How Retinol Can Improve Your Skin and Which Ones You Should Use, According to Dermatologists

Mar. 15, 2025

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Expert PanelWhat is Retinol?Our Expert-Recommended PicksGood Retinol PairingsWhy Trust PEOPLE?

In This ArticleView All

View All

In This Article

Our Expert Panel

What is Retinol?

Our Expert-Recommended Picks

Good Retinol Pairings

Why Trust PEOPLE?

Photo:People; Amazon (2); Macy’s (1); Sephora (1)

People; Amazon (2); Macy’s (1); Sephora (1)

The most effective skincare routine may include just three products: cleanser, moisturizer, and retinol.

Why Retinol?“Retinol is going to be a great option for somebody who’s looking totarget fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, even tone, tightening… kind of all of the above.”—Dr. Marisa Garshick, board-certified dermatologist

Why Retinol?

“Retinol is going to be a great option for somebody who’s looking totarget fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, even tone, tightening… kind of all of the above.”—Dr. Marisa Garshick, board-certified dermatologist

To find out which retinol products are the best, we asked five different dermatologists, with countless degrees and awards between them, what over-the-counter retinol they’d personally recommend.

Retinol can commonly be found in over-the-counter skincare products (no prescription necessary), while prescription retinoids like Tretinoin contain retinoic acid, a more active retinoid with a higher potential to irritate the skin, especially for new users. Retinal (also known as retinaldehyde) falls in between retinol and retinoic acid in terms of irritation potential. All three retinoids “are all ultimately giving you the same benefit,” Dr. Garshick says.

Read on for the retinol products our dermatologist panel recommends the most.

Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream

Amazon

Buy on Amazon

“When [retinol] is found in a cream, for example, in the Retinol Regenerating Cream, it’s going to be in a formula that’s better for those just-starting, first-time retinol users and for those with dry or sensitive skin. That cream formulation is going to leave the skin nice and nourished.”—Dr. Marisa Garshick

Kate Somerville Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer

Ulta

Borghese Energia Retinol Renewal Night Oil

Macy’s

Buy on Macy’s

Granactive retinoids can improve skin texture and reduce signs of premature aging. They absorb quickly, penetrate deep into the skin, and aren’t oily.

“I prefer Borghese’s Energia Retinol Renewal Night Oil, which contains Granactive retinoids as well as Sea Buckthorn Pulp Oil (rich in Vitamin C & E, which helps improve suppleness and reduce the visible appearance of fine lines and wrinkles) and Grape Pomace (helps improve elasticity and firmness) making this our star skin energizer.”—Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum

“[This serum] is powerful but also gentle enough on the skin for virtually everyone. It uses an encapsulated retinol as well as a fermented retinal. Encapsulating the retinol makes it more chemically stable and provides a gradual release of the retinol overnight, leading to less irritation. Fermenting the retinal also increases its stability, assuring that it is active when applied to the skin.”

Kate Somerville Retinol Firming Eye Cream

Buy on Nordstrom

“I love the Kate Somerville Retinol Firming Eye cream. It targets the undereye area, which is very prone to aging crepey skin. The consistent use of a gentle retinol like this one helps to stimulate collagen and prevent the telltale signs of aging.”—Dr. Haleh Bakshandeh

RoC Retinol Correxion Max Daily Hydration Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer

Deal Alert!Right now, you can snag the RoC Retinol Correxion moisturizer for more than 25 percent off at Amazon (and get additional savings on top of that when you click Subscribe and Save)!

Deal Alert!

Right now, you can snag the RoC Retinol Correxion moisturizer for more than 25 percent off at Amazon (and get additional savings on top of that when you click Subscribe and Save)!

Dr. Loretta Concentrated Firming Serum

Dr Loretta

Buy on Dermstore

Good news for folks with sensitive skin: The Firming Serum from Dr. Loretta was clinically proven to work for testers who couldn’t tolerate other retinols. This retinol serum also includes ingredients meant to repair and heal the skin barrier.

“I developed this product to address the redness, peeling and dryness (what we derms call retinoid dermatitis) that so many of my dermatology patients got from other retinol products. This product is a full 0.5 percent retinol with high levels of bioidentical skin lipids to replenish the moisture-trapping healthy skin oils that get depleted with retinol use.”—Dr. Loretta Ciraldo

Alastin Skin Care Retinol 0.25%

Neutrogena Retinol Pro

Serums tend to be more lightweight products, which is great for those who have oilier skin. While the Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream is great for those with dry skin or who are new to using retinol, Dr. Garshick recommends this more concentrated serum for those looking for a stronger retinol option.

Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream

Skinbetter

Buy on Skinbetter.com

The Skinbetter Science Overnight Cream uses a proprietary ingredient called AlphaRet, a retinoid that also includes alpha hydroxy acid (also known as AHA) for extra smoothing results. The formula also includes soothing ceramides, hydrating glycolic acid, and a blend of antioxidants.

Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment

Dermstore

CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser

When it comes to choosing a face cleanser, “stronger” doesn’t always mean better — in fact, a face wash that’s gentle on the skin is often best, especially for people with sensitive skin. “You really want it to be something that [effectively removes] the things you don’t want but [keeps] the things that you do want,” Dr. Garshick says.

Our favorite gentle-yet-effective cleanser (and the winner ofBest Overall in our face wash test) is the CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser, which leaves skin feeling clean without over-drying.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer

One of the common side effects of using retinol, especially for those just starting out, is dry and flakey skin. To combat parched, irritated skin, a deeply hydrating moisturizer is an important addition to your routine.

One of thebest moisturizers we’ve tested for dry skinis the Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer from La Roche-Posay. It feels airy and lightweight on the skin, and because it’s fragrance-free and allergy-tested, it’s great for sensitive or irritated skin.

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen

Agood sunscreenisalwaysan important final step in a good skincare routine, but it becomes even more important when using a retinol, which makes your skin “more sensitive to the sun,” says Dr. Garshick. “What happens when you use a retinol is it regulates skin cell turnover. So you’re always getting a fresh new set of skin cells, and those skin cells may be more sensitive to the sun,” she explains.

To protect those fresh new skin cells, a good sunscreen is key — luckily, we’re experts in sun protection, too. Out of the countlessface sunscreens we’ve testedin our labs and at home, the Supergoop won the prestigious title of Best Overall thanks to its primer-like finish and lack of white cast.

SourcesPEOPLE uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Aug;36(4):392-397. doi: 10.5114/ada.2019.87443. Epub 2019 Aug 30. PMID: 31616211; PMCID: PMC6791161.

Sources

PEOPLE uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Aug;36(4):392-397. doi: 10.5114/ada.2019.87443. Epub 2019 Aug 30. PMID: 31616211; PMCID: PMC6791161.

PEOPLE uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Zasada M, Budzisz E.Retinoids: active molecules influencing skin structure formation in cosmetic and dermatological treatments. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2019 Aug;36(4):392-397. doi: 10.5114/ada.2019.87443. Epub 2019 Aug 30. PMID: 31616211; PMCID: PMC6791161.

source: people.com