When shopping for skincare products, have you ever researched the benefits of incorporating certain ingredients into your skincare routine? If you haven’t, you’re probably one of the majority of shoppers hoping to choose a product they can trust and get in and out of a crowded beauty store safely. Even so, it’s no surprise that retinol is one of the most popular ingredients listed on the back of moisturizers, creams, and serums these days due to its anti-aging benefits.
Over the years, we’ve heard plenty of extolling the wonders of retinol, but we’ve never really understood why it’s so highly touted for its ability to correct skin imperfections. So we thought it was time to dig deeper. Instead of joining the crowd of TikTok believers and detractors, we asked four dermatologists for their tips, tricks, and favorite products for getting the most out of retinol.
What is Retinol and When Should I Use It?
If you’re wondering whether you should incorporate retinol into your skincare routine, the expert answer is yes. “Retinol is a form of vitamin A that’s included in skincare products for its anti-aging and exfoliating properties,” says Theresa Song, MD, FAAD, of MarMar Medical. “Retinol increases skin cell turnover, unclogs pores, stimulates collagen production, and improves skin pigmentation. It’s a hugely popular ingredient for acne sufferers and those looking to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.”
According to Song, typical signs that retinol is beneficial for the skin are the appearance of fine lines, rough skin texture, and uneven pigmentation. Additionally, retinol is known to stimulate collagen production, which typically begins to decline in the mid-20s to early 30s. And because retinoids act directly on retinoic acid receptors in cells, they can also have the added benefit of improving skin tone and texture while addressing concerns like acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and scars.
How to Start Using Retinol Products
Dr Muneeb Shah recommends taking time and noting how your skin reacts. “Always start slow and gentle. Generally, apply a pea-sized amount evenly all over your face at night, once or twice a week to start, then every other day the next week, and increase to every night as tolerated,” Dr Shah explains. Start your nighttime routine with a gentle foaming cleanser, followed by your favourite retinoid and rich moisturizer to replenish and lock in hydration.
Most people who use retinol for the first time build up a tolerance over time by using it less frequently or by using a sandwich method (moisturizer followed by retinol and then moisturizer). Even if your skin tends to be sensitive, you still have options to get the results you want. “Other vitamin A derivatives like retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, and tretinoin all have the same anti-aging benefits because they’re all part of the same molecular pathway. The same can’t be said for something like bactiol, because it hasn’t been tested as extensively as retinol,” says Courtney Rubin, MD, MBE, FAAD. Retinol has more research to back up its effectiveness and has been around for a longer period of time.
Fighting Annoyances
Applying retinoids can cause skin irritation, including dryness, peeling, scaling, redness, and a burning or stinging sensation. According to Hadley King, MD, FAAD, skin irritation can occur from using too much retinol, not using a moisturizer or sunscreen, or using other irritating ingredients such as hydroxy acids. Users may think they can’t tolerate retinol because they experience initial irritation, but symptoms are usually expected to subside within the first four weeks of use.
Once your skin is back to its healthiest state, be mindful of what you expose it to, especially when it comes to treatments. Maintaining your skin’s health at all times is essential to getting the results you want. “Avoid using retinoids after things like sun tanning, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and microneedling until your skin has healed,” says King. “Retinoids increase cell turnover and make skin cells less sticky, which can make your skin more vulnerable.” For example, if you wax your eyebrows, you may notice a major skin rash.
Find your perfect match
Now here’s the fun part: shopping for the retinol products that will make the biggest difference in the look of your skin. When revamping your skincare routine, Song recommends starting simple, paying special attention to beneficial essential ingredients. “I usually recommend simplifying your routine with what you already have first, then gradually transitioning by adding new products one at a time and removing repetitive ingredients,” King says. If you’re on a budget, consider spending less on cleansers and more on retinoids and moisturizers.
Before purchasing a full-sized product, you may want to pick up travel sizes or samples of the retinol products you want to try, or seek the advice of a board-certified dermatologist to review your routine. Below, we’ve hand-picked 11 retinol products that dermatologists recommend for everyone, from beginners to experienced retinol users.
Dermatologist Recommended Retinol Products
Shah’s retinol staple is his brand Remedy’s targeted nighttime treatment, a nine-in-one formula that helps improve skin by fading dark spots and evening out skin tone.
Customer Reviews: “I love this all-in-one night treatment! It makes my routine quick and easy. When I use this followed by a night cream, I wake up to brighter, smoother skin. I’ve been using it every night for a few weeks now and even my facialist sees a difference in the texture and brightness of my skin!”
Ceravie
Resurfacing Retinol Serum
For beginners, Shah recommends starting with this retinol serum, whose ingredients include niacinamide and ceramides to help reduce the appearance of acne scars and pores while protecting and repairing the skin’s barrier.
Customer Reviews: “I absolutely love this product. With continued use I have noticed a huge difference in the condition of my skin. My blemishes are almost completely gone and the texture of my skin has improved dramatically. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to improve the appearance of their skin.”
Paula’s Choice
Clinical Anti-Aging 1% Retinol Treatment
For more experienced users, Shah recommends using Paula’s Choice Clinical Anti-Aging 1% Retinol Treatment, which has a higher concentration of retinol than CeraVe, but also contains peptides, vitamin C derivatives, and licorice root.
Customer Reviews: “I’ve been using this retinol for the past few months and this brand is honestly one of my favorites. It’s a high quality product at a great price. It doesn’t irritate my skin like other retinols, but it does seem to make a difference!”
MM Skincare
Bright & Tight Retinol Eye Cream
Song’s eye cream doesn’t do anything to combat dark circles or fine lines, instead using a formula that uses skin-turning retinol, depuffing coffee, and skin-nourishing peptides to fight signs of aging.
Skin Better Science
Alpharet Overnight Cream
According to Song, this Skin Better Science overnight cream contains gentle retinyl esters with glycolic acid in a moisturizing base that are well tolerated and effective. You’ll see improvements in the appearance of lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, and skin texture.
Customer Reviews: “This is definitely one of the best retinols I’ve used. It doesn’t dry out my skin at all and leaves it looking plump and hydrated. I’ve noticed a difference in the texture and elasticity of my skin when using this product. I would recommend anything from this brand!”
Russian Federation
Retinol Correction Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream
For those new to the world of retinol products, Song recommends using this ultra-hydrating retinol cream, which has a moisturizing cream base that allows the retinol to penetrate more slowly and be less harsh on the skin.
Customer Reviews: “I bought this about a week ago and I absolutely love it. It leaves my face silky smooth. It makes my face look fresher and more youthful. It leaves my face feeling moisturized for hours. I’ve also noticed that my fine lines are slowly fading.”
La Roche-Posay
Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum
Song also likes the lightweight, fast-absorbing nature of La Roche-Posay’s Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum, which contains soy and niacinamide to address skin sensitivity, as well as antioxidant citric acid.
Customer Reviews: “I couldn’t believe the visible difference I saw in just a few days. I was amazed! After using this product for about 3 weeks, I was often getting compliments on my skin. This will definitely become a part of my skin care routine!”
King loves this gentle retinol treatment because it combines the benefits of bactiol, vitamin C, and vitamin E in a base of chia seeds and buriti oil to support the skin’s barrier and lock in moisture. Bactiol doesn’t irritate or redden the skin like retinol, but it does provide similar benefits.
Customer Reviews: “I’ve only tried a few retinol alternatives but I am very happy with this product and will continue to use it. It’s gentle yet effective and I can see a difference in my skin with and without it.”
Beauty Pie
Double Retinol Action Skin Overhaul Serum
This product recommended by King is formulated with microencapsulated granactive retinoid to boost collagen production and cell turnover, plus skin-conditioning niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides to boost the skin’s barrier function.
Customer Reviews: “I’ve never really noticed a difference with my skincare, but after just one week of using this I have really seen an improvement. My skin is definitely smoother and more ‘glowing’. I was using the 2% but decided it was time to upgrade. I can definitely see the difference. Definitely a must buy!”
Ise Beauty
Last Call Retinol Serum
Another King favorite is Yse Beauty Last Call Retinol Serum, which contains encapsulated ingredients that release retinol over time to reduce irritation, as well as hyaluronic acid, retinol, and linoleic acid, and beta-glucan to help repair skin.
Customer Reviews: “This is the first retinol treatment I’ve used daily. It has reduced sun spots and my skin looks much better. The fine lines around my eyes and mouth are less noticeable.”
Figure 1
Retinol Night Cream
Both King and Rubin agree that this retinol night cream is a great product to gradually introduce into your skincare routine. This night cream is formulated with three different concentrations of retinol. “Level 1 contains 0.15% encapsulated retinol, which is a great introductory concentration for those new to retinol. Level 2 contains 0.3% encapsulated retinol, and Level 3 contains 0.6% encapsulated retinol,” explains Rubin.
Customer Reviews: “This was my first time using retinol and not only was it gentle on my skin, it also took care of the dryness that was stubbornly refractory, cleared up my breakouts and evened out my skin tone. 10/10 I would recommend it, especially for beginners.”
