Ahh, retinol—a skincare star. The gold standard of skincare ingredients. Chances are you’ve probably heard all about retinol and how you should be putting it on your face. Here’s a quick ingredient lesson for you. Retinol—the umbrella for all vitamin-A derivatives—stimulates collagen and elastin production, two proteins in the skin that plump and firm up skin, and revs up cell turnover (the skin’s natural renewal process) for more even, smoother, and clearer skin. When it comes to dealing with breakouts, getting rid of acne scars and dark spots, and improving the look of fine lines, retinol is the MVP. You have to be patient, though. It usually takes about three months to see a difference in your skin, and if you try to take matters into your own hands and speed up the process, you could end up dealing with redness, irritation, and dry, flaky skin.
Making the jump from "retinol curious" to "retinol user" is actually a bit more complicated than many people initially expect, especially considering how many options there are on the market. To help you figure out which formula is best for you, I handpicked the nine best retinol serums for your best skin yet.
The Retinol Serum
In addition to retinol, this serum is formulated with a soothing zinc complex to prevent irritation or redness while staving off breakouts and reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. The formula’s lotion-like consistency sinks into skin nicely and it has a very light scent that doesn’t overpower your nostrils.
Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum
Inside this serum, you’ll find encapsulated retinol spheres (they allow for a more targeted delivery, and they penetrate deep into the skin), granactive retinoid (a gentle vitamin A derivative that improves texture and evens out tone), and a retinol booster that helps jumpstart cell renewal and turnover for plumper, smoother skin.
Pro-Heal Serum Advance Plus
If dark spots are an area of concern for you, consider testing out this retinol serum. Thanks to vitamins C and E, it can harness the power of antioxidants to reduce inflammation, stimulate collagen production, and protect your skin from damaging free radicals. Plus, it also features kojic acid, an ingredient that penetrates the skin’s layers to block excess melanin production.
Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum
This retinol serum comes in single-dose capsules—not only does this ensure you’re using just the right amount, but it also keeps the formula potent and fresh by protecting it from light and air. The formula also pairs retinol with ceramides to keep the skin looking firm, plump, and healthy by minimizing the appearance of fine lines.
Crystal Retinal 3 Serum 30ml
Before retinol can work on your skin, it needs to be converted to retinal then converted into retinoic acid. This serum features retinal, which means there’s one less step the ingredient has to take. Because of this, retinol can work up to 11 times faster than traditional retinol. Thanks to an encapsulation delivery system, the serum releases the retinol gradually throughout the night to help offset any potential irritation.
Double Feature AHA Overnight Facial
This multi-tasking serum combines retinol, lactic acid, glycolic acid, mandelic acid, and squalane to slough off dead, dull skin cells, boost collagen production, and speed up the cell turnover process for brighter, smoother skin sans irritation.
0.2% Retinol Serum
Specifically formulated with melanin-rich skin in mind, this retinol serum includes efficacy-boosting and skin barrier-supporting plant botanicals, as well as algae and squalane, two ultra-moisturizing and soothing ingredients. The retinol capsules are also plastic-free—they’re made of plant-based materials that melt in water.
Retinol Complete 0.5
Formulated with 0.5 percent retinol, this powerful serum works to smooth fine lines and improve the appearance of wrinkles. It also includes vitamin C and a botanical extract blend to increase skin’s hydration levels, boost collagen production, and even out skin tone.
The Body Retinol
Retinol isn’t just for your face—you can use it on your body, too. Encapsulated retinol, mandelic acid, and glycolic acid work to smooth and fade lines, bumps, scars, and spots without stressing out your skin. P.S.—it does have a funky smell, but it disappears pretty quickly after the formula dries down.