Retinol is a powerhouse ingredient that can address everything from textural issues to pigmentation—but not every retinol product is a one-size-fits-all situation. We chose the Paula’s Choice’s Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment as our top pick overall for its lightweight yet creamy texture and high potency. And those with sensitive skin may prefer Drunk Elephant’s A-Passioni Retinol Cream, which still contains an effective dose but is also infused with nourishing oils and peptides.
To reap the benefits, though, it’s important to find a retinol formula that matches your skin type and concerns. If you have very dry skin, for example, you’ll want a cream that regenerates skin like an exfoliator but also hydrates as well as a facial moisturizer. And the delicate eye area requires a gentle approach with ingredients that penetrate deeply without causing irritation. While high-quality anti-aging serums can be costly, there also are plenty of affordable picks with stellar results and science behind them. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best retinol creams, as well as expert advice and tips from a dermatologist on how to apply these skin-perfectors and work them into your routine for a clearer, firmer complexion.
Best Retinol Cream Overall: Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
Best Drugstore Retinol Cream: RoC Retinol Correxion Night Cream
Best Retinol Cream For Acne: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Best Retinol Night Cream: SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0
Best Retinol Cream For Beginners: Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol
Best Retinol Cream For Sensitive Skin: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
Best Retinol Cream For Eyes: La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Eye Cream
Best Retinol-Alternative Cream: Doctor Rogers Night Repair Treatment
Best Retinol Cream For Dry Skin: Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Max
Best Firming Retinol Cream: Dr. Dennis Gross Intense Wrinkle Cream
Best Retinol Cream Overall
A Time-Release Formula With Peptides
MOST POPULAR
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment
Skin type:All |Key ingredients:Retinol, oat extract, willow bark extract, licorice extract, peptides |Retinol concentration:1%
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 dryer skin.
What you’ll love:
- Contains 1% retinol
- Slow-release concentration
- Improves skin brightness and texture
Keep in mind:
- May irritate sensitive skin
- Dry skin may need another layer of moisture
Best Drugstore Retinol Cream
A Top-Rated Retinol With Exfoliating Ingredients
RoC Retinol Correxion Night Cream
Skin type: Oily, combination, normal | Key ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, shea butter, squalane | Retinol concentration: Unspecified
When shopping for an affordable product at the drugstore, it can be hard to know when you’re getting a true bang for your buck. RoC tends to carry high-quality skincare products that have good value, and this retinol cream is just one of their 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. It’s marketed as a wrinkle-fighting cream, but the ingredients make it a good retinol option for oily or acne-prone skin, too.
What you’ll love:
- Affordable
- Provides lightweight hydration
- Minimizes appearance of wrinkles
Keep in mind:
- Percentage of retinol unknown (could be anywhere from 0.1-1%)
- Some irritation may occur
- Some say it has an unpleasant odor
Best Retinol Cream For Acne
A Lightweight Serum That Helps Fade Dark Spots
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Skin type: Acne-prone, oily, combination | Key ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, licorice root extract, niacinamide | Retinol concentration: Unspecified
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.
What you’ll love:
- Affordable
- Contains three types of ceramides
- Diminishes post-acne marks and the appearance of pores
Keep in mind:
- Retinol percentage unknown
- Can be difficult to dispense
Best Retinol Night Cream
A Tube Filled With Line-Smoothing, Soothing Ingredients
SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0
Skin type: Acne-prone, oily, combination | Key ingredients: Retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, ceramides, shea butter, bisabolol, boswellia serrata extract | Retinol concentration: 1%
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 contains healing botanicals like soothing bisabolol sourced from the chamomile plant and boswellia serrata extract, which comes from frankincense. Even then, if 1% retinol 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.
What you’ll love:
- Formulated with 1% retinol
- Concentrated applicator
Keep in mind:
- Expensive
- May irritate sensitive skin
Best Retinol Cream For Beginners
A Retinol Derivative Made With Sunflower Seeds
Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol
Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Retinyl sunflowerate, stevia extract, mondo grass root extract, shea butter, aloe | Retinol concentration: 0.5%
A good option for first-time retinol users or anyone with sensitive skin, this formula contains a gentle pro-retinol derivative known as retinyl sunflowerate. Made out of retinol and sunflower seed fatty acids, it’s gentle enough for first-timers and still known to help reduce fine lines, dark spots, uneven texture and acne.
What you’ll love:
- Has gentle yet effective 0.5% retinyl sunflowerate
- Helps improve skin texture, tone and radiance
Keep in mind:
- Air pump may dispense inconsistently
- It has a light scent
Best Retinol Cream For Sensitive Skin
A Vegan Formula With Nourishing Oils
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Retinol, peptides, vitamin F, jojoba seed oil, apricot kernel oil, avocado oil | Retinol concentration: 1%
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, which all help to restore moisture.Just note that while this is suitable for sensitive skin, some people with sensitive noses aren’t always a fan of its earthy scent.
What you’ll love:
- Formulated with 1% vegan retinol
- Has with anti-aging peptides
- Comes in recyclable packaging
Keep in mind:
- Some may not love the scent
- May be too heavy for oily skin
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.”
Best Retinol Cream For Eyes
A Caffeinated Formula That Helps Revitalize Skin
La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Eye Cream
Skin type: Dry, combination | Key ingredients: Retinol, hyaluronic acid, caffeine | Retinol concentration: 0.1%
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 can help to minimize dark circles, too.
What you’ll love:
- Caffeine helps to minimize dark circles
- Works to smooth lines
- Fast absorbing
Keep in mind:
- May cause skin irritation or peeling
- Might be too heavy for oily skin types
Best Retinol-Alternative Cream
A Plant-Based Serum That Targets Signs Of Aging
Doctor Rogers Night Repair Treatment
Skin type: Acne-prone, oily, combination | Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, squalane, glycolic acid, shea butter, salicylic acid | Retinol concentration: None
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 you’ll love:
- Gently exfoliates skin
- Boosts moisture
- Plant-based retinol alternative
Keep in mind:
- Pricey for a small bottle
- May irritate anyone with rosacea
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.”
Best Retinol Cream For Dry Skin
An Affordable Moisturizer With Skin-Repairing Benefits
Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Max
Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide | Retinol concentration: Unspecified
Olay’s Regenerist line is well tested and highly rated among dermatologists for its 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 time so long as you pair it with an SPF.
What you’ll love:
- Can help lighten dark spots over time
- Non-greasy
- Provides added hydration
Keep in mind:
- Jar packaging not ideal for unstable ingredients like retinol
- Retinol percentage unknown
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.”
Best Firming Retinol Cream
A Powerful Formula That Helps Plump Skin
Dr. Dennis Gross Intense Wrinkle Cream
Skin type: Dry, combination, sensitive | Key ingredients: Retinol, bakuchiol, rambutan, shea butter, ferulic acid, evening primrose oil | Retinol concentration: Unspecified
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.
What you’ll love:
- Contains both retinol and bakuchiol
- Hydrating
- Safe for dry and sensitive skin types
Keep in mind:
- Retinol percentage unknown
- May feel too heavy for oily or combination skin types
What our testers say: “I have been using retinols for about a decade, and this is one of my absolute favorites,” says contributor Neha Tandon. “I have dry skin and acne scars. This hydrates my skin and has helped lighten scarring, but it’s surprised me by doing much more, too. I was never really bothered by any of the fine lines on my forehead until I started to notice the way this helps smooth the skin around that area.”
MORE FROMFORBES VETTED
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
As seasoned beauty reporters, the Forbes Vetted team tests countless skincare and makeup products on a regular basis in order to best evaluate the formulas and ingredients found in today’s market. Our editors have decades of experience covering and testing a wide array of products, and they provided input on some of their favorite retinol creams. Every iteration of this story has been edited by deputy editor Jane Sung, who oversees the beauty and grooming category. We also interviewed two dermatologists for this piece: Dr. Lian Mack and Dr. Hadley King. They shared their advice on choosing the right retinol creams for your skin type and how to incorporate them into a skincare routine.
How We Chose The Best Retinol Creams
When compiling this list of the best retinol creams, we researched top-rated options on the market that target different skin types and concerns. We referenced editor and dermatologist recommendations based on market knowledge and hands-on testing, then conducted hours of research, combing through customer reviews to narrow down our list. Then, we analyzed each option to learn about their ingredients, efficacy and any concerns that may be associated with them.
What To Consider In A Retinol Cream
While retinol can be drying, irritating and is known to make skin extra sensitive to the sun, when used properly it can be a game-changer for addressing pigmentation, textural issues and more. When it comes to finding the best retinol cream, it’s important to consider your skin type, preferences and concerns.
Ingredients
Retinol and retinoid are both vitamin A derivatives. The most intense and efficacious way of using one is by taking an oral retinoid. You probably know that prescription-strength retinoid, used to treat severe acne, goes by the name Accutane. Slightly less intense is a prescription-strength topical retinoid like tretinoin, sometimes known by its brand name: Retin-A.
For those who prefer to completely stay away from vitamin A, bakuchiol is a good option. The plant derivative is considerably more gentle on the skin than retinol. “Bakuchiol behaves similarly to retinoids by promoting cellular turnover, which ultimately increases the production of Type I collagen, softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Mack.
Skin Type
Retinol is generally considered to be safe for everyone (except those who are pregnant or breastfeeding), but those with darker skin tones do need to be extra considerate about use. “If a darker-skinned patient is irritated by the product, they are more likely to develop hyperpigmentation when compared to their fairer skinned counterparts,” says Dr. Mack. For the super sensitive or dry skin types, there are retinoid esters—look for retinyl palmitate, retinyl acetate and retinyl linoleate on the ingredient list—which are the weakest member of the family.
Application
No matter your skin type, you’ll want to acclimate your skin to retinol slowly. Mack suggests that beginners start by applying a pea-sized amount of cream twice a week (slowly increasing dosage after three weeks), and those with darker skin should be particularly careful in the ramp-up period. King says that during this acclimation process (known as retinization), it’s normal to experience dryness, peeling, scaling or redness, but not to be alarmed. If by the fourth week, these symptoms don’t subside, you may not have skin that is able to tolerate retinol (or that particular product or amount).
Retinol increases skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so for the most part you’ll want to stick to applying products that contain the ingredient at night. Either way, it’s integral to follow retinol use with diligent application of sunscreen during the day. If not, you may be worsening the skin concerns that you’re trying to repair, like fine lines and hyperpigmentation.
Which Retinol Is Most Effective?
A prescription-strength retinol will be the most effective, but King says the highest potency you’ll get over the counter will contain 1% retinol. If that’s what you want, try our recommendations from Paula’s Choice, SkinCeuticals, or Drunk Elephant. The Drunk Elephant option is best for sensitive skin types.
What Should You Avoid With Retinol?
When it comes to retinol, a little bit goes a long way—King says to avoid using too much product. You’ll also want to make sure that you don’t mix retinol with salicylic acid or other exfoliators since the combination can potentially irritate skin. It’s important to note that retinol can be more intense than other types of skincare products, so if you can’t tolerate it initially, that doesn’t mean that your skin won’t eventually get used to it.