BIOEFFECT vs Mantle — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
EGF Serum
8.9/10 · BIOEFFECT
| EGF Serum | The Retinol Serum | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | BIOEFFECT | Mantle |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Editor Rating | 8.9/10 ★ | 8.6/10 |
| Category | serum | serum |
| Texture | Clear gel-serum | Lightweight CBD-paired retinol serum |
| Finish | Absorbed plumped | Velvet |
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| Verdict | Icelandic biotech meets skincare. BIOEFFECT grows epidermal growth factor (EGF) in genetically engineered barley plants — a plant-made human-identical growth factor that sidesteps the ethical questions of human-derived alternatives. The clinical data on skin density and wrinkle depth is published and real. Minimal, Scandinavian, and genuinely science-forward in a way most "science" brands aren't. | Mantle's The Retinol Serum is the Swedish CBD-skincare brand's evening retinoid platform. Retinol paired with bakuchiol (the retinol alternative) for synergistic anti-aging work, plus Cannabis Sativa seed oil + leaf extract for the brand's signature CBD anti-inflammatory positioning, niacinamide + sodium hyaluronate buffering, sea buckthorn fruit extract for additional antioxidant work, and beta-sitosterol/phospholipids for membrane-mimetic delivery. €68 for an unusual CBD + retinol + bakuchiol triple-pathway formulation. |
