Show If you've tried it all—hydrating night cream,
moisturizer, and face serum—but you're still showing signs of skin damage, it might be time for the gold
standard in anti-aging: retinol. The over-the-counter vitamin A derivative clears acne flare-ups, evens out tone and texture, stimulates collagen, and minimizes age spots and wrinkles. "Retinol is the only topical ingredient that has scientifically proven anti-aging properties," says Tsippora Shainhouse MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles. While retinol
is extremely effective, it does have its drawbacks (namely that it can cause irritation and can be pricey), so it's important to note two key things. First, use retinol at night. The ingredient may make your skin more sun-sensitive, so it's best to slather it on around bedtime. Also important to note: Serums generally contain higher concentrations of retinol, so there can be a greater chance for redness, peeling, and dryness (especially if they're paired with other powerful ingredients, like
vitamin C). To reduce the risk of irritation, use a low percentage—like 0.025 percent—and ramp up as your skin adjusts, says Sonia Batra, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. Retinol creams, on the other hand, tend to be thicker and infused with deeply hydrating and nourishing ingredients that may offset some of the potential redness and irritation. Our Top
Products:
So, which retinol serum is the best? To help you navigate all the options available, we asked dermatologists to share the products perfectly suited for oily or sensitive skin, acne, dark spots, and, of course, wrinkles, they most often recommend. These are their favorites—and some were even developed by
dermatologists. 1 Best Fragrance-Free Option Marie Veronique Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion 2 Best for Dark Spots Retinol 0.5% in Squalane 3 Best for Wrinkles RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Facial Filler 4 Best Drugstore Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum 5 Best High Concentration SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 6 Best Dermatologist-Formulated Sobel Skin Rx 4.5% Retinol Complex Night Treatment 7 Best Lightweight Lancer Skincare Advanced Retinol Treatment 8 Best Vegan Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream 9 Best Multi-Strength SkinMedica Age Defense Retinol Complex 10 Best for Beginners First Aid Beauty Retinol Serum 0.25% Pure Concentrate 11 Best for Acne Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% 12 Best for Sensitive Skin PCA Skin Intensive Clarity Treatment 0.5% Pure Retinol Night 13 Best with Vitamin C Paula's Choice 1% Retinol Treatment 14 CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 15 Best Eye Treatment Avène Retrinal Eyes Contour Care 16 Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum 17 Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum 18 Best for Building Collagen Alastin Renewal Retinol 19 Neutrogena Ageless Intensives Anti-Wrinkle Cream 20 Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Texture Renewal Serum What is the best night cream to use with retinol?Best drugstore night cream with retinol
For an even-less-expensive option, Karp recommends Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Cream, which she often suggests to her patients. “It contains retinol, which will help increase skin cell turnover and prevent wrinkles by stimulating collagen formation,” she says.
What is the strongest retinol cream overRoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
Houshmand recommends RoC's Deep Wrinkle Night Cream, which is one of the highest-strength retinol you can get over the counter, meaning you may see its resurfacing effects sooner than with other products.
What is the most effective retinol product?Healthline's picks for the best retinol creams. SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3. ... . Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer. ... . Kate Somerville +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer. ... . Paula's Choice Clinical 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment. ... . RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream. ... . CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.. Is overOver-the-counter retinol
However, this also means that over-the-counter retinols are far less potent and less effective than their prescription counterparts. In fact, retinol is twenty times less potent than prescription strength tretinoin.
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