The Best Retinol Creams, According To Dermatologists

Forbes

a day ago

Retinol is known to effectively addresses everything from wrinkles to pigmentation to uneven texture, but choosing the right product with this powerhouse ingredient requires careful consideration. The best retinol creams reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve tone, while being hydrating and non-irritating. Our top overall pick, the Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment, is a standout for its lightweight, creamy texture and high potency. Those with sensitive skin may prefer Drunk Elephant's A-Passioni Retinol Cream, which contains an effective dose but is also infused with nourishing oils and peptides.
The best retinol creams reduce the appearance of fine lines and dark spots without irritating skin.
When it comes to retinol creams, it's important to find a formula that matches your skin type and concerns. If you have dry skin, you may want a deeply hydrating formula. If you're looking for an eye cream with retinol, you'll want ingredients that penetrate without causing itchiness and irritation. Ahead, find our roundup of the best retinol creams, including expert tips from dermatologists on how to incorporate these into your skincare routine for a firmer, clearer complexion.
Sephora
Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Retinol, oat extract, willow bark extract, licorice extract, peptides | Retinol concentration: 1%
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:|
Paula's Choice is a top pick among dermatologists for its high-potency 1% retinol. The controlled-release delivery allows active ingredients to absorb gradually, preventing the skin from drying out. It has the light texture of a lotion, similar to that of a primer. Layer a thicker cream or oil over it if you have dry skin. To note: Paula's Choice also has a 0.3% retinol formula for beginners.
Amazon
Skin type: Oily, combination, normal | Key ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, shea butter, squalane | Retinol concentration: UnspecifiedWhat you'll love:
Keep in mind:
When shopping for an affordable product at the drugstore, it can be hard to know when you're getting true bang for your buck. RoC tends to carry high-quality skincare that has good value, and this retinol cream is one of its more popular products. The non-greasy, hydrating night cream and corresponding eye cream both remain bestsellers. In addition to retinol, it also contains glycolic acid to exfoliate the skin while shea butter and squalane help to hydrate. It's marketed as a wrinkle-fighting cream, but the ingredients make it a good retinol option for oily or acne-prone skin, too.
Amazon
Skin type: Acne-prone, oily, combination | Key ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, licorice root extract, niacinamide | Retinol concentration: UnspecifiedWhat you'll love:
Keep in mind:
Retinol naturally exfoliates the skin to help clear debris from pores and can keep acne at bay. If you have oily skin, consider using a lightweight serum like this one instead of a cream. It contains encapsulated retinol to slowly release over time, protecting your skin's barrier. The fast-absorbing and affordable serum also helps fade acne scars.
Dermstore
Skin type: Acne-prone, oily, combination | Key ingredients: Retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, ceramides, shea butter, bisabolol, boswellia serrata extract | Retinol concentration: 1%What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
Retinol and alpha hydroxy acids can be most effective at night when your skin is repairing itself, and this cream contains both texture-smoothing ingredients. To balance them out, the formula also features healing botanicals like soothing bisabolol sourced from the chamomile plant, and boswellia serrata extract, which comes from frankincense. If 1% retinol still seems too strong for you, SkinCeuticals' retinol creams come in three strength levels including 0.3% and 0.5%, which are great if you have sensitive skin or are just starting out on your retinol journey.
Amazon
Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Retinal, hyaluronic acid, glycerin | Retinol concentration: 0.03% retinaldehyde
Best for:
Skip if:
Medik8's formula is made with retinaldehyde (retinal), which has been shown in certain studies to work 11 times faster than retinol. This top-rated, gradual-release serum is good for those new to using topical retinoids to treat things like acne, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation because it doesn't overwhelm skin and cause irritation. It's formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to moisturize as it visibly smooths lines, firms skin and reduces spots. And when you're ready to level up, Medik8's Crystal Retinal is available in progressively more potent strengths, all the way up to strength 24, which contains 0.24% retinaldehyde.
Sephora
Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Retinol, peptides, vitamin F, jojoba seed oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil | Retinol concentration: 1%
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
This pick has 1% retinol—the highest concentration you can get without requiring a prescription. It balances out the pore-shrinking, fine line-diminishing, uneven texture-smoothing magic with several nourishing ingredients: jojoba, apricot and avocado oils. While this is suitable for sensitive skin, some people aren't always a fan of its earthy scent.
What our editors say: 'As someone with sensitive skin, I had concerns that retinol would cause redness and irritation,' says sleep and mattress editor McKenzie Dillon. 'But after incorporating it into my nighttime skincare routine, it didn't take long to see an improvement in my skin's texture—particularly in acne scars. I have oily skin, and I don't experience any dryness or peeling with this.'
Amazon
Skin type: Dry, combination | Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, caffeine | Retinol concentration: 0.1%
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
The skin around our eyes is more thin and sensitive than the skin on the rest of our face, so it can often be the first area where wrinkles start to appear. This highly-rated, cult-favorite cream pairs retinol with mineral-rich spring water to firm and nourish skin. Caffeine works to minimize dark circles, too.
Revolve
Skin type: Acne-prone, oily, combination | Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, squalane, glycolic acid, shea butter, salicylic acid | Retinol concentration: None
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
Whether you're pregnant, breastfeeding or just have ultra sensitive skin, you may want to avoid retinol products and go for an ingredient like bakuchiol—a gentle, plant-based retinol alternative that can provide similar results. Developed by a dermatologist, this serum combines bakuchiol with glycolic acid, salicylic acid and antioxidants to lightly exfoliate and hydrate skin while smoothing lines and wrinkles.
What our editors say: 'This is a great product for those wanting some of the skin-smoothing, brightening effects of retinol in an alternative version,' says deputy editor Jane Sung. 'The high-quality ingredients are effective yet very gentle, and the formula is so nourishing that I don't always need to layer a moisturizer on top.'
Amazon
Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide | Retinol concentration: Unspecified
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
Olay's retinol products are rigorously tested and highly rated among dermatologists for their efficacy. The Retinol24 Max moisturizer is designed to help firm, repair and hydrate dry or sensitive skin thanks to a retinoid complex and reparative niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3). Although it's technically a night cream, you can also wear it during the day so long as you pair it with an SPF.
What our editors say: 'I love its hydrating-but-not-greasy feel, as well as its lightweight and breathable profile on my dry and quite sensitive skin,' says editorial director Brinda Ayer. 'The very subtle scent is great for bedtime—I'm not kept awake by an obtrusive perfumey smell—and its equally gentle formula allows me to use it night after night without any breakouts or irritation. I have deeper-toned skin with a tendency towards hyperpigmentation, and using this product over time has led to a noticeable fading of dark spots.'
Amazon
Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan, shea butter, ferulic acid, evening primrose oil | Retinol concentration: Unspecified
What you'll love:
Keep in mind:
This hydrating cream contains ingredients that help prevent and treat fine lines while nourishing dry or sensitive skin. In addition to retinol and bakuchiol, antioxidant rambutan helps with collagen production. It also contains ferulic acid and niacinamide to keep skin hydrated and minimize hyperpigmentation—all of which contribute to a younger-looking complexion.
Forbes Vetted's beauty team has extensive experience reporting and writing about skincare, and we have tested hundreds of beauty products. We have covered a variety of anti-aging products, including the best vitamin C serums, the best neck-firming creams and the best microcurrent devices.
When selecting the best retinols, we began by researching a wide group of formulas from trusted skincare brands before digging in further to narrow down our picks.
'Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A that works by accelerating skin turnover and promoting collagen production,' says board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Kim Nichols. 'This helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture. It can also help to unclog pores and reduce acne, making it a versatile ingredient for both aging and acne-prone skin.'
You don't want to start using a strong concentration of retinol right out of the gate or it can be extremely irritating to skin, and stronger is not always better, according to dermatologist and stem cell expert Dr. Nathan Newman. In general, he advises beginners to use a concentration from 0.25% to 0.3%, intermediate users to use a concentration of 0.5%, and experienced users with tolerant skin to use 1.0% retinol or higher.
When choosing a retinol cream, it's not just about the retinol concentration. 'In order to mitigate any dryness, flaking or other irritation, I recommend pairing retinol with hydrating and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, ceramides and peptides,' says Nichols. 'These help support the skin barrier and improve tolerability.'
If you have sensitive skin, it's important to choose a retinol that is gentle and well-tolerated like Drunk Elephant's A-Passioni Retinol Cream. Otherwise, 'individuals with very sensitive skin, rosacea, eczema, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding should generally avoid retinol unless advised otherwise by their healthcare provider,' says Nichols. 'In such cases, alternative ingredients like bakuchiol or azelaic acid may be safer options.' For a retinol alternative, we like Doctor Rogers' Night Repair Treatment. Also, because retinol can increase skin sensitivity, it's generally best to avoid things like chemical peels, lasers or waxing unless it's approved by your dermatologist.
'Retinol can be used year-round, but you must be extra diligent with sun protection with the daily use of SPF 30+ sunscreen,' says Newman, who recommends mineral sunscreen specifically due to potentially heightened sensitivity with the use of retinol. During fall and winter, the skin may be drier and more sensitive, he says, so you should increase moisturizing or reduce the frequency with which you use retinols.
So what's the best way to apply a retinol? 'It should be used only at night, as it breaks down in sunlight, rendering it less effective,' says Nichols. After cleansing and drying your face, apply a pea-sized amount of the retinol to your entire face, avoiding the eye area. Then follow with moisturizer to help buffer the irritation, and in the morning be sure to apply sunscreen. If you're a retinol beginner or you have sensitive skin, 'the 'sandwich method' of applying moisturizer before and after retinol can help to reduce irritation,' says Nichols.
Our pick for best retinol cream overall is Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment for its slow-release formula and light texture. It's potent, though, so this is a formula that you should ease your way into using slowly if you're new to retinols. If you're looking for a beginner option, we like Medik8's Crystal Retinal 3, for its fast-acting formulation and lower concentration of retinal.
This is complicated, because the highest concentration of retinol, while most potent, may not be right for you. For the most part, higher concentrations—from 0.5% to 1.0%—tend to provide the most noticeable results when it comes to deeper lines, hyperpigmentation or acne. But because retinols can be irritating, it's best to gradually increase the frequency and strength of the retinol you're using over time. Medik8 offers a wide range of retinal strengths, so you can gradually progess to higher levels.
While stronger options—like tretinoin and tazarotene—are available by prescription, the highest over-the-counter formula you can get is 1.0% retinol. However, 'it's important that retinol is stabilized and encapsulated for slow, controlled release to reduce irritation,' says dermatologist Dr. Newman. 'Dry, sensitive skin may not tolerate higher percentage retinols.'