On August 10, 2026, Skinome announced the publication of its second peer-reviewed clinical study of its water-free retinal concentrate technology, The study, published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, shows that a concentrate combining 0.1% retinal with 10% azelaic acid significantly improved several aspects associated with acne-prone skin, including redness, skin texture and pores.
Skinome was founded in Stockholm in 2018 by Johanna Gillbro, PhD. The brand develops small-batch skincare products in its laboratory with no preservatives. The company uses water-free retinal solutions to remove the main pathway for hydrolytic degradation.
According to the company’s press release, the study was a randomized, vehicle-controlled split-face study with 23 participants. Each participant applied the active concentrate to one side of their face and a matched vehicle to the other. The study lasted for eight weeks. According to the results, when compared to the vehicle-treated side, pores were reduced by 22%, overall redness was reduced by 18% and skin texture was improved by 5.6%. Further, all of the participants reported smoother, more even skin texture and 95% reported calmer skin.
“We formulate retinal differently because retinal is difficult,” said Ulf Åkerström, vice president and chief innovation officer at Skinome. “It is highly effective, but it is also highly unstable. Instead of asking how much retinal we can put into a product, we have focused on how much is actually left when it reaches the skin. These two clinical studies are an important validation of that approach.”
The company’s first peer-reviewed study was published in Cosmetics in October 2025. In this study, the 0.1% retinal concentrate demonstrated significant improvements in pigmentation, fine lines, skin texture and pore visibility after six weeks of use.
