“Retinol is a gold-standard skincare ingredient that stimulates collagen production to smooth skin’s texture, improve skin radiance, and even pigmentation,” says Corey L. Hartman, MD, FAAD, of Skin Wellness Dermatology.
When buying a retinol cream, look for retinol, which ranges between 0.25% and 1%. Also, consider whether it’s free of irritants like fragrances. We researched dozens of retinol creams and evaluated them for use, price, and whether they contained irritants.
Here are the best retinol creams on the market.
Price at time of publication: $51
When it comes to finding the right retinol cream, Dr. Hartman suggests looking for “retinols that are in a more moisturizing vehicle, like a cream or lotion, instead of a gel or solution. The base can aid in moisturization and reduce the irritation and flakiness.”
Price at time of publication: $40
A 2017 company-funded study found that the cream reduced the severity of wrinkles, skin tone degradation, Erythema, and pore size over the course of 12 weeks. The study also concluded that it’s more tolerable than 1% of other retinol creams.
Price at time of publication: $135
This particular molecule is a derivative of vitamin A that promotes cell turnover, which in turn helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, blemishes, and pores. It’s also formulated with bisabolol to calm and comfort the skin. “Skinceuticals Retinol comes as a lower strength in a novel 0.3 concentration that shows improvement in skin texture in as little as four weeks,” adds Dr. Hartman.
Free of parabens, fragrance, and gluten, this cream is meant for regular use. Initially, it’s recommended that you use it only once or twice a week during the evening on dry skin, then gradually increase frequency to every other night until your skin has adjusted enough to use it every night. For any retinol product, Dr. Hartman says he “would prefer a patient use the product only one to two times weekly but stick to the schedule than to stop and start with no real diligence.” He also suggests applying your moisturizer before using the retinol to make it easier for your skin to get used to it.
Price at time of publication: $70
Price at time of publication: $66
Price at time of publication: $30
Concentration Level
The retinol potency you can handle is totally dependent on your skin, so paying attention to the tiered strengths is important: a quarter (0.25), half (0.5), and full strength (1.0). If this is your first time using retinol, it’s best to start at the lowest concentration and then work your way up.
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Having been raised by two medical professionals, Amari Pollard understands the importance of health literacy. As a seasoned health writer, she is committed to producing well-researched and well-sourced product reviews to help people make informed medical decisions.
