Effective Retinol Creams at Drugstore Prices? Say Less (2024)

Dermatologists love retinol for its long-proven track record and the wide variety of results it delivers. The highly-potent skincare active works on the skin's surface and penetrates to deeper layers, explains dermatologist Jordan Carqueville, MD. It stimulates cell turnover, to improve skin tone and texture, boosts collagen production to help smooth fine lines and prevent wrinkles, and fights acne by helping to keep pores clear and reducing oil production.

We conducted hours of research and testing on the best drugstore retinol creams, evaluating them by formula, efficacy, and additional ingredients that can help soothe skin. After consulting with two board-certified dermatologists to help us narrow down our picks, we curated this list of the best affordable retinol creams you can buy.

Drugstore Retinols vs. Luxury Retinols

There’s no shortage of over-the-counter retinol products out there, and many of them are affordable. “When it comes to retinol, some drugstore brands are as effective as prestige brands, as far as formulation and stability,” explains dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD, who adds that top brands do considerable testing to ensure safety and efficacy. When choosing a retinol product, consider the type and percentage of retinol and any other actives and ingredients, like hyaluronic acid to boost skin hydration, and niacinamides for their soothing action. Choose a retinol cream that contains the ingredients your skin needs and a price tag that fits into your beauty budget.

Our Top Picks

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What We Like

  • A little goes a long way

  • Smooths fine lines

  • Moisturizes with hyaluronic acid

What to Consider

  • Contains BHT

Key Ingredients: Retinol SA, hyaluronic acid | Dosage: Pearl-sized amount | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No

This night cream is designed to give your skin a smoother, more youthful appearance by pairing retinol with one of the best hydrating ingredients out there: hyaluronic acid. Another skincare favorite, it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water and lock that moisture into your skin. One of the main causes of wrinkles and fine lines is dehydration, so to give your thirsty skin exactly what it needs, you’re going to need an intensively hydrating moisturizer along with retinol since retinol on its own can be drying. This product does contain BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), which has been shown to have carcinogenic properties, but not in the small doses typically found in skincare products like this.

What We Like

  • Long-lasting hydration

  • Leaves skin smooth and firm

  • Fragrance-free

What to Consider

  • Unhygienic container

Key Ingredients: Retinol complex, vitamin B3 | Dosage: Small amount nightly | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Contrary to its “night cream” label, this powerful retinol-infused formula works around the clock for a full 24 hours to keep your skin hydrated and firm. When we tried it out, we loved the lightweight, serum-like texture, and how it absorbed almost immediately into our skin. Plus, it’s fragrance and dye-free, so sensitive skin types can proceed without caution. After a few weeks of regular use, we saw modest improvements in acne scars and dark marks, but feel like we'd see more significant results with long-term use.

What We Like

  • Lightweight formula

  • Clinically backed results

  • Contains hydrating glycerin and hyaluronic acid

What to Consider

  • Potentially too intense for daily use

Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, glycerin | Dosage: 2–3 drops daily as tolerated | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No

Many drugstore options will use a retinol derivative—that’s not a bad thing, these just tend to not be as potent as straight-up retinol. However, this serum from L'Oreal Paris is different. You get legit retinol in this featherweight serum. We love how it absorbs quickly into the skin and goes to work right away. In a brand-backed clinical study, 100% of participants found that it improved the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and it’s also been tested by derms for both safety and efficacy. It also contains too major hydrators (hyaluronic acid and glycerin) to help prevent dryness.

What We Like

  • Perfectly portioned doses

  • Biodegradable capsules

  • Lightweight formula

What to Consider

  • Only a 30-day supply

Key Ingredients: Retinol, ceramides | Dosage: 1 capsule nightly | Size: 30 capsules | Cruelty-Free: No

Less is more when it comes to retinol; you need only a pea-sized amount for your entire face, and many newbies will often overdo it, causing lots of unwanted irritation. Enter this innovative option, from RoC, one of the most beloved drugstore retinol brands. Each biodegradable capsule contains the perfect dose for your nightly application and also ensures the formula stays stable and active (read: effective) until you use it. We love that it, in addition to retinol, it contains ceramides, which help protect and strengthen the skin barrier.

What We Like

  • Dermatologist-recommended

  • Non-irritating formula

  • Includes peptide blend to boost collagen production

What to Consider

  • Results aren't dramatic

Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptides | Dosage: 2 pumps nightly | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Retinol is paired with another well-regarded anti-aging ingredient to up the wrinkle-fighting prowess of this best-seller. “What I like about this formula is that it incorporates a proprietary peptide blend called Matrixyl 3000+, which is a bonus,” says Mariwalla, who’s a fan. Peptides smooth skin by increasing collagen production. Plus, “the retinol is slow-release, which means it won’t cause as much irritation on the surface of the skin,” she adds. Fun fact: It amassed a waiting list of over 100,0000 people when it first launched in the U.K. last year.

What We Like

  • Non-irritating formula

  • Strengthens skin barrier

  • Soothes and hydrates

What to Consider

  • Contains PEGs

Key Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, niacinamide, ceramides | Dosage: Small amount once or twice daily | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: No

Despite the drying potential of retinol, even those with sensitive skin can give it a go. The key is seeking out the right formula that relies on a gentler type of retinol and soothing, moisturizing additional ingredients. This creamy serum checks all of those boxes. Along with its time-released, encapsulated retinol, which helps reduce potential irritation, there’s also a combination of skin-strengthening ceramides, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and soothing niacinamide in the mix. Not to mention that it’s also fragrance-free, a must for sensitive skin types.

What We Like

What to Consider

  • Contains BHT

Key Ingredients: Retinol, squalane, jojoba oil | Dosage: Small amount nightly | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Okay, so technically speaking this isn’t a drugstore brand per se, but the jawdropping-ly affordable price makes it worthy of a spot on this list. Everything you need to know about the straightforward formula is right in the name. You get a 0.5% concentration of retinol, potent for any OTC retinol product, coupled with squalane, a plant-derived hydrating ingredient that closely mimics our skin’s natural oil, to help minimize the likelihood of irksome side effects.

What We Like

  • Reduces puffiness and dark circles

  • Noticeable results

  • Minimal irritation

What to Consider

  • Contains PEGs and BHT

Key Ingredients: Retinol, glycerin, vitamin B5 | Dosage: Small amount once or twice daily | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

When it comes to undereye bags and crow’s feet, you need to give the delicate skin around your eyes some extra TLC. That's where this eye cream comes in. It’s formulated with powerful retinol to reduce the appearance of puffiness, under-eye sagging, and dark circles in as little as 12 weeks. After testing it, we were very happy with the results, especially since they were evident almost immediately. It virtually took care of our dark circles and under-eye bags, which is pretty amazing for a drugstore product.

Effective Retinol Creams at Drugstore Prices? Say Less (9)

What We Like

  • Prevents excess dryness

  • Absorbs quickly

What to Consider

  • Slightly heavy feel

Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, ceramides | Dosage: A few drops nightly | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We love a good skincare oil, especially for those who are prone to dry skin. And our skin tends to soak up oil more readily than heavy creams. This one relies on a blend of several oils (sweet almond, jojoba, and sunflower seed, just to name a few) as the base for this gentle retinol derivative. It’s silky rather than greasy and absorbs quickly, but makes for a truly luxurious application experience you’ll never want to skip. That said, some users have said that it can feel heavy on the skin, so we suggest using less than you might think you need.

Effective Retinol Creams at Drugstore Prices? Say Less (11)

What We Like

  • Plant-based formula

  • Minimizes retinol side effects

  • Air-tight container

What to Consider

  • Results aren't dramatic

Key Ingredients: Retinol, squalane, niacinamide | Dosage: Small amount nightly | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Ingredient purists will appreciate this serum, which relies on, wait for it, tapioca-derived retinol. It’s slow-released to cut back on side effects, which we love for our sensitive-skinned friends. It's also combined with hydrating hyaluronic acid and squalane to keep dryness at bay. Bonus points for the airtight, pump-top dispenser, which helps keep oxygen from getting in and degrading the efficacy.

What We Like

  • Includes several hydrating ingredients

  • Can address hyperpigmentation

  • Minimizes retinol side effects

What to Consider

  • Unhygienic container

Key Ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide, glycerin | Dosage: Small amount once or twice daily | Size: 3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Extra dryness and flaking is one possible side effect of retinol, the last thing you want when your skin is already dry to begin with. Happily, this luscious cream combines several heavy-hitting hydrators—glycerin, vitamin B3 (aka niacinamide), and dimethicone—with a retinol complex to keep dry skin moisturized and irritation-free. These ingredients can also help smooth skin and diminish fine lines, so it's a win-win. We just wish it came in a more hygienic container (aka not a screw-top).

What We Like

  • Prescription-strength formula

  • Relatively quick, noticeable results

  • A little goes a long way

What to Consider

  • May be too intense for sensitive skin

Key Ingredients: Adapalene | Dosage: Small amount daily | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

Differin used to only be available by prescription, but now you can buy it over the counter at drugstores and online. While it's technically a gel rather than a cream, this high-strength formula is your best defense against acne (we also love the lightweight consistency). It leans on a type of retinoid called adapaleneto increase cell turnover and help clear and prevent breakouts faster and more effectively than most other products. After just eight days of regular use, we noticed our skin was smoother and we had no new breakouts.

Read our full review: The Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment Cleared My Acne

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What We Like

  • Lightweight, fast-absorbing formula

  • Suitable for sensitive skin

  • Hydrates and soothes

What to Consider

  • Results aren't dramatic

Key Ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, jojoba oil, vitamin E | Dosage: 1 or 2 pumps once or twice daily | Size: 1.7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Some retinol products can be too intense for daily use, especially for folks with sensitive skin—but this cream by the bestselling brand LilyAna is another story. The lightweight, fast-absorbing formula contains a blend of hydrating, nourishing ingredients (including hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and jojoba oil) to prevent excess dryness. You'll also get a dose of vitamin E to combat redness and inflammation.

What We Like

  • Generous amount

  • Leaves skin smooth and radiant

  • Comes in a pump bottle for easy application

What to Consider

  • Might cause breakouts on face

Key Ingredients: Retinol, mineral oil, aloe vera | Dosage: Sufficient amount as needed | Size: 16 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Your face and neck aren't the only areas prone to fine lines, crepiness, discoloration, and other signs of photoaging. If you're looking for something you can apply below the neck, go with Advanced Clinicals. This generously sized pump bottle comes with plenty of retinol cream for your entire body so you can work your way toward smoother, more radiant skin on your legs, arms, shoulders, hands, stomach—you name it. Our only word of caution is it may be too heavy for the face, and subsequently cause breakouts.

What to Look For in a Drugstore Retinol Cream

  • Retinol concentration: The exact percentage of included retinol can be hard to find in drugstore formulas, but if a product does disclose it, that’s definitely a good thing, says Mariwalla. Some of the highest concentrations you'll find over the counter include Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Night Cream, No7 Advanced Retinol 0.3% Complex Night Concentrate, and Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment.
  • Delivery system: The way the retinol gets into the skin, such as via an extra carrier ingredient or molecule, can impact the way it works, says Carqueville. For instance, CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum contains a time-released encapsulated retinol to minimize irritation without compromising effectiveness. Mariwalla agrees, noting that she suggests doing your research and checking out the brand’s website for more info about the exact formulation of any product.
  • Big name brands: The big companies at the drugstore are the ones who generally have the resources to put into lots of research and development. Olay, for example, has been formulating skincare products for decades, and you can count on its Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer to produce noticeable results. Carqueville adds that sticking with tried-and-true brands is one of the best ways to feel confident you’re getting an efficacious retinol product at the drugstore.

FAQ

  • Is a drugstore retinol cream as good as a more expensive retinol cream?

    A high price tag doesn’t guarantee that a retinol cream is better than an affordable one. When choosing a retinol product, consider the type and percentage of retinol and any other actives and ingredients, like hyaluronic acid to boost skin hydration, and niacinamides for their soothing action.

  • Can I use retinol every night?

    You’ll want to start slow with retinol cream or serum. Initially, applying it once a week at night is your best bet. And you’ll want to follow it with a moisturizer because it can be drying. Once your skin is used to retinol, you can progressively use it more often. But keep in mind that for many people, a nightly application is too drying no matter how long they’ve been using it, so that shouldn’t necessarily be your goal. The same holds for a retinol body lotion.

  • Is hyaluronic acid better than retinol?

    Hyaluronic acid is neither better nor worse than retinol, as the two ingredients serve different functions. Hyaluronic acid is very moisturizing and can reduce the appearance of wrinkles as it visually plumps the skin. Conversely, retinol boosts your skin’s collagen production, which in turn can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. You can use the two ingredients in your routine, and some products may even include both together.

  • How do you know if retinol is working?

    Don’t expect quick results from retinol. Dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum tells Byrdie that "Diligent use of Retin-A is needed for two to three months to see visible results. Pending potency, OTC retinol can take up to six months to see results." You’ll know that retinol is working before seeing the full results when you see exfoliation, which may take the appearance of peeling or flaking skin. You also may notice that your pores are less clogged than they were before you started using it.

Why Trust Byrdie?

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She’s a big fan, both personally and professionally, of drugstore skincare products, retinol included.

Experts consulted for this story:

  • Board-certified dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD
  • New York-based dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD
  • Chicago, Illinois-based dermatologist Jordan Carqueville, MD

According to ourDiversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find any drugstore retinol creams from a Black-owned and/or Black-founded business. If you know of one we should consider, please email us atcontact@byrdie.comand we will evaluate the product ASAP.

Effective Retinol Creams at Drugstore Prices? Say Less (2024)

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