When shopping for skincare products, have you ever researched the benefits of adding a particular skincare ingredient to your daily skincare routine? If you’ve never, you’re probably one of the majority of shoppers who want to choose a product they can trust and get away with it in a crowded beauty retail store. 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 extol about 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 about 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 benefits.” Teresa SongMD, FAAD, of MaMa Medical “It promotes skin cell turnover, unclogs pores, stimulates collagen production, and improves skin pigmentation. It’s a big hit with acne sufferers and those looking to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.”
song She says that typical signs that retinol is helping your 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 our mid-20s to early 30s. It’s also worth noting that because retinoids act directly on retinoic acid receptors in our cells, you can reap the benefits of improved skin tone and texture while addressing concerns like acne, fine lines, wrinkles, and scars.
How to Start Using Retinol Products
Muneeb Shahdosuggests taking time and noting how your skin reacts. “Always start slow and gentle. A general rule of thumb is to 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,” explains Shah. Kick off your nighttime routine with a gentle foaming cleanser, followed by your retinoid of choice and a rich moisturizer to replenish and lock in hydration.
Most people who are new to retinol develop a tolerance to it over time by using it less frequently or by using a sandwich method (moisturizer followed by retinol and then moisturizer). 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 are all part of the same molecular pathway and therefore provide the same anti-aging benefits. The same cannot be said for something like bactiol, which hasn’t been tested as extensively as retinol.” To tell Courtney Rubin MD, OBE, FAADRetinol has been around for a long time and has a lot of research to back up its effectiveness.
Fighting Annoyances
Retinoids can cause skin irritation, including dryness, peeling, scaling, redness, and a burning or stinging sensation. Hadley King MD, FAADSkin irritation can be caused by using too much retinol, not using a moisturizer with retinol, not using sunscreen, or using other potentially irritating ingredients such as hydroxy acids. Users may think they can’t tolerate retinol because of the initial irritation, but symptoms can usually be 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 skin health is essential to getting the results you want. “After sun tanning, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, microneedling, etc., retinoids should be avoided until the skin has healed,” says Dr. king“Retinoids increase cell turnover and make skin cells less sticky, which can make the skin more vulnerable.” For example, if you wax your eyebrows, you may notice severe dermatitis.
Find your perfect match
Now comes the fun part: buying the retinol products that will make the biggest difference in the appearance of your skin! song King recommends starting simple, paying special attention to beneficial essential ingredients. “I usually recommend simplifying your routine with what you have, then gradually transitioning by adding new products one at a time and removing recurring ingredients,” King says. If you’re on a budget, consider spending less on your cleanser and more on your retinoid and moisturizer.
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 handpicked nine dermatologist-recommended retinol products for everyone, from beginners to experienced retinol users.
Dermatologist Recommended Retinol Products
Technically a retinal, not a retinol, this serum is a favorite of skincare experts and beauty editors alike (it was named Best Retinol Product at the Who What Wear Beauty Awards). And because it’s a retinal, it’s even more effective than retinal, delivering immediate results from reducing pigmentation to plumping wrinkles to improving skin texture and firmness. It’s a ton of benefits, so start with this product if you’re a beginner and work your way up.
Customer Reviews: “Great formula. I’m in my late 30’s and after a few months of using Retinal 3 I moved on to Retinal 6. My skin looks younger than my age and I think this product is helping to keep my skin looking youthful.”
Temple Spa
Truflixir Anti-Aging Retinol Serum
Irregular skin texture and fine lines are no match for this retinol. Its lightweight, silky formula delivers short-term and long-term results. It’s formulated with retinol to stimulate cell turnover, hyaluronic acid to hydrate, and peptides to firm skin, to fight the signs of aging. With countless 5-star reviews, you won’t regret investing in this product.
Customer Reviews: “I have mature skin (over 50) and was not expecting such a big change. It’s amazing! The fine lines and wrinkles around my eyes and mouth have visibly faded. But the biggest change was my 11 crease, which was pretty deep. It’s much better now. I love it! The scent is great and you only need a little. But most importantly, it works.”
Ceravie
Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Beginners, Shah We recommend starting with this retinol serum, whose formula contains niacinamide and ceramides to help reduce the appearance of acne scars and pores while protecting and repairing the skin’s barrier. It’s an affordable retinol worth trying.
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.”
Beauty Pie
Double Retinol Action Skin Overhaul Serum
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this is, king It contains microencapsulated granactive retinoid to promote collagen production and cell turnover, along with 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!”
Lumene
Berry Pre-Retinol Facial Oil
If you’re looking for an alternative to retinol, Lumene tops our list of recommendations. It contains Nordice sea buckthorn berry oil and cloudberry oil, which work together to rejuvenate skin without any of the harshness that comes with traditional retinol. It comes in an oil-serum formula, making it perfect for dry skin types.
Customer Reviews: “It’s a very thick oil so you only need a little. It’s not greasy, has a serum-like texture, and has great coverage. It feels great on dry skin and the effects last for hours. I really enjoy using this oil on its own in the morning and evening, over my makeup, or as part of my beauty regimen with my other favorite products. But it’s definitely my go-to oil all the time. My skin absorbs it and it glows.”
Paula’s Choice
Clinical Anti-Aging 1% Retinol Treatment
For more experienced users, Shah I recommend using Paula’s Choice Clinical Anti-Aging 1% Retinol Treatment, which has a higher concentration of retinol than CeraVe, plus peptides, a vitamin C derivative, and licorice root. It also comes in a 5ml size if you want to try it before purchasing a full-sized bottle.
Customer Reviews: “I’m obsessed with this product. It took me a while to build up a tolerance to retinol but this product is definitely the most powerful. The first few times I used it too often it made my skin nasty, but once I cut back I’m so happy with the results. My skin feels great!”
Russian Federation
Retinol Correction Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream
For those new to the world of retinol products song We recommend using this ultra-hydrating retinol cream, which has a moisturizing cream base that allows the retinol to penetrate more slowly and cause less irritation to 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 Anti-Aging Serum
song I also love La Roche-Posay’s Retinol B3 Pure Retinol Serum because it’s lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin. It contains soy and niacinamide to address skin sensitivity, as well as citric acid for antioxidant properties.
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!”
SkinCeuticals
Retinol 0.3%
If you go to any dermatologist’s office or clinic, you’ll find SkinCeuticals on the shelves. It’s a go-to brand recommended by many skin care experts, so their retinol is a worthwhile investment for your skin. It boosts cell turnover and targets the appearance of pores, acne, uneven skin tone, pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation.
Customer Reviews: “The best retinol I’ve ever used! I have very sensitive skin and this doesn’t irritate me at all. Great for beginners.”
