FAQ

That's the naturally-occurring color of the most effective and gentle retinol on Earth!

All retinoids are derived from Vitamin A––which is a cousin of beta-Carotene, the bright orange molecule that gives carrots and other vegetables their color. Protocol uses retinol in its bioactive (or as we call it "enzyme-active") state, called retinal. This is the form that is naturally created by your skin when you apply regular Vitamin A retinol to it. This form is naturally bright, powdery yellow!

Yes, yes and of course!

We went to great lengths to source the two most-commonly animal-derived ingredients––lactic acid, usually derived from milk, and hyaluronic acid, usually derived barbarically from rooster combs :( ––from beets and cashews. There wasn't really a temptation to add gluten to our products, since there is no benefit to the skin. In addition, in the days of Instagram, where there are thousands of willing skincare enthusiasts who are excited to try free products, brands really need to go out of their way to test on animals. We are proud to have had the best interest of our fellow Earth inhabitants in mind since Day 1.