to be.

Let’s break it down (no fluff, all function):

This formula uses multiple forms of time-released Vitamin A—including Retinol, Retinaldehyde, and Beta Carotene—so your skin gets a steady infusion of what it needs without the irritation spike. Plus:

  • Bakuchiol to boost retinol’s results and buffer any irritation

  • Matrixyl® Synthe’6™, a collagen-activating peptide I’ve loved in the treatment room for years

  • Allosteris, a botanical booster that multiplies retinol’s effects by nearly 4x

  • Licorice + plant-derived Cortinhib, because we calm while we correct—always

The result? A skin-renewing serum that works immediately and compounds over time. You'll feel it after night one—softness, smoothness, that expensive-skin finish. But the real glow-up is progressive.

What to expect (because I believe in receipts):

  • In 24-48 hours: dry patches smooth out, lips feel softer (yes, you can use it there)

  • In one week: spots, bumps, and texture start fading

  • By one month: fine lines visibly soften, tone evens out, pores chill

  • By 2–6 months: deeper wrinkles, post-acne marks, and discoloration improve dramatically

Who it’s for:

  • Newbies who’ve been scared off by “retinol horror stories”

  • Advanced users who feel like their current product just...stalled

  • Anyone with texture, pigmentation, acne-prone skin, or visible signs of aging

  • Every tone, every type—my clients are diverse, and so is this formula

I made Overnight Retinol Repair for the skin I see every day in the treatment room. The skin that’s been over-exfoliated, underwhelmed by promises, and so ready for something that actually works.

And if you want to go all-in? Pair it with my signature Cell Shock Therapyfor full skin regeneration—surface to stem cell.

SHOP THE 24 HOUR DEAL