Kevin,
I read your reply concerning hydroxypinacolone retinoate with great interest. I have some passing familiarity with the subject (of retinoids) and would ask you why you'd consider a retinoic acid ester, which should hydrolyze fairly readily to retinoic acid in vivo, probably less effective than Vitamin A (retinol)?
Your point about the limited size of Grant's sample in their efficacy study is well taken, but it must be taken with some salt and pepper! "Granted", the size of Grant's study was small, but this does not necessarily mean that Grant perceives the economic value of their innovation to be small. Grant is a small company -- family owned -- despite its biochemical innovations, which would embarrass many a larger biotechnology company. Looking at this another way: Grant and their innovative clients (many of which are small cosmetics companies) and ultimately cosmetics customers are not going to have to pay $75.00 for a cosmetically inferior prescription ointment like Retin-A, because Grant didn't have to finance a massive FDA-style study.
Count me as "cautiously enthusiastic" about Grant's hydroxypinacolone retinoate additive systems. Grant may in fact be enabling a line of cosmeceutical innovation here: truly effective (though safe and mild) antiaging, antipsoriatic, etc cosmetics, without the price tag and risks of industrial strength medicinal retinoids like all-trans retinoic acid (Retin-A).
