Why I Almost Tossed This Retinol Cream in the Trash
I was this close to returning the West&Month Retinol Cream. Seriously. I had the return label printed, the box taped up, and a very grumpy email drafted to customer support. My first impression was absolute garbage. When I opened the jar, the smell hit me like a wall of weird, synthetic chemicals. It wasn’t just faint; it was aggressive. I honestly don’t know why the formula has that distinct, slightly metallic scent, but it made me want to gag every single time I put it on my face.
Then there was the texture. It felt like I was spreading glue across my forehead. It didn’t sink in; it just sat there, tacky and uncomfortable, making me look like a glazed donut that had been dropped in a sandstorm. I was stress-eating chips when I noticed my reflection in the window and realized I looked greasy, not glowing. My skin felt tight in the weirdest way, and for the first three nights, I woke up with my face feeling like it was being pulled by invisible marionette strings. I was ready to call it quits.
But. I had already spent the money, and I’m notoriously stubborn when it comes to admitting defeat on online purchases. I decided to ignore the instructions for a bit and stop slathering it on like a thick face mask. I started using a tiny, pea-sized drop instead of the “generous amount” the packaging suggested. That was the magic moment. I also started applying it to skin that was barely damp, rather than bone-dry, and suddenly, the glue-like consistency vanished into something that actually absorbed.
I hate to admit it, but this stuff actually works. After about two weeks of sticking with it, I noticed that the tiny, annoying lines around my mouth weren’t shouting at me anymore. My skin, which usually behaves like a desert during the winter, felt genuinely hydrated. The jojoba seed oil must be doing some heavy lifting because my face doesn’t have that “I’m about to crack if I smile” feeling anymore. It’s frustratingly effective, and I resent that I have to keep using it because now I like the results.
It’s not a miracle in a jar, and it won’t make you look twenty again if you’re forty-five, but the texture of my skin feels firmer. I keep touching my cheeks because they feel soft, which is deeply annoying because I really wanted to hate this product so I could write a scathing review. But here I am, begrudgingly admitting that my skin looks better. The fine lines are muted. The dry patches are gone. It’s annoying how something that starts off smelling like a science project can actually deliver results.
We also covered something similar in West Month Nail Care Solution Review: My Real Experience.
Would I repurchase? Honestly, I’m conflicted. It works, and for the price, it’s hard to find something that doesn’t just sit on top of the skin like a grease trap. That said, I still have to hold my breath when I open the lid. If you can handle the initial weirdness and you have the patience to experiment with how much you apply, it’s worth the hassle. Just don’t blame me if you have to sit through a few days of sticky, smelly frustration before you see the glow. I’m keeping it, but I’m not happy about it.
If you want to try it yourself, here’s where I got mine.
