This bestselling retinol shot helps tighten skin and eliminate wrinkles for only $20

A $20 retinol serum with thousands of rave reviews? My skincare-loving self immediately had questions.

I haven’t tried the Celimax The Vita A Retinol Shot Tightening Serum myself, but I reviewed the Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster, so I was especially intrigued when I started seeing its retinol counterpart getting so much attention.

Meet the Celimax The Vita A Retinol Shot Tightening Serum, a 30-milliliter treatment designed to help smooth the look of wrinkles, improve the appearance of pores and make skin look firmer and more toned. The formula contains 0.1% pure retinol, a nine-peptide complex, and panthenol, along with Celimax’s A-Shot technology.

And apparently, shoppers are very into it. The serum has more than 4,000 rave reviews, and more than 6,000 shoppers purchased it in the past month. That’s a lot of bottles making their way into skincare routines.

The star of the formula is, of course, retinol. The vitamin A ingredient is a longtime favorite for people looking to target fine lines and wrinkles and give their skin a smoother-looking appearance. Celimax combines the retinol with nine peptides, which are included to support the appearance of firmer, more elastic skin.

At only $20 before Prime Big Deal Days, the serum is also an easy-on-the-wallet way to add a retinol treatment to a skincare routine. It’s the kind of price that makes trying a buzzy K-beauty product feel a little less intimidating.

Of course, retinol isn’t exactly the skincare equivalent of a glass of water. If you’re new to it, Celimax recommends starting every other night for the first two weeks and cutting back if your skin becomes irritated. And, sunscreen the next morning is a must.

I haven’t personally tested this particular serum, so I can’t say whether it will actually transform anyone’s wrinkles. But between the 0.1% retinol, peptide-packed formula, $20 price tag, and thousands of shoppers picking it up, I understand why this little bottle is getting so much attention.

This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.