If you find yourself wondering whether or not you should be using a retinol cream, consider this your sign from the universe to take the step into retinoids. Perhaps one of skincare’s most in-demand ingredients, retinol is basically a superhero because it improves every skin type. “A retinol is a type of retinoid, which is a vitamin A derivative," NYC cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Sejal Shah tells Best Products. "Retinols increase cell turnover, stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, lighten hyperpigmentation, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improve texture."
In fact, it’s its cell-turnover capabilities that make it great for way more than just wrinkle-plumping and dark spot-fading. By creating new, healthy cells, retinol creams are able to speed up the healing time of your breakouts, helping you reduce the redness and size of your pimples way faster than any spot treatment could ever dream of. They also exfoliate away pore-clogging agents like dead skin cells and vacuum up any lingering acne-causing impurities from the pores, keeping future breakouts at bay while giving you a radiant glow.
How to Use Retinol Creams
But with great power comes great responsibility, and retinol can come with some serious consequences if it’s not used properly. Since retinol has a bad rep for being irritating and drying, all retinoid beginners — whether your retinol of choice is a cream, serum, or mask — should start out slowly to test the waters and see how your skin reacts. Once you can gauge your skin’s tolerance, then you can start introducing retinol into your nighttime skincare routine more often. Notice that we said nighttime and not daytime. Retinol makes your skin photosensitive, meaning that it’s thinner and more prone to sun-related damage. If you’re going to be out and about, face sunscreen is essential.
How We Chose
If one thing is for sure, it’s that all retinol creams are not made equally. We know navigating the world of retinol can be tricky, so we did the hard work for you to see which top-rated retinol creams actually live up to their high ratings. Below, you’ll find our editor-approved formulas that delivered in the strength, texture-smoothing, line-erasing, and non-irritating categories. We also consulted with experts like Dr. Shah to ensure that they're really the best for a variety of skin tones and concerns.
Ready to dip your toes into the retinol pool? Start by exploring the best retinol creams, which cater to a variety of skin types and will help you get your best skin ever.
SkinCeuticals' answer to retinol cream is our holy grail. Available in a range of strengths from 0.3% to 1.0%, this retinol-packed formula delivers skin-smoothing results overnight. If you have skin on the more sensitive side, the 0.3% retinol cream might be the best place to start. If you want to go for the max strength, be sure to ease into it and not use it every night.
If you're looking to turn back the clock on a budget, Neutrogena's fast-acting retinol cream will be your saving grace. High levels of retinol smooth out wrinkles to diminish signs of aging, while hyaluronic acid hydrates and plumps the skin.
An Amazon fave we can't get enough of, Body Merry's must-have cream packs a retinol-filled punch. Combined with the nutrient-rich forces of hyaluronic acid and wildcrafted green tea, plus jojoba and shea butters, it's perfect to fix any individual skin issue, be it wrinkles, an uneven skin tone, or a lack of moisture.
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Best Concentrate
La Roche-Posay Redermic R Anti-Aging Concentrate Face Cream with Retinol
Facialist to the stars Joanna Vargas created this out-of-this-world Supernova retinol serum. This multidimensional product also contains powerful healing ingredients, like fatty acids and chamomile, to help soothe and condition the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skin is left glowing with restored youthful vitality. It's worth the splurge!
Beauty junkies live for Drunk Elephant's A-Passioni Retinol Cream. It contains our star ingredient, retinol, along with a triple-peptide complex to firm and strengthen, boosting the visible results of the retinol. In a clinical study, 100% of participants said their skin clarity improved after using.
We love using this retinol-infused goodness from IMAGE Skincare as a night cream about three times a week. Simply slather it on before bed, and it'll continuously release marine collagen microspheres and retinol into the skin to lock in moisture while you sleep. You'll wake up looking fresh and young.
Another one of our pricier picks, Murad's retinol cream has the results you desire to justify its price tag. This luxurious cream reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and it adds radiance back to your face. Apply at night before hopping into bed for renewed moisture in the morning.
Give your eyes what they need, which is a nice application of some retinol eye cream at the end of a long day. Peter Thomas Roth's Retinol Fusion PM Eye Cream is made with shea butter, plus vitamins C and E to moisturize your eye area and restore youthful goodness.
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Best Non-Drying
Natura Bisse Essential Shock Intense Retinol Fluid
A shock treatment we're more than happy to endure, Natura Bisse's retinol blend cloaks skin under a veil of anti-aging retractors that renew skin by minimizing visible signs of aging and preventing more from popping up in the future. Results are greater when used twice daily, providing skin with a burst of hydration and a silky soft finish.
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Best for Neck and Décolletage
Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic Plus Retinol Fortifying Neck Emulsion
Face, hands — and let's not forget the neck. Formulated to target wrinkles and fine lines below the jawline, Dr. Dennis Gross developed his collagen-enriched emulsion to fortify skin back to its youthful state, so you can say buh-bye to sag.
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Best for Deep Wrinkles
Kate Somerville RetAsphere Micro Peel Retinol Glycolic Treatment
Add Kate Somerville's retinol-rich cream to your nighttime routine and watch signs of aging fade away by the day. The product is a two-for-one, warding off wrinkles and fine lines as well as refining skin's texture and tone. Enhanced with the brand's RetAsphere Smart Release Carrier System technology, only a thin layer is required to penetrate deep down into the epidermis to produce maximum results.
We're quick to think facial features when we think about aging, but our hands are even more susceptible to wrinkles and fine lines.
Upgrade the hand cream you mindlessly toss into your glam bag for Eve Lom's treatment that moisturizes as well as repairs skin. Sulfate-free with a shot of retinol, collagen production speeds up to revitalize a youthful glow.
Delivering a dose of retinol so potent that it puts prescription retinoids to shame, this editor-favorite retinol moisturizer from Olay works the night shift so you can wake up with smoother, brighter, and more refreshed-looking skin.
Not only is it great for faking some beauty rest, but it also helps improve the look of wrinkles and dark spots as well.
Whoever said people with sensitive skin can't use retinoids clearly never tried this retinol cream from Avène. It delivers all of the line-plumping, skin-firming, and texture-smoothing benefits, just without the irritation and flaky dryness. It's also formulated with vitamin E, which protects your skin against free radicals.
Katie McBroomBeauty EditorKatie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and beauty/grooming expert.
Emily BelfioreContributorEmily is a contributor for BestProducts.com, where she’s searching the web for the greatest finds in fashion, beauty, and wellness.
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