Is the new La Mer cream a good alternative to retinol?
Het Nieuwsblad, 24 July 2024
Can MRA-3 in La Mer's night cream replace retinol? Dr Griet Voet and Dr Fran Baete in Het Nieuwsblad on limited evidence and proven alternatives.
La Mer launched a night cream containing MRA-3, a proprietary ingredient said to replace retinol. In Het Nieuwsblad, Dr Griet Voet and aesthetic physician Dr Fran Baete examine whether that promise holds up. MRA-3 was put together by the brand itself from sea fennel and brown algae and is not known in the scientific literature.
Studies on these sea plants point to possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but they were mostly not carried out on human cells and are scarce. Retinol, on the other hand, has been extensively researched, although you need to build up its use gradually to avoid irritation. If you don't tolerate retinol or are looking for plant-based skincare, you can try the product. As doctors, Dr Voet and Dr Baete prefer proven ingredients for now.
Key advice
Preferably choose ingredients backed by plenty of research, such as retinol.
Build up retinol gradually to prevent irritation.
If you don't tolerate retinol, a plant-based alternative may be an option.
“So it is not a known molecule in the scientific literature, unlike retinol” — Dr Griet Voet and Dr Fran Baete