<p>Star ingredient <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a46486942/retinal-vs-retinol/” target=”_blank”>retinol</a> has long been considered the gold standard anti-aging ingredient and an essential part of a nighttime skincare routine. However, newly popular is the emerging body retinol category, made up of <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty-products/best-lotions/g26290428/best-body-lotions/” target=”_blank”>body lotions</a>, body butters, body serums and more that all contain retinol or retinol derivatives in them. “There are many different uses for a body retinol, such as <strong>anti-aging, <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a37856790/acne-skincare-routine/” target=”_blank”>acne</a>, <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a35421576/what-is-melasma-hyperpigmentation/” target=”_blank”>hyperpigmentation</a> and <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/a33849/keratosis-pilaris-treatment-chicken-skin-arms/” target=”_blank”>keratosis pilaris</a></strong>,” says Aya Ahram, M.D., board-certified dermatologist <a href=”https://hudsondermlaser.com/” target=”_blank”>at Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery</a>.</p><p>The <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/institute/about-the-institute/a19748212/good-housekeeping-institute-product-reviews/” target=”_blank”>Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab</a> has a long history of testing anti-aging products, including retinol serums, <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty-products/g26764099/best-retinol-cream/” target=”_blank”>retinol creams</a> and more. For this story, GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/author/12466/danusia-wnek/” target=”_blank”>Danusia Wnek</a> evaluated six body retinols, taking into consideration factors like texture, scent and absorption. Since retinol increases cell turnover, “it can potentially cause irritation in addition to causing sun sensitivity,” Wnek says. It is important to apply <a href=”https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/anti-aging/g1288/best-sunscreens/” target=”_blank”>sunscreen</a> always, but it is an absolute must if you are using a retinol body product, both Wnek and Dr. Ahram advise.</p><p>Ahead, the <strong>top 13 body retinols on the market</strong>, including options for dry skin, sensitive skin, crepey skin and more.</p>”/>
1
Best Overall
Bio-Oil Body Lotion
Pros
- Lightweight formula
- Contains ingredients to nourish skin
Cons
- Watery formula can be messy
GH Beauty Award winner Bio-Oil is a classic skin healer and editor favorite. This iteration of the formula, a featherweight liquid body lotion, contains extra skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E plus botanicals like rose and jojoba oil to cushion the retinol. One tester noted how quickly it soaks into skin (it takes just “seconds”). There’s “no waiting time for the lotion to dry or sticky, greasy film, and it feels incredibly silky on,” the tester marveled. Some online reviewers do find it to be extremely watery.
| Key ingredients | Retinyl palmitate, hyaluronic acid |
|---|
2
Best Value
Olay Retinol24 Smoothing Body Lotion
Pros
- Pump bottle design is convenient
- Feels like traditional body lotion
Cons
- Retinol may irritate skin if you apply too much, too fast
The lowest-priced option in our roundup, Olay’s powerful body lotion contains not just one, but two types of retinol. The pump bottle “makes application a breeze,” Wnek shares. “I like that I don’t have to open any lids.” It has a soft floral scent. The occlusive formula “absorbs well, not too fast or slow,” she adds. “It feels like a traditional body lotion without feeling too heavy or light on skin.”
It does leave a slight residue on skin, “but since it is a nighttime formula, that is what I usually prefer,” Wnek says. The retinol made our skin tingle a bit when applying, so this may not be the best pick for those with sensitive skin; regardless, start slowly (every other night) to avoid irritation.
| Key ingredients | Retinol, retinyl propionate, glycerin |
|---|
3
Best Body Butter
Versed Press Restart Advanced Retinol Body Butter
Pros
- Moisturizing without being greasy
- Helps to fade dark spots
Cons
- Scent is polarizing
While many body retinols are offered in lotion form, this GH editor fave from Versed is instead a body butter. It has a “rich, nourishing texture,” says GH Beauty Director April Franzino, and she especially likes that it “feels moisturizing instead of just like a treatment product.” The luxe, hydrating formula doesn’t leave a greasy feel, and there are noticeable improvements: Another GH staffer uses it “on my arms and legs, and after a few weeks, I’ve noticed that my dark spots seem to be fading and my skin is smoother and softer.” Though some like the subtle cocoa butter scent, others find it to be off-putting.
| Key ingredients | Encapsulated retinol, peptides, shea butter |
|---|
4
Best Lightweight
Beauty Pie Youthbomb Body 360° Repair Concentrate
Pros
- Works quickly to make skin feel softer
- Lightweight texture doesn’t leave skin damp or slick
Cons
- May cause skin to peel
Beauty Pie’s body concentrate includes both retinol and glycolic acid to really clear up skin. GH Beauty Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler says she can feel noticeably softer skin after just a couple of nights using this formula. “It can cause some peeling, so alternate with a moisturizing lotion a few nights a week,” she recommends. She loves how lightweight it is upon application and that it doesn’t leave skin feeling damp or slick.
| Key ingredients | Granactive retinoid, niacinamide, glycolic acid |
|---|
5
Best Drugstore
Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion
Now 23% Off
Pros
- Bargain buy
- No strong fragrance
Cons
- Thick formula
Coming in at a great price, Gold Bond’s retinol lotion can be used on both face and body, according to its packaging. In our evaluations, the thick lotion had no noticeable fragrance. Online reviewers and Wnek agree that it is a thicker formulation. Wnek noted that it also “absorbs right into skin and doesn’t require much rubbing in,” so move quickly as it doesn’t have much play time on skin. This lotion is recommended by Dr. Ahram as well.
RELATED: The Best Retinol Eye Creams
| Key ingredients | Retinol, shea butter extract |
|---|
6
Best Hydrating
Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion
Now 11% Off
Pros
- Encapsulated retinol can help minimize skin irritation
- Hydrating formula
- Fragrance-free
Cons
- Some online reviewers haven’t seen a big difference in their skin
Formulated with encapsulated retinol, allantoin and shea butter, this body lotion from Naturium is a derm-approved buy. Dr. Ahram recommends the fragrance-free option, noting that it is “very hydrating while still providing the benefits that retinols have,” she says. Thanks to its encapsulated retinol, it is designed to be less irritating to the skin as well. Some online reviewers say that they haven’t seen a noticeable improvement in their skin since beginning use.
| Key ingredients | Encapsulated retinol, allantoin, shea butter |
|---|
7
Best Exfoliating
Nécessaire The Body Retinol
Pros
- Contains AHAs to exfoliate the skin
- Clinically proven results
Cons
- Off-putting smell
Offered in a serum rather than a more typical lotion, Nécessaire’s lightweight body retinol is another derm favorite. Dr. Ahram likes that it “also has glycolic and mandelic acid to help exfoliate the skin,” she says. Additionally, ingredients like peptides and niacinamide help balance skin. In a third-party verified clinical study put on by the brand, 85% of testers had less crepiness and 82% had fewer lines and wrinkles after four weeks of use. Note that some online reviewers do not like the strong scent of the product, saying it smells “like cheese” or “rotten,” though others say the scent goes away quickly and the results are worth it.
| Key ingredients | Retinol, glycolic acid, mandelic acid |
|---|
10
Best for Sensitive Skin
Cocokind Retinol Body Cream
Now 15% Off
Pros
- No overpowering scent
- Contains nourishing ingredients for sensitive skin
- Bottle uses less plastic than others
Cons
- Cap can be difficult to open
A skincare line designed with sensitive skin in mind, Cocokind’s body retinol has a tall task of both being effective and not irritating the skin. Alongside retinol, cushioning squalane and ceramides keep irritation at bay. In the brand’s own consumer studies, 100% of testers said the cream worked well for sensitive skin after one week and 94% said their skin felt smoother after four weeks. It’s also formulated without fragrance; in our own Lab evaluations, Wnek said it didn’t have a strong scent and that a little goes a long way. However, the packaging’s “cap takes some getting used to initially,” Wnek adds. “I appreciate the reduced plastic, but it is hard to open.”
RELATED: The Best Retinols for Sensitive Skin
| Key ingredients | Retinol, ceramide NP, squalane, shea butter |
|---|
11
Best for Crepey Skin
Kopari Ultra Renewal Retinol Body Cream
Pros
- Treats leathery skin and boosts elasticity
- Hydrates and renews dull skin
Cons
- Bottle top can be improved
Apply Kopari’s retinol cream all over from the neck down. The encapsulated retinol proved to perform in the brand’s independent consumer study, with 98% of users saying it renewed dull skin and 87% seeing an increase in skin’s elasticity, which can help eliminate crepiness. An online reviewer who says the skin on their chest was like leather used this daily and after a week found skin to be “smooth, moisturized and beautiful.”
The bottle’s push pump top is a popular skincare design, though for body care products, Wnek notes that it can be a little arduous to only get a little dollop out of the bottle at a time. Note that this body cream can be used day and night. It “feels nice on skin and feels very hydrating,” Wnek adds.
| Key ingredients | Encapsulated retinol, acai, pomegranate extract |
|---|
13
Best Retinol Alternative
Weleda Replenishing Body Butter
Pros
- Contains antioxidants
- Deeply moisturizing
- Increases the appearance of skin’s elasticity
Cons
- Won’t deliver the same results as a retinol
Is your skin too sensitive to tolerate retinol? Fear not, you can still find products that will give you similar effects without this active ingredient. Weleda’s body butter contains antioxidants such as pomegranate seed oil “to help regenerate the skin,” says Dr. Ahram. “It also has centella asiatica which helps with collagen synthesis.” In the brand’s own four week study, after applying twice a week, 73% of testers reported an increase in the appearance of skin elasticity. Online reviewers say the product is very moisturizing without feeling greasy. Take note that this product won’t perform as well as a retinol, but it is a great alternative.
RELATED: What is Bakuchiol, Nature’s Retinol Alternative?
| Key ingredients | Pomegranate seed oil, shea butter, cica |
|---|
How we choose the best body retinol lotions
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab has tested body lotions and retinols for the face. Though our scientists haven’t officially tested retinol body lotions, GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek evaluated six of the options included in this story, taking into consideration scent, absorption, texture and more. Plus, our scientists know what makes a good body lotion and a good retinol thanks to their other tests.
What to look for when shopping for a retinol body lotion
On the hunt for the perfect body retinol for your skin? Keep these aspects in mind:
✔️ Formula: Body retinols come in many different formats, including lotions, serums, body butters and creams. Serums tend to be more lightweight while creams can lean on the heavier side. “Those with drier skin might want to seek out the richer cream options,” advises Wnek.
✔️ Type of retinol: Of course, it’s essential to make sure there is retinol included in the formula. However, there are different retinol derivatives, so the ingredient list may include terms like retinol, retinyl propionate, retinyl palmitate, et cetera.
✔️ Additional ingredients: These products contain additional ingredients as well. For those with drier skin, it’s good to look for things like shea butter or glycerin. If you’d like added exfoliating benefits, Dr. Ahram recommends looking for alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic or mandelic acid as well.
What are the benefits of using a retinol body lotion?
Like any retinol product, body retinol “helps increase skin cell turnover and build up the collagen layer in the skin to help smooth out and firm texture,” says Dr. Ahram. By doing so, it fights aging such as “crepiness and other signs of photodamage such as hyperpigmentation,” she adds. Using a body retinol can even help with issues not related to aging, such as “strawberry skin, aka keratosis pilaris, on the backs of the arms, as well as acne on the chest, back and shoulders,” Dr. Ahram explains.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Good Housekeeping Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn works closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of skincare products, including retinol, which she has used for 10 years.
GH Beauty Lab Senior Chemist Danusia Wnek has been testing skincare products including but not limited to eye creams, serums, night creams, neck creams, facial oils and moisturizing creams for nearly 10 years. She has experience in using specialized skin evaluation lab equipment to gauge changes in skin moisturization, firmness and facial features like wrinkles and texture before and after product use. She also regularly polls our consumer panel on their purchasing and product use habits as well as weighs in on the benefits of skincare ingredients like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide.
Catharine (she/her) is the beauty assistant at Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day and Prevention, working closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to write science-backed beauty content. She was previously an assistant beauty editor at Group Nine Media and returned to Hearst in 2022 after having held editorial internships at Harper’s Bazaar and CR Fashion Book. Catharine received a B.A. in journalism from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 10 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and efficacy testing.
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