Kintsugi Serum - Encapsulated Retinol and Peptide Complex

Most people who try retinol quit before it ever works. This formula was built around that problem, not around the ingredient.

Retinol is the most studied anti-aging ingredient in skincare. It is also the one people abandon in week two, because a standard formula dumps it onto the skin all at once and the skin answers with flaking, redness and tightness. The ingredient did not fail. The delivery did.

What phospholipid encapsulation actually means

Phospholipids are the same class of molecule your own skin barrier is built from. Wrapping retinol inside them means it is released gradually across the surface instead of all at the moment of contact.

You lose the concentration spike that causes the irritation. You keep the sustained activity that produces the result. That is the entire trade, and it is the reason this is a formula you can actually stay on.

The formula, short version

• Retinol, encapsulated in phospholipids. The primary active, a vitamin A derivative.
• Hexapeptide-11, a yeast-derived signaling peptide that works through a different pathway to retinol rather than the same one.
• Phospholipids, the delivery system and a barrier-compatible lipid in their own right.
• Bisabolol, derived from chamomile, for calm.
• Caprylic/capric triglyceride, a light carrier oil that keeps the texture thin.

No fragrance, no essential oils, no alcohol, no mineral oil. Vegan, cruelty-free.

About the strength, since nobody else will say it

The manufacturer does not publish the retinol percentage, and we are not going to invent one. What we can tell you is what the formula is designed to do: deliver retinol at a level you can tolerate nightly, over months, without the tolerance-building misery.

If you want a high-percentage prescription retinoid, see a dermatologist. That is a different product with a different risk profile and we would rather point you there than pretend this is it.

Who this is for

People who have tried retinol and stopped. People who have never tried it and have heard enough horror stories to be wary. Sensitivity-prone skin that gets shouted down by conventional formulas.

Also anyone who wants texture and fine lines addressed by the one ingredient with decades of evidence behind it, rather than by whatever launched last month.

Who this is not for

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use this. Topical retinoids are not recommended during pregnancy. This is the first thing we would want you to know and it is not negotiable.

If you are already on prescription tretinoin or adapalene, you do not need this and layering the two is a bad idea.

And if you want a result this week, this is the wrong ingredient entirely. Retinol works on the skin's turnover cycle. That is weeks, not days.

How to use it

At night only. Retinol is broken down by sunlight and gives you nothing under SPF, so a morning application is wasted product.

Cleanse, let your skin dry fully, then press three to four drops over face and neck. Applying to damp skin drives it in faster and increases irritation, so the drying step is not optional. Follow with moisturizer.

Start at two to three nights a week for the first month, then build to nightly as your skin allows. Sunscreen every morning, without exception. Retinol increases sun sensitivity, and using it without SPF undoes the work.

Where it sits with Hikari Serum

Hikari in the morning, Kintsugi at night. They do different jobs and neither replaces the other.

Hikari is hydration and barrier support, which is what skin needs going into a day of sun, air conditioning and screens. Kintsugi is renewal, which is what skin does overnight anyway. Running one in each direction is the whole point of a morning and evening routine, and it is why we sell them as a pair.

Questions people actually ask

What does retinol do, in plain terms?
It speeds up the rate at which your skin replaces its surface cells and it signals for collagen support underneath. The visible outcome is smoother texture, more even tone, and fine lines that read as less deep. It is a cosmetic effect, and it is a real one.

Will this make me peel?
Less than a conventional retinol serum, which is the entire reason for the encapsulation. Some dryness in the first two to three weeks is normal as skin adjusts. Peeling sheets of skin is not, and if that happens, drop to two nights a week.

What percentage is the retinol?
The manufacturer does not disclose it. We would rather tell you that than make a number up. The formula is built for nightly tolerability rather than for a headline percentage.

Can I use it with Hikari Serum?
Yes, and it is how we intend it. Hikari in the morning, Kintsugi at night. Do not layer them in the same session.

Can I use it with vitamin C or niacinamide?
Niacinamide, yes, applied after. Vitamin C, use it in the morning and keep retinol for the evening rather than stacking them.

Can I use it if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Topical retinoids are not recommended in pregnancy. Speak to your doctor before restarting afterwards.

Do I really need sunscreen?
Yes. Retinol increases your skin's sensitivity to UV. SPF 30 or higher, every morning, for as long as you use it.

How long does a bottle last?
30ml at three to four drops a night is roughly three months at nightly use, longer while you are still ramping up.

Can I use it around my eyes?
Keep it off the immediate eye area and the corners of the nose. Those are the two places retinol irritation shows up first.

Shipping and the guarantee

Orders leave our US fulfillment partner in 1 to 5 business days, then 2 to 4 in transit. Tracking as soon as it moves.

Thirty-Day Happiness Guarantee. Try it. If it is not for you, email within 30 days and we will refund you. Opened bottles included.

Ingredients

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Phospholipids, Retinol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Hexapeptide-11, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Bisabolol.

Details

• Size: 1 fl oz (30 ml)
• Use: Nightly, after cleansing, before moisturizer
• Free from: Fragrance, alcohol, parabens, phthalates, sulfates, mineral oil
• Manufactured in: USA

Warnings

For external use only. Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Retinol increases sensitivity to sunlight; use sunscreen daily. Avoid contact with eyes. Do not use on broken skin. Discontinue if irritation occurs. Keep out of reach of children. Store in a cool, dry place.

Orders ship directly from our trusted artisan and supplier partners.

Delivery times range from 7–20 business days depending on the item and your location.

You’ll receive tracking details via email once your order is on its way.