Is Biba Los Angeles Retinol Meta Concentrate Worth It?

Ear, Lip, Cheek, Brown, Product, Hairstyle, Skin, Forehead, Eyebrow, Eyelash, — (Image credit: Design by Susanna Hayward)

Welcome back to Worth It, a bi-weekly breakdown of the new beauty products I’ve tested and adored: I’m talking that drain-it-to-the-bottom-and-tell-my-friends-I’ve-found-The-One kind of love. If it's featured here, consider this my permission to splurge on it. Read on for the product you don’t want to live without, and catch up on the latest Worth It breakdown here.

BIBA Los Angeles Retinol meta concentrate

The Promise

For the skincare-obsessed (like me), both retinol and Biba Los Angeles are must-haves in our routines. Retinol, a derivative of Vitamin A, is a skin all-star—incredibly potent and effective at resolving dullness, fine lines, wrinkles, and even clogged pores. And because it's so powerful, it's recommended that newbies use the ingredient just once a week at first, until your skin adjusts to it. Meanwhile, Biba Los Angeles is the beloved creation of Biba de Sousa, an aesthetician with A-list devotees in Miley Cyrus and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who raves about her products. One sure standout from the line is the Retinol Meta Concentrate, which seamlessly marries retinol with other active ingredients like niacinamide and kojic acid to help complexions retain moisture and look generally bright and glowy.

Why I'm Obsessed

I've been on the hunt for a retinol product that works with my skin for years. Years. Unfortunately, because retinol is so powerful, even the gentlest formula has inevitably wreaked havoc on my skin. My history with retinol goes something like this: I put a tiny amount of product on my face at night, once a week. The very next day, I have tiny pimple-like bumps all over my face, and the skin between my eyebrows immediately starts peeling. Though I don't normally consider my skin to be sensitive, I had to accept that retinol just didn't agree with me. Cue a broken heart.

When Biba's Retinol Meta Concentrate made its way into my life, I figured I'd give it one more try. I was shocked when, after the first application, the only difference I noticed in my skin was that it looked positively radiant. Six months later, I use this product three times a week and I have yet to see a negative reaction—no dryness, no rashes. For me, this is nothing short of a miracle. Instead, I notice fewer and fewer breakouts, the frown line on my forehead is significantly less pronounced, and my skin looks healthy and glowing nearly every day. I consider this step one of my skin slowly morphing into Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's, and I am very, very happy about that.

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Tatjana Freund is a Beauty Commerce Writer, covering makeup, skincare, and haircare products and trends. She's a fan of vodka tonics and creepy Wikipedia pages.