No essential oils, no fragrance, no denatured alcohol. The whole ingredient list runs 14 items. We publish the COA every batch.
Cyclodextrin-encapsulated to release over ~8 hours. Bioavailable at the dermis, far less irritating on the surface. Our 12-week panel reported 64% less stinging than free retinol at parity.
Improves the skin barrier, evens tone, and softens any retinoid flush. We dose at the clinical threshold — 5% is where the evidence is.
Non-comedogenic, biomimetic, sourced from Spanish olives — not shark liver. Carries the retinol without occluding pores. Insanely tested for comedogenicity (0 of 30 panelists).
A 240-participant clinical at the UCSF dermatology clinic. 12 weeks, photographed weekly under VISIA imaging. We publish the full protocol and outcomes.
Single participant, week 0 → week 12. VISIA imaging, fixed-camera fixture, no makeup, no filter. Outcomes vary; full panel data linked below.
Retinol works because it triggers turnover. Going from zero to nightly causes the irritation that makes people quit. We slow that on-ramp until your barrier is ready.
"The reason most retinol patients quit at week three is irritation, not lack of efficacy. Solva's encapsulation flattens the irritation curve while preserving the clinical signal. It's what I send my patients home with when they don't want a prescription."
First retinol that didn't make me peel. Did the 4-week ramp exactly as the card says. Around week 8 the two horizontal lines on my forehead started filling in — I keep checking under different lighting and they really are softer.
I've tried five different retinols. All triggered my rosacea within two weeks. The 0.25% encapsulated formula didn't. I'm at week 16 and using it three nights a week — the skin clarity I'm seeing is something I'd given up on.
Was on 0.5% for the first bottle, no issues. Jumped to 1.0% — slight purging for the first 10 days, then it cleared. My T-zone pores are visibly tighter and my chin congestion is gone. Knock one star because the 1% bottle needs more pumps for the same coverage.
The skin on my jawline has been rough and slightly bumpy for years. After about six weeks it's smooth — like, I noticed shaving. Now I order two bottles a quarter.
Decent product. Critically — read the ramp-up card. I went rogue and used it 4 nights in a row in week one and my cheeks flaked. Backed off, used the moisturizer sandwich method, fine since. No real visible changes yet but it's been a month.
I trust the packaging. Amber glass, sealed dropper that I don't need to open daily, no influencer-pink anywhere. The product is genuinely good and I appreciate that they publish the COA per batch.
| Spec | Solva 0.5% | Drugstore retinol | Prescription tretinoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | 0.5% encapsulated retinol | 0.1–0.3% free retinol | 0.025–0.1% tretinoin |
| Reported irritation @ wk 4 | 6.4% | 24% | 48% |
| Visible improvement @ wk 12 | 92% (n=240) | ~60% (lit avg) | ~94% (lit avg) |
| Fragrance | None | Usually | None |
| Requires prescription | No | No | Yes |
| Cost / month | $19.33 (sub) | $11–$28 | $40–$120 |
Subscribe before your next dose runs out and get $58/bottle. Skip, pause, swap strength, or change frequency from your portal. Includes a free NP consult.