Last Updated on 18th October 2023 by Sarah Sarsby
With so many skincare products on the market, it can be difficult to know which brands are worth investing in, and which ones are a cash grab.
Alpha-H is a fantastic science-backed brand that delivers clinically proven results. The 3 effective products in this review boast fantastic INCI lists to help target skin concerns and build healthy skin.
I’ve previously tried and absolutely love the Alpha-H Vitamin E Serum with 1% Ceramide Complex. It’s one of the best serums I’ve used. So I had very high expectations for the 3 Alpha-H products in this post.
In this review, I rate Alpha-H’s clinically backed retinol serum, best-selling cleansing balm, and popular niacinamide serum. Keep reading to find out why these skincare products are well worth adding to your routine.
* This post contains some affiliate links. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn some commission if you purchase a product through my link. All thoughts are my own, though, as always. If you want to find out more, visit my affiliate disclosure page **
What is Alpha-H?
Alpha-H is a woman-founded and results-driven skincare brand. It’s all about targeting skin concerns with proven actives and building your skin’s resilience for lasting healthy skin.
The brand is a particular leader in exfoliating acids. Its hero product is the iconic Liquid Glycolic Acid 5%.
Sustainably made on Australia’s Gold Coast, Alpha-H is the gold standard in clinically sophisticated, results-driven, corrective skincare.
Alpha-H
Although Alpha-H is a fairly expensive band, it does clinical or consumer trials on its products for results you can trust. Its comprehensive skincare range targets many concerns, such as fine lines, rosacea, dullness, dehydration, and breakouts.
What Alpha-H products did I receive?
I received the following 3 Alpha-H skincare products to review:
Below, I will review each product individually, taking a look at whether the products meet their claims, the INCI lists, and my personal experience.
1. Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol
$82/£88 for 25ml
Product claims
The Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol is vegan, cruelty-free, and 100% recyclable. With 0.5% retinol and squalane, this serum promises to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, target uneven tone and texture, minimise excessive oiliness, and smooth the complexion.
In an 8-week clinical trial with 20 participants:
- 80% of people said skin feels firmer or lifted
- 80% of people said fine lines and wrinkles felt/looked less visible
- 75% of people felt that the serum helped prevent and treat blemishes or occasional breakouts
- 89% of people saw a smoother, more even skin tone and texture
The serum is supposed to be suitable for all skin types; however, it’s not suitable for use during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding.
Key ingredients
Excluding water, the top 5 ingredients on the INCI list are:
- Glycerin: hydrates the skin
- Methyl gluceth-20: a humectant (retains or preserves moisture) and conditioning agent
- Polysorbate 80: a cleansing agent
- Polyacrylate crosspolymer-6: helps thicken water-based emulsions
- Phenoxyethanol: a gentle preservative
See the full INCI list below:
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Methyl Gluceth-20, Polysorbate 80, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Phenoxyethanol, Squalane, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid.
Review
The Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol is great. I love that this serum is backed with clinical trial results, as any claims that are made are actually backed by evidence. This makes the serum trustworthy with results that show.
Let’s start with packaging. I love the pastel green bottle. This is a shade I don’t see very often in skincare packaging, and it’s very modern and pretty. The dropper is easy to use and picks up a good amount of product.
The Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol has a thicker consistency than your standard serum. It’s quite milky. I wondered whether this would make it difficult to absorb into the skin. However, it absorbs easily and feels very lightweight on my skin.
As I’ve got rosacea-prone skin, I’m careful with strong actives like retinol, as they can irritate my skin or increase redness. This retinol feels very gentle and hydrating thanks to glycerin, squalane, jojoba seed oil, macadamia seed oil, and sweet almond oil. It’s very nourishing. A lot of other retinol serums can instantly feel like they’re a bit harsh, even if it’s only a temporary sensation. But Alpha-H has done a fantastic job of counteracting any irritation with moisturising and soothing ingredients. Despite this nourishing feeling, it’s non-greasy and doesn’t feel too rich for my oily skin.
I applied the Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol when I had a couple of breakouts. By the morning, my spots had significantly reduced. My skin also seemed smoother and firmer.
It’ll take a couple of months to truly assess how well this retinol serum works for reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Retinol works over time to improve your skin. But I’m very confident that the results will come, as I’ve already noticed improvements to my skin after using the retinol a couple of times.
Rating: 5 stars
I can’t fault this retinol serum and particularly appreciate how it works on my rosacea-prone skin.
2. Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm
$15/£12.50 for 18g or $48/£39 for 90g
Product claims
The Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm claims to be a luxurious balm-to-oil waterless formula that easily removes makeup, SPF, grease, and dirt from the skin. It promises to be non-stripping, nourishing, softening, and gentle.
In a 7-day trial with 23 participants:
- 100% agreed it removed all traces of makeup and SPF
- 100% said skin didn’t feel stripped or tight after using
- 95% said skin felt softer or smoother after using the balm
- 95% said skin felt softer, more hydrated or more nourished after using it as a mask
The cleansing balm is vegan, cruelty-free, and 100% recyclable. It’s suitable for all skin types. Alpha-H says this cleansing balm also gives the skin added luminosity and won’t disrupt the skin’s delicate pH.
Key ingredients
The top 5 ingredients on the INCI list are:
- Ethylhexyl palmitate: an emollient (softens or soothes skin)
- Caprylic/capric triglyceride: an emollient and skin-replenishing agent
- Grape seed oil: a non-fragrant emollient
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil: an emollient that helps reduce moisture loss
- PEG-20 glyceryl triisostearate: a skin-softening mild cleansing agent
See the full INCI list below:
Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Peg-20 Glyceryl Triisostearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Fusanus Spicatus Kernel Oil, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Bisabolol, Capparis Mitchellii Leaf Extract, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Peel Oil, Cananga Odorata (Ylang-Ylang) Flower Oil, Citrus Junos Oil, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Fruit Extract, Limonene, Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 75300 (Natural Curcumin).
Review
The Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm is fantastic. It’s clear to see why this gentle cleansing balm has won beauty awards!
As you can see from the INCI list, there are a lot of emollients, meaning that this cleansing balm is very moisturising and calming. After I’ve used this cleansing balm, my skin feels very soft and hydrated. Plus, it’s super gentle and non-irritating.
But most importantly, the Melting Moment Cleansing Balm effortlessly removes any makeup, dirt, excess oil, and SPF from my skin. As a first cleanse, this beautiful balm isn’t overly oily, and the residue washes away easily. Some cleansing balms can leave a bit of a residue on your skin, but this one melts away easily. When I follow this with a gentle gel cleanser for my second cleanse, my skin feels so refreshed and clean, without being tight or dry.
It’s definitely a wonderful cleansing balm that makes my skin feel nourished and look a bit more radiant. However, there are cleansing balms that are just as good but are more affordable. You don’t need to spend a tonne of money on cleansing balms to get fantastic results, whereas with targeted treatments, often investing more money on clinically proven formulae results yields better skin results.
Rating: 4 stars
I love the Alpha-H Melting Moment Cleansing Balm, but there are cheaper cleansing balms that are just as effective.
3. Alpha-H Vitamin B Serum with 5% Niacinamide
$82/£88 for 25ml
Product claims
The Alpha-H Vitamin B Serum with 5% Niacinamide claims to to rejuvenate the skin’s barrier, enhance hydration, even skin tone, and improve texture. It’s vegan, cruelty-free, 100% recyclable, and suitable for all skin types.
In a 4-week trial with 17 participants:
- 83% of people said skin appeared firmer
- 89% of people said skin’s texture improved to be softer, smoother and more even toned
- 94% of people said skin felt more radiant and energised
- 100% of people said skin felt more hydrated
With 5% niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, this serum is also designed to control excess sebum production, make skin smooth and dewy, and give it an instant plumping effect.
Key ingredients
Excluding water, the top 5 ingredients on the INCI list are:
- Glycerin: hydrating
- Niacinamide: an incredible powerhouse ingredient that has a heap of skin benefits. It helps reduce the appearance of enlarged pores, control excess sebum, improve uneven skin tone, brighten the skin, and boost the skin’s barrier and hydration
- Propanediol: moisturises the skin with a smooth, dewy finish
- Methyl gluceth-20: a humectant
- Sage seed extract: moisturises skin
See the full INCI list below:
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Salvia Hispanica (Sage) Seed Extract, Sodium Pca, Panthenol (Vitamin B), Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Ferulic Acid, Wheat Amino Acids, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydroxyproline, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1.
Review
I really like the Alpha-H Vitamin B Serum with 5% Niacinamide.
Just like the retinol serum, the packaging is great. I love the pastel blue bottle, and the dropper picks up enough product. The serum textures are also very similar with a milky and hydrating consistency that’s still absorbent.
I already knew I’d love this serum because niacinamide is one of my fave skincare ingredients. While some of the effects of niacinamide can take a while to show, like improved skin tone, some of the benefits can be seen immediately. This serum helps hydrate my skin, regulate unnecessary oiliness, and improve the appearance of enlarged pores on application.
Rating: 4.5 stars
I can’t wait to see how the Vitamin B Serum with 5% Niacinamide improves my skin in the long term.
Overall Alpha-H review
I love the Alpha-H skincare products. They have fantastic INCI lists, all meet their claims, and deliver noticeable skin benefits. All of the products have beautiful textures, are gentle on my skin, and target specific concerns.
I totally believe Alpha-H products are worth the money. Even though they’re fairly pricey, they truly are high performing and backed by science, so you know the products will actually deliver results.
Fave product?
Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol
Have you ever tried Alpha-H?
Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 5 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.
I really like the packaging for the bottles in particular. Those bright but muted colours are my favourite! All 3 products sound amazing, but I tend to save my money on cleaners as some cheaper ones work amazingly, so I can then splash out on other products. Lovely review.