Maya Chia

The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum

The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
award winning
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum
alias
award winning Maya Chia

The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum

The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum

The clean retinol gold standard. A high-performance renewal treatment powered by encapsulated, BHT-free slow-release Retinol, paired with two phyto-retinols, shelf-stable Vitamin C, and a clinically tested sirtuin activity complex, all suspended in a barrier-supporting Supercritical Chia Seed Oil base to visibly improve texture, clarity, firmness, and radiance.

Regular price $125
Sale price $125 Regular price
clarifying-skincare-products-for-blemish-prone-skin, all-brands-minus-gift-cards-and-sale, all-clean-beauty-products, all-products-no-rewards, all-products-except-for-credo-skincare, all-products-except-fragrance, splurge-worthy-gifts, black-friday-skincare, blemish-prone, concealers-and-serums, facial-treatment-products, glass-packaging-champions, hyperpigmentation-products, maya-chia-friends-of-credo-sale, maya-chia, nighttime-rituals, retinol-1, serums, skin-care, oily-skin, splurge-worthy-skin-care, sustainable-packaging-champions, women-founded-brands View full details

Free shipping on all orders

30 day returns

inner glow club

login

Earn 125 points on this purchase.

create account

inner glow club

Earn 125 points on this purchase

The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum

1 fl oz / 30 ml
$125
  • Overview
  • Choosing your shade
  • How to use
  • Ingredients
  • Sustainable Packaging
  • About the brand
Highlights

Suitable for

All skin types; night use only; not for during pregnancy or nursing

Why we stand behind it

The Straight A delivers retinol's proven clinical benefits through three distinct, complementary pathways — without the peeling, redness, and barrier disruption traditionally associated with retinoid use. Encapsulated retinol in phospholipid vesicles (BHT-free) releases gradually, reducing cellular disruption that causes irritation.

Bakuchiol, proven in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to match retinol's anti-aging gene expression and activate the same collagen and elastin pathways, brings complementary efficacy without inflammatory side effects. Moth Bean Extract supports cell turnover from a further enzymatic pathway.

A clinically tested sirtuin activity complex enhances cellular communication and supports skin cell longevity — incorporated into this formula years before sirtuins entered mainstream skincare. The formula is carried in Supercritical Chia Seed Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, and Buriti Oil — barrier-building lipids that actively counteract retinol's tendency to compromise the skin's protective layer.

Retinol is the gold standard in anti-aging skincare due to its clinically proven ability to stimulate collagen production, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin texture. The strongest clinical evidence includes Kenvue's 2024 study of 471 participants demonstrating significant improvement in all photoaging signs within 4-12 weeks, plus decades of peer-reviewed research confirming retinol increases epidermal thickness and collagen synthesis. 

Key ingredients

Encapsulated Retinol (BHT-free, phospholipid slow-release): For all skin types including sensitive

Bakuchiol and Moth Bean Extract: Clinically-proven ingredienst created to increase cell turnover

Sirtuin Activity Complex (Saccharomyces/Podophyllum Peltatum Ferment Filtrate)

this product meets

The Credo Clean Standard™

Every product we offer meets our industry leading standards for safety and sustainability.

learn more

This product is

Cruelty Free

What is an undertone?

An undertone is the color beneath the surface of your skin, which never changes (even with a tan). There are three types of undertones:

Pink/Cool

I see red or pink undertones around the perimeter of my face and neck.
My skin burns easily, but barely tans.
My skin looks better in silver jewelry than gold.

Neutral

I see both pink and yellow undertones around the perimeter of my face and neck.
My skin sometimes burns and sometimes tans.
My skin looks good in both gold and silver jewelry.

Yellow/Warm

I see yellow or golden undertones around the perimeter of my face and neck.
My skin rarely burns, but tans easily.
My skin looks better in gold jewelry than silver.

Find your shade match

Take our 1 minute quiz and get matched to real people with your skin tone and type.

Usage

Apply at night after cleansing. Use 1–2 pumps across face and neck. Follow with moisturizer if needed. Always use broad-spectrum SPF daily.

Full ingredient list
Salvia Hispanica (Chia) Seed Oil, Retinol (and) Phospholipids, Rosa Canina (*Rose Hip) Seed Oil, Vigna Aconitifolia Seed (Moth Bean) Extract, Bakuchiol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Rubus Idaeus (*Raspberry) Seed Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C Ester), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Saccharomyces/Podophyllum Peltatum Ferment Filtrate, Rosa x Damascena Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E Non GMO), Rosemary Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract *Certified Organic
Help us end beauty packaging waste

We co-founded the nonprofit Pact to demystify how to recycle your beauty packaging empties and divert waste from landfills.

How to recycle your empties

1. Disassemble and clean all components

2. Pick the right disposal bin

3. Drop off your empties at your nearest Pact bin

Earn rewards through recycling login

1 Product Recycled = 10 Credo Rewards Points

create account
Earn rewards through recycling

1 Product Recycled = 10 Credo Rewards Points

Maya Chia

Maya Chia skin care products are made from the highest quality ingredients from around the world, responsibly sourced, and gentle and effective. Maya Chia uses a revolutionary supercritical extraction method expressly created to ensure purity, stability, and maximum potency of the oil nutrients. The oil is lightweight and rapidly absorbs into the skin. Recommended for all skin types, even the most sensitive.

SHOP ALL Maya Chia

Overall rating: 4.869091 / 5 from 275 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The Straight A Advanced Gentle Retinol Serum is praised for its ability to make skin look radiant and reduce fine lines. Customers appreciate its gentle formulation, which is suitable for all skin types and does not cause irritation. The serum is also noted for its hydrating and nourishing properties, leaving skin soft and smooth.

Summary topics

  • Skin Appearance: 7%
  • Effectiveness: 12%
  • Fine Line Reduction: 6%
  • Skin Feel: 13%
  • Gentleness: 5%

Review topics: ["size","absorbs","ingredients","scent","irritation","results","improvement","price","feels","fragrance","spots","lines","texture","consistency","glow","use","formula","skin","looks","buy","oil","pores","face","difference","redness","appearance","reduction","works","bumps","alternative"].

Review highlights

  • "Big improvement on my hyperpigmentation and my skin looks dewy and hydrated."Jean P.
  • "Very mild, easy to apply...my skin feels smooth and soft after applying"Kathleen V.
  • "This is a new product for me but since starting, my skin does feel very smooth."Lindsey B.

Reviews

Beautiful

"Absolutely loved using this. Made my skin glowy and bouncy. I also use tretinoin. So I cycled with this one. I think if I wasn’t already on tretinoin, I would repurchase for sure. But if your skin doesn’t tolerate retinoids well, you will love this one."

Julie G. (5/5)

Do far, I’m in love!

"Super gently and my skin feels smoother and brighter!"

Kendra K. (5/5)

An actual general retinol

"This is the only retinol my skin can handle it’s pricey but 100% worth it I had no adverse reaction at all"

Rena (5/5)

Amazing!!!

"Wow! I am very picky! I was using TB for several years and thought it was really good and did help my skin to a point. When I tried this I was blown away! I haven't even used 1 whole bottle and has done more for my skin than all the years I used TB. I love TB is ewg certified clean. Not sure that this particular product is because when I tried to pull it up it didn't say. I do love it is a clean brand! This is hands down the best of the best! I want to try some of their other products for sure! Please don't stop making this!"

Charlie (5/5)

So far so good

"Love the texture waiting to see results"

Jane M. (5/5)

Gentle, but I feel this

"Gentle, but I feel this is the right dose of Vitamin A for me."

zoe W. (5/5)

Too early to tell

"I was inspired by others' reviews to try this serum as Retin A has become too harsh for me lately. While it's too early to tell, I am do have hope that this serum will prove beneficial."

Lisa C. (5/5)

Face staple

"I’ve tried to replace this product so many times but my face likes it too much. Retinol has always been too harsh for me, but this product is perfectly balanced. I’ve used it for 5 years now and it will always stay in my rotation."

katie e. (5/5)

Feeling beautiful!

"I went on a limb to try a new brand and I really love it. It goes on beautifully and doesn’t cause any negative effects."

Michelle B. (5/5)

The Perfect Retinol Prpduct

"I’m very been using The Straight A for years and it’s been worth every penny since day one. I have extremely sensitive skin and this never irritates me. I use it before bed, pairing it with the Maya Chia pressed serum."

Sarah B. (5/5)

Q&A