12 Best Retinols Dermatologists Swear By
12 Over-the-Counter Retinols Dermatologists Swear By
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Like an anal-retentive roommate who's always after you about the dishes, retinol is extremely effective at making sure everything looks as pristine as possible — but it can also be pretty irritating, especially if you aren't using the right product for your skin type. The upside: not all formulas are created equal (the vitamin A derivative falls under a category with more than 2,500 different chemicals called retinoids, after all), and most experts would still agree that the workhorse ingredient is the best thing you can do for your skin.
The fact is, nothing else on the skin-care market has been clinically proven to simultaneously boost cell turnover, treat acne, fade fine lines and dark spots, or reduce the appearance of pores for a brighter, dare we say better-looking visage quite like retinol. The most potent form of the stuff comes straight from the doc's office, of course, but there are also plenty of powerful iterations you can scoop up over the counter that don't skimp on results. You can even find some efficacious options at the drugstore.
So while dermatologists love to pull out their prescription pads, because we asked nicely, they've divulged their favorite over-the-counter retinols worth incorporating into your skin-care routine. Keep scrolling to hear all their recs.
Best Overnight Moisturizer With Retinol
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer ($34)
"There are many great choices when it comes to retinol based night creams on the market. For a more inexpensive option, I like Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer, as it can be less irritating than other retinol products and leaves the skin feeling very smooth the next morning after use." — dermatologist Paul Cellura, MD
"I like Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair because it's based in a hyaluronic acid moisturizer to help prevent irritation and dryness, and it's widely available in most drugstores and a very reasonable price point." — dermatologist Susan Bard, MD
"The Neutrogrena Rapid Wrinkle Repair is a great over-the-counter retinol that isn't irritating." — dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD
Best Retinol Serum
Kiehl's Skin Renewing Micro-Dose Retinol Serum ($69)
"This [Kiehl's Skin Renewing Micro-Dose Retinol Serum] shines because it doesn't compromise strength for tolerability. It is both powerful and gentle allowing successful use in all skin types." — dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, FAAD
Best Retinol For Skin Texture
SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 0.5 ($80)
"I recommend the SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 0.5 because it has been studied head-to-head with prescription tretinoin, showing comparable efficacy in improving skin texture and tone. But the SkinMedica retinol is better tolerated by patients than prescription tretinoin, and causes less irritation, redness, stinging and dryness." — dermatologist Allison Arthur, MD, FAAD
Best Drugstore Retinol Face Cream
RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Face Cream ($22)
"I love the RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Face Cream because this brand has done a lot of testing with their retinols. It works, and pretty fast at that. You can see resurfacing effects within four weeks of daily use, and fine line improvements within eight weeks. This also includes hyaluronic acid so it is moisturizing. Very good price point as well." — board-certified general and cosmetic dermatologist Kunal Malik, MD
"This RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Face Cream is easy to find since it's available at the drugstore. It's also an effective retinol that is great for people with sensitive skin, or anyone who is just starting to use the ingredient." — dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD
Best Brightening Retinol
PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment ($117)
"My favorite retinol is the PCA Skin Intensive Brightening Treatment — it provides an amazing hydroquinone-free solution to fade sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and melasma in addition to providing the usual anti-aging effects. This particular product uses OmniSome technology — a blend of resveratrol and hexylresorcinol (both prevent and resolve pigment), plus niacinamide (to prevent skin irritation and dryness) — to stabilize the retinol and allows it to better penetrate deeper into the skin while minimizing the drying and sensitizing effects. This technology is found in the highest-grade pharmaceutical (aka prescription) products. It's the first time I have ever seen this vehicle used for cosmeceutical products." — dermatologist Suneel Chilukuri, MD
Best Luxury Retinol
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream ($135)
"A good splurge product is SkinBetter AlphaRet Overnight Cream. Very tolerable, including in sensitive skin, and in addition to retinol, it has skin-damage-fighting antioxidants and lactic and glycolic acids, which provide gentle exfoliation for a clear complexion." — board-certified general and cosmetic dermatologist Kunal Malik, MD
"The SkinBetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream offers little to no irritation while combining two of the top antiaging ingredients — a retinoid and lactic acid — creating a revolutionary double retinoid that leaves your skin looking smooth, clear, and refreshed." — dermatologist Matthew Elias, MD
"I like the SkinBetter Science AlphaRet because almost any skin type can tolerate it." — dermatologist Deborah Olhausen, MD
"With retinols, I like products that can multitask with peptides, amino acids, AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids), and salicylic acid but still keep the active retinoid working well. This combines all of these things with strong antioxidants to protect skin and a host of moisturizing ingredients to prevent dryness." — cosmetic and procedural dermatologist Jody Comstock, MD
Best Retinol For Sensitive Skin
Avène Retrinal 0.1 Intensive Cream ($74)
"One of my favorite retinols is the Avène Retrinal 0.1 Intensive Cream, which I recommend to my younger patients and patients with sensitive skin. It's easier to tolerate than the prescription tretinoin, which is the other product that I recommend. That is going to be more effective than the OTC product, but can also be very drying, and is not always covered by insurance, which means it can get pricey. Tretinoin is better for people with more sun damage, and for those with less sensitive skin." — dermatologist Jennifer S Kitchin, MD, FAAD
"I think this is a great product for someone just starting out with retinoids and might not be ready for a prescription product. This is a OTC product that contains retinaldehyde, a form of vitamin A, that has been shown to be more effective than retinol yet gentler on the skin. This product also contains antioxidants and peptides that help to rejuvenate the skin, as well as thermal spring water to soothe and soften the skin." — dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD
Best Retinol For Dry Skin
Sente Bio Complete Serum ($118)
"One of my favorite products is the Sente Bio Complete Serum. It contains a heparan sulfate analog, which allows the sustained-release retinol to penetrate deeper into the skin, along with hyaluronic acid to plump the skin." — dermatologist Rachna Bhandari, MD, PhD
Best Oil-Based Retinol
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil ($105)
"I love the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil. It is a type of retinoic acid with an oil-based formulation, which is helpful for patients who normally experience dryness or irritation with prescription-strength retinoids. You will still get the benefits such as improving skin tone, texture, and fine lines, but it minimizes some of the issues people can have when using products in the retinoid family." — dermatologist Janiene Luke, MD
Best Over-the-Counter Retinol Alternative
Differin Acne Treatment Gel ($16)
"While it's not technically a retinol, I recommend the Differin Acne Treatment Gel now that it is over the counter. (It was prescription until the last few years.) It is a retinoid called adapalene, which is different, but still helps with acne. A 45g tube will last you months and is much more affordable than the antiaging products that contain retinol." — dermatologist Curtis Asbury, MD
"The [Differin Gel] is great and used to be available only through a prescription years ago. It does a great job at resurfacing, keeping pores unclogged, and keeps breakouts in check. It is a very effective retinol but much less irritating than prescription-grade retinoids." — board-certified general and cosmetic dermatologist Kunal Malik, MD
Best Retinol Pads
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Packettes ($92)
"These Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel Packettes contain several naturally occurring acids such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and other ingredients such as retinol and soy. They can help address several skin concerns including acne or dark spots, fine lines, and changes in skin texture resulting in smoother, more radiant skin. They are quick and easy to use, take fewer than five minutes to apply, and I especially love that there are sensitive, universal, and extra strength formulations, making it easier to find a compatible pad for your skin type." — Dr. Luke
Best Hydrating Retinol Treatment
Hero Cosmetics Rescue Retinol ($23)
The Hero Cosmetics Rescue Retinol is a POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner and loved by editors and dermatologists alike. It's made with encapsulated retinol suspended in moisturizing shea butter and squalane, which helps fend off any irritation you might get from using the exfoliating ingredient.
