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What the 6 percent complex is
The name Retiboosting refers to the combination of two ingredients in one formula: 4 percent pure retinol and 2 percent TGF-beta growth factors. Together they make 6 percent, and that is the whole arithmetic behind the name.
Retinol itself works here the same way as in any retinol treatment: it speeds up cell renewal, affects skin texture and supports collagen production. What is new is what has been added alongside it.
Retinol 4%
A pure form of vitamin A. It speeds up cell renewal, affects skin texture and supports collagen production.
TGF-beta 2%
Growth factors that act on similar metabolic pathways, added to reduce irritation.
The treatment on video
A recording from our treatment room, without editing to speed the work up.
We do not publish before and after material, because without an identical frame, lighting and time interval such a comparison is misleading.
What TGF-beta growth factors are
TGF-beta is a group of proteins involved in regulating cell growth and in tissue repair processes. In the body, they take part in healing and in remodelling the extracellular matrix, meaning what gives the skin its structure.
In this formula, they play a supporting role alongside retinol. The manufacturer states that they act on similar metabolic pathways and, at the same time, stimulate lipid production in the skin, which is meant to reduce the irritating effect of retinol. This is information from the manufacturer of the preparation, not a conclusion from independent clinical studies, so we treat it as a description of an assumption rather than a guarantee of better tolerance.
In practice it is simpler: if you have previously tolerated retinol poorly, mention it at the consultation. This is one of the reasons this particular option is considered, but the decision is made after assessing the skin, not on the basis of a leaflet declaration.
Other ingredients in the formula
Vitamin C with ferulic acid
Ferulic acid stabilises vitamin C and strengthens its antioxidant effect. Together they neutralise reactive oxygen species that form after sun exposure.
Niacinamide
It supports the skin's protective barrier and affects sebum secretion and the evenness of skin tone.
Lactic acid
An alpha hydroxy acid with an exfoliating and moisturising effect at the same time, milder than the stronger acids in this group.
Vitamin E
An antioxidant that protects the skin's lipids, complementing the effect of vitamin C.
Orange flower hydrosol and brightening ingredients
An element that soothes the formula and supports work on uneven skin tone.
Retibooster or Retix.C
Both treatments come from the same line and both contain 4 percent pure retinol. They differ in what has been added alongside it.
Retibooster
Retinol 4 percent plus TGF-beta growth factors 2 percent, with vitamin C, niacinamide and lactic acid.
Considered when the skin needs a strong stimulus but has previously reacted to retinol with irritation.
The treatment is completed in the practice and takes about 45 minutes. A course is usually three sessions every 3 to 4 weeks.
You are on this pageRetix.C
Retinol 4 percent, vitamin C 8 percent and antioxidants 30 percent.
The basic variant, chosen for pigmentation, photoageing and dull skin.
The mask stays on the face and you wash it off at home after a few hours. A course is 4 to 6 treatments every 14 to 28 days.
Go to Retix.CIndications, or what it helps with
For post-acne scars, the treatment can be part of a wider plan rather than a stand-alone method. Deeper scars usually require microneedling or laser therapy, which we discuss at the consultation, instead of planning a course that will not give the expected result.
How many treatments and how often
A typical plan is three treatments spaced three to four weeks apart. The interval reflects the time the skin needs to complete a full renewal cycle after a retinol stimulus.
The number of sessions can be adjusted after the first treatment, once it is clear how the skin reacts. The result needs maintaining, as the skin keeps ageing, and the cosmetologist sets the repeat schedule together with home care.
Contraindications
Treatment with oral retinoids requires an interval counted from when it ended. Mention it even if a good deal of time has passed, as the skin reacts differently after this kind of treatment than before it.
The questions we are asked most often
How does Retibooster differ from Retix.C?
Both contain 4 percent pure retinol. Retibooster additionally contains 2 percent TGF-beta growth factors, while Retix.C relies on a combination of retinol with vitamin C 8 percent and antioxidants. The process also differs: you finish Retix.C at home by washing off the mask, Retibooster is completed in the practice.
Does that mean Retibooster is better?
Not in every situation. It is considered mainly when the skin has tolerated retinol poorly but still needs a strong stimulus. When working on pigmentation and photoageing, the basic variant can be an equally good choice. The decision is made after an assessment of the skin.
Will the skin flake?
Usually yes, as this is a stage of how retinol works at a 4 percent concentration, not a side effect. The added growth factors are meant to limit irritation, but they do not remove the flaking itself. Plan the treatment with a few days to spare before an important event.
How many treatments do I need?
Usually three, spaced three to four weeks apart. We adjust the number after the first session, once it is clear how the skin reacts. The result needs maintaining, so the plan also includes home care.
What are growth factors and is it safe?
TGF-beta are proteins involved in the natural processes of healing and tissue remodelling. In the cosmetic preparation, they act as an active ingredient. The treatment has contraindications like any retinol treatment, and we go through them at the consultation.
I have sensitive skin, is this for me?
It depends how sensitive. The retinol concentration here is high, so for reactive skin prone to visible vessels we usually suggest a gentler route first, for example acid peels. The cosmetologist will assess this at the consultation instead of assuming it in advance.
Will the treatment help with post-acne scars?
It can be part of a plan, but not a stand-alone method. For deeper scars, microneedling or laser therapy is needed, and Retibooster then supports skin quality between treatments. We will say so directly, instead of planning a course with no chance of a result.
Can I use retinol at home during the course?
Not on your own. Layering further retinol stimuli leads to irritation, not a faster result. Home care for the duration of the course is set by the cosmetologist.
Can the treatment be done in summer?
Yes, with consistent photoprotection using a high-factor sunscreen and no sunbathing. Skin after retinol is more sensitive to radiation, and without sunscreen you risk pigmentation instead of an improved skin tone.
Before you decide
Consultation with a cosmetologist
The three Retix.C variants differ in formula, not just in name. At the consultation we check retinol tolerance, the condition of the skin barrier, and whether Retibooster, the basic variant, or a completely different route makes more sense for your situation. The conversation carries no obligation to have the treatment.
This material is for information and does not replace a consultation or an assessment of suitability for the treatment.