Our Editors Share Their Picks for the Best Retinol Serums

WDC NEWS 6 STAFF June 17, 2024

24 9 minutes read

Our Editors Share Their Picks for the Best Retinol Serums

When it comes to over-the-counter skincare, a retinol serum can be one of the most helpful additions to your daily regimen. “Retinols are a vitamin A derivative that has scientifically been proven to thicken the skin, enhance exfoliation, decrease sebum for preventing acne, and promote collagen and elastin for improving fine lines and wrinkles,” says Heidi B. Prather, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist who practices at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, TX.

Whether you’re a complete retinol beginner looking for a gentle product, or a seasoned user shopping around for a different formula, sifting through all the retinol serums on the market can be intimidating. In addition to consulting Dr. Prather for her expert advice on how to shop for retinol, we narrowed down our list of the best retinol serums after considering factors such as skin type compatibility, price point, and formulation, and we even included some recommendations from Real Simple beauty editors.

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Ulta

What Stands Out

This gentle formula features encapsulated retinol, ceramides, and niacinamide to minimize irritation.

CeraVe boasts a solid reputation in skincare for being an affordable and gentle brand, and this retinol face serum is a prime example. A popular option for retinol novices, the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Face Serum helps resurface the skin and improve overall skin texture. It features an encapsulated form of retinol that’s slow-releasing and less likely to be irritating.

In all CeraVe products, including this one, you’ll find three essential ceramides to support your skin barrier and help your skin retain moisture. We also like that this particular formula contains licorice root extract to brighten skin appearance and niacinamide to calm skin. To further minimize irritation, it’s also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.

While this product is broadly meant for resurfacing skin, it’s specifically geared toward reducing the appearance of post-acne marks and pores. If you’re looking for a product to ease fine lines and wrinkles, you might want to look into a formula targeted toward those concerns.

Size: 1 ounce | Active Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, ceramides, and niacinamide | Concentration (% retinol): Not listed

No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate

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Amazon

Formerly called the No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% Complex Night Concentrate, this relatively available drugstore serum features a 0.3% retinol concentration with an encapsulation system to enhance retinol delivery. If you’re concerned about irritation, this formula is also fragrance-free and contains bisabolol, which can help calm your skin.

For extra anti-aging benefits, it also contains Matrixyl 3000 Plus™, No7’s proprietary peptide complex that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. One thing we’d keep in mind is that No7 recommends using two pumps every time you apply this product. If you adhere to these directions, you might go through your serum pretty quickly.

Size: 1 ounce | Active Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, bisabolol, and peptides | Concentration (% retinol): 0.3%

Kiehlâs Fast Release Wrinkle-Reducing 0.3% Retinol Night Serum

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Amazon

If you can afford to splurge, consider this potent 0.3% retinol serum from Kiehl’s. It contains pure retinol, which brings fresh skin to the surface and helps target signs of aging. However, the serum is separate from the pure retinol, which comes in a highly concentrated powder form — you actually have to mix both of these things together to activate the serum. By doing this, the retinol can be freshly mixed into your serum upon first use to ensure maximum efficacy of the product.

Although it involves initial effort on your part (and, frankly, room for human error), this formula should help accelerate the skin surface turnover process. The retinol penetrates up to 15 surface layers deep into skin, and can potentially reduce fine lines and wrinkles over time.

Size: 0.94 ounces | Active Ingredients: Retinol | Concentration (% retinol): 0.3%

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Amazon

This fragrance-free 1% Retinol Booster from Paula’s Choice is formulated to help with the appearance of pores, uneven skin tone, bumps, and wrinkles. If you’re worried about clogging pores, it comes in a lightweight texture that’s just right for oily or acne-prone skin. To promote clarified, younger-looking skin, it uses a slow-release retinol delivery system that minimizes sensitivity.

It’s also rich in plant extracts (particularly oat and salix alba extracts) with skin-soothing and antioxidant properties. Plus, there are ceramides, which seal in hydration and strengthen the skin’s barrier. The included peptides also help stimulate collagen production, which can make skin appear plumper and firmer. Just note that this product only comes with 0.5 ounces of serum, so you’ll likely have to replenish it often.

Size: 0.5 ounces | Active Ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, and peptides | Concentration (% retinol): 1%

First Aid Beauty 0.3% Retinol Complex Face Serum with Peptides

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Amazon

If you’ve been searching far and wide for a gentle retinol product to use on dry skin, the First Aid Beauty’s 0.3% Retinol Complex Face Serum with Peptides is a great choice. To improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, this nurturing formula contains both retinol and retinyl propionate to minimize redness and irritation while encouraging skin turnover. Retinyl propionate, specifically, is a gentle ingredient geared towards those with sensitive skin, allowing to receive all the benefits of a retinol without further drying out your skin.

It’s worth noting that this formula takes more steps than retinol to be converted into retinoic acid that can be used by the skin. Due to this reason, it might take a while to notice any visible changes in your appearance. However, this serum has peptides to help promote smooth skin and glycerin to boost skin hydration. Plus, you can rest assured that it’s free from drying alcohols and artificial fragrances that can add to irritation.

Size: 1 ounce | Active Ingredients: Retinol, retinyl propionate, peptides, and glycerin | Concentration (% retinol): 0.3% retinol complex (with retinol and retinyl propionate)

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ 0.5% Power Facial Serum

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Amazon

What Stands Out

Its lightweight, non-comedogenic formula helps promote skin firmness and elasticity while targeting fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.

This 0.5% retinol serum from Neutrogena’s Rapid Wrinkle Repair line is a go-to product if you’re looking for a formula that will encourage skin firmness and elasticity. Featuring Neutrogena’s highest concentration of pure retinol, this serum targets signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. Suitable for most skin types, it’s paraben-free, mineral oil-free, dye-free and non-comedogenic. It’s also lightweight, so it’s great for oily or combination skin types.

We do want to note, however, that this serum contains fragrance, so it might not be the best option for sensitive skin. The concentration may also be a little high for new retinol users. But if you’re interested in a product with a lower retinol concentration, or a creamier formula, you can also look into other moisturizers in this line, such as the Rapid Wrinkle Repair Pro + 0.3% Night Cream.

Size: 1 ounce | Active Ingredients: Retinol | Concentration (% retinol): 0.5%

RoC Retinol Correxion Smoothing Night Serum Capsules

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Amazon

These retinol capsules from RoC offer a handy way of perfectly measuring the amount of retinol you need to apply to your skin — just simply twist them open and apply! The amount of serum in one capsule should sufficiently cover your face and neck during your nightly skincare routine. This novel form isn’t purely a gimmick either, as it seals the retinol in airtight for optimal freshness and potency.

Each capsule contains retinol, ceramides, and bio-derived antioxidants to help firm skin and smooth fine lines and wrinkles. The formula is also fragrance-free, making it suitable for those with skin sensitivities. RoC recommends starting its retinol every other day and gradually upping your usage over time. Just note, though, that you may end up buying a jar every month if you eventually use it nightly, which can be a bit pricey in the long run.

Size: 0.35 ounces (30 capsules) | Active Ingredients: Retinol, ceramides, and antioxidants | Concentration (% retinol): Not listed

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Sepia Skincare

The Eventide Retinol Renewing Serum from Sepia Skincare comes highly recommended by our Beauty director Heather Muir Maffei, who especially loves the brand’s inclusive approach that went into developing this product’s formula. “After it creates a product, it enlists it in third-party-run clinical studies, which test across all six Fitzpatrick skin phototypes, including people of different ethnic backgrounds and genders. It sounds obvious, but I learned a lot of brands don’t do this,” Maffei shares.

Along with its inclusive approach, this retinol features a 0.3% formula that penetrates the skin effectively while minimizing irritation. To smooth skin, it includes copper and amino acids to help boost collagen and elastin production. The lipids, ceramides, and German chamomile in it also soothe skin to minimize redness and flaking. Although it’s developed with inclusivity in mind and excellent ingredients, this product does run a little expensive compared to other picks in this list.

Size: 1 ounce | Active Ingredients: Retinol, copper, amino acids, ceramides, and German chamomile | Concentration (% retinol): 0.3%

Final Verdict

The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Face Serum is our top pick for a retinol serum because it’s affordable, gentle, and features nurturing ingredients such as ceramides and niacinamide. If you’re specifically looking for a formula to target fine lines, we also recommend Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .5% Power Facial Serum. Although it tends to be a little more expensive than the CeraVe serum, it’s geared towards addressing mature skin concerns and comes in a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula.

How to Shop for Retinol Serums Like a Pro

Active Ingredients

Common side effects of retinol serums can include redness, dryness, peeling, and increased skin sensitivity. To minimize these effects, many retinol serums often contain soothing ingredients. “Products with niacinamide help with redness and irritation,” Dr. Prather explains. “Tocopherol, or Vitamin E, is soothing, hydrating, and found in many formulations for sensitive skin, but [it] should be avoided for more acne-prone skin.”

For anti-aging benefits, retinol products may also include peptides, which stimulate collagen and elastin production to help skin appear firmer and plumper. Additionally, many retinol products contain ceramides, which are lipid molecules that help support the skin barrier.

Retinol Concentration

Many skincare brands do not list their retinol concentration because it is often considered proprietary information. However, brands that do list their concentration will usually offer retinol concentrations between 0.1% to 1%. The most typical over-the-counter retinol concentrations are 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.5% and 1%. Many retinol beginners should opt for lower concentrations, typically around 0.1 to 0.3%, to minimize irritation.

You can’t necessarily determine how effective or irritating a retinol product will be based on concentration alone. Dr. Prather notes that a retinol product’s formula will also impact how well it penetrates your skin and how irritating it will be. On that latter note, some formulas can specifically include soothing ingredients to prevent irritation.

Skin Type

Considering your skin type can help you choose a retinol product that’s effective, gentle, and comfortable on your skin. “When shopping for retinoids, I recommend finding lighter weight, gel-based products for more acne-prone or oily skin,” Dr. Prather says. “For dry or sensitive skin, retinoids that are at a lower strength, in a more hydrating cream, oil emulsion, or encapsulated, will be more soothing.”

Questions You Might Ask

How do retinol serums differ from other treatments?

You can usually get retinol in a lotion, cream, or serum formula. Retinol lotions and creams have a thick and moisturizing texture — the only difference is that the latter is slightly thinner since lotions contain more water. Serums feature the thinnest and lightest consistency of the three. They generally have a higher concentration of active ingredients, but there are creams and lotions out there with high retinol concentrations, too.

Lotions and creams tend to be more moisturizing than serums, so they can help minimize the irritation that comes with retinol if you have dry or sensitive skin. That said, retinol serums often contain ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to soothe and support skin.

If you aren’t sure if retinol serum is right for you, there are also retinol alternatives available. “There are categories of products that provide similar benefits without the irritation of a retinoid, such as bakuchiol,” Dr. Prather explains. Bakuchiol comes from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia (aka the babchi plant), which can be incorporated into skin care as an anti-aging ingredient.

What percentage of retinol is too strong?

Typically, brands recommend 0.1 to 0.3% retinol concentrations for beginners and anything above a 0.5% concentration for more seasoned retinol users. Whichever product you use, Dr. Prather recommends beginning retinoids slowly, applying them two to three times per week when you first start them. “If you do not experience any irritation, increase application by a day every week until you are using it nightly,” she says.

Can you use other skin products with retinol serums?

Generally, it’s best to incorporate retinol serums in your nighttime routine, as this product is not stable with UV exposure (which impacts its efficacy), and it can increase skin sensitivity to UV rays. In the morning after you use your retinol, be sure to apply sunscreen to protect your skin.

The order in which you layer your skincare matters, too. “It’s recommended to apply retinoids to clean skin or after any thin serums are allowed to dry. Applying after a moisturizer can dilute the efficacy of the retinoid,” Dr. Prather says. There are also certain ingredients that you might not want to use in the same application as your retinol serum. “Because retinoids can be difficult to stabilize, they may be less active when layered with products with a low pH, such as glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide,” Dr. Prather notes.

Take Our Word for It

This article was written by Stacey Nguyen, a Real Simple contributing writer who has several years of experience writing lifestyle content. To find the best retinol serums, she researched a wide variety of retinol formulas on the market, taking into account factors such as ingredients, retinol concentration, and cost. For expert insight into how to choose a retinol serum, she consulted Heidi B. Prather, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist who practices at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, TX.

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Our Editors Share Their Picks for the Best Retinol Serums

Final Verdict