Retinol is touted as one of the best skin care ingredients for tackling dullness, acne, fine lines, dark spots, and signs of aging. This vitamin A derivative is popping up in moisturizers, eye creams, and even body lotions—but if you’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there, finding the best retinol serum is a great place to start.
A serum is an easy way to add retinol into your routine because you can layer it with products you already know play well with your skin, like your daily moisturizer. Plus, many serums are labeled with their exact retinol concentration, so you can find a lower strength product and work your way up as your skin adjusts (a pro tip from the dermatologists we chatted with for this story).
To build this list, we snagged some recommendations from derms and tested a ton of serums for ourselves. Now, we’re glowing—and ready to share our favorites.
Our top picks
- Best Overall: Paula’s Choice PRO Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment, $68
- Best for Mature Skin: SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5 (0.5%), $80
- Best for Oily Skin: La Roche Posay Retinol B3 Serum, $45
- Best for Dry Skin: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream, $76
- Best for Acne: Medik8 Crystal Retinal, $65
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum, $65
- Best Budget Pick: Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%, $32
- Best for Beginners: Wildfleur Pure Retinol 0.3% + Bakuchiol Renewing Serum, $26
In this article
Shop the best retinol serums
The results are in: These serums are a cut above the rest.
Best Overall: Paula’s Choice PRO Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment
Silky and soothing, this treatment has moisturizing jojoba seed oil and anti-inflammatory mushroom extracts that leave SELF food writer Caroline Tien’s skin feeling “soft, supple, and bouncy,” as she puts it. Plus, she says her skin looked brighter and glowier instantly after applying it—it’s one of the few serums on our list that gives an immediate result.
“Unlike other retinol serums I’ve tried in the past, this product was gentle on my skin and didn’t cause the retinol uglies (dry patches and flakiness, in my case),” Tien adds. “Retinols can famously be harsh, so one that helps minimize irritation while still delivering the same benefits is definitely bookmark-worthy.” Translation: It’s well worth the higher price tag (and the title of “best overall”).
Size: 1 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing castor seed oil, glycerin
Best for Mature Skin: SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5 (0.5%)
This treatment contains brightening antioxidants and soothing botanical extracts to “enhance skin renewal and reduce hyperpigmentation,” Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, tells SELF. That means it’s great at lightening dark spots—and, at a 0.5% concentration, it’s also a good intermediate serum for anyone who wants more “wrinkle-fighting power,” she adds.
Size: 1 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Niacinamide, squalane, ceramides, soothing bisabolol, glycerin
Best for Oily Skin: La Roche Posay Retinol B3 Serum
La Roche Posay is a drugstore brand that SELF staffers and derms love, and Tien says its retinol serum is “a solid option for people looking to maintain the look and feel of their skin or address specific issues like acne or dullness.”
Its thin, non-greasy texture absorbs easily into her skin and leaves her face feeling softer and more hydrated (shoutout to glycerin and hyaluronic acid)—which isn’t the case with every retinol product. Her only criticism: The dropper can be a little finicky and may clog up from time to time, although she adds that’s not a dealbreaker, given how well it works.
Size: 1 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Soothing and oil-reducing niacinamide, smoothing dimethicone
Best for Dry Skin: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
This creamy serum is packed with ingredients our experts recommend, like hydrating hyaluronic acid, plumping peptides, strengthening ceramides, and calming niacinamide, to name a few. These dry skin heroes can stop flakes and scaly patches before they become a problem.
While it’s on the pricier side, SELF’s associate art director, Amanda Bailey, says the formula is worth it. “I think it’s a little more potent than ones I’ve used in the past, and it feels more effective!” Plus, a little goes a long way: “I use about two pumps, and it covers my face and neck well,” she says.
Size: 0.33 and 1 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Moisturizing oils (passion fruit, jojoba, apricot, avocado), glycerin
Best for Acne: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1
Along with reducing wrinkles and fine lines, this serum lightens dark spots left over from acne and tackles current pimples that can wreak havoc on your skin. Its key ingredient is retinaldehyde (or retinal), a form of vitamin A that’s known to be less irritating than retinol.
Having acne inherently means that your skin barrier is compromised, so we like that the formula is designed with sensitive skin in mind. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin keep skin hydrated, while antioxidants like vitamin E protect against environmental damage.
Still worried about irritation? This serum comes in different levels—you can start with Retinal 1 (it’s less intense), give your skin time to adjust, then move on to Retinal 3 and other, stronger concentrations.
Size: 1 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Squalane, 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid (vitamin C derivative)
Best for Sensitive Skin: Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum
One bottle of this serum lasts senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin almost an entire year, and the results don’t quit. “I’m on my second bottle, and I’m not planning on switching things up any time soon,” she says. “It really works! It has helped lighten my dark spots and fade my acne scars.”
Even though it’s tough on hyperpigmentation, the formula takes care of your moisture barrier with protective ceramides and peptides and manages to be gentle on Felbin’s “seriously sensitive skin.” She’s also a fan of the texture: “I like that it’s not sticky, sinks in in seconds, and layers well with all of my other nighttime skin care,” she says.
While it’s not the cheapest option on this list, it’s a solid value. “There are hundreds of pumps in each bottle,” Felbin says. “And since I only use one a day, I’m paying less than a penny for each one. It’s a total girl math bargain!”
Size: 1 and 1.7 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide
Best Budget Pick: Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%
This budget-friendly serum has a lower concentration of retinaldehyde that plays nicely with our tester’s dry, sensitive, and redness-prone skin. “It absorbs quickly, dispenses easily, and is so gentle that I can use it on a nightly basis,” SELF’s senior commerce writer, Sara Coughlin, says.
Although the 0.1% formula is on the weaker side, it still delivers results: “My skin feels smoother, looks more even, and the fine lines I already have don’t look any deeper or more pronounced since I started using it,” Coughlin adds. Other key ingredients like glycerin attract and pull water into the skin to keep it hydrated (as opposed to flaky or scaly).
Size: 1.7 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Peptides
Best for Beginners: Wildfleur Pure Retinol 0.3% + Bakuchiol Renewing Serum
If you’re new to retinol but don’t have sensitive skin (as in, you don’t notice redness, tenderness, burning, or itching after applying new skin care), we think you should start here. “It’s the most gentle retinol I’ve tried, with both pure retinol and bakuchiol (a favorite retinol alternative) on the ingredient list,” SELF’s editor in chief, Jessica Cruel, says.
To thwart dryness, Cruel layers this between her hyaluronic acid serum and a nighttime moisturizer. “The consistency is thicker than most serums, but it leaves a matte finish,” she says. “After two weeks of use—including a bit of a purging breakout—a makeup artist was raving about my flawless skin texture.” Sold.
Size: 1 fl oz | Other notable ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, panthenol, hyaluronic acid, squalane, aloe
Frequently asked questions
What’s the most effective form of retinol?
Retinol can be irritating (especially if you have sensitive skin), so it’s important to find a serum that works, but isn’t too strong for your face. If you’re new to retinol, a concentration of 0.25% to 0.3% is low enough that your skin should tolerate it well, Dr. Gohara says. Once your skin adjusts to that, she recommends upgrading to a 0.5% concentration “for stronger anti-aging and acne benefits.” From there, you can advance to 1%—past that, Dr. Gohara recommends following a dermatologist’s guidance.
Which ingredients should you look for in a retinol serum?
Because retinol is an exfoliant, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the other ingredients it’s paired with—look for ones that are calming and hydrating. Some options that Dr. Gohara suggests:
- Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating superhero.
- Squalane mimics skin’s natural oils and provides moisture.
- Ceramides are lipids that exist naturally in the skin and help lock in moisture.
- Peptides support collagen production, and more collagen equals plump skin.
- Niacinamide has a ton of benefits—but in this case, we’re focused on its ability to calm inflammation.
Dr. Gohara recommends skipping retinol serums that contain:
- Additional exfoliants like AHAs (glycolic acid, for one) or BHAs (think: salicylic acid), since too much exfoliation can irritate your skin.
- Vitamin C, which is best used in the morning to prevent sun damage (while retinol should be applied at night because it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun).
- Fragrance and essential oils because they can also be irritating, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Retinol does its best work at night because your skin is “in regeneration mode while you sleep,” Dr. Gohara says. Plus, sunlight can mess with retinol and make it less effective, she explains.
After washing your face, Dr. Gohara recommends applying a hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate your skin and act as a buffer against dryness. Then, gently apply a pea-sized amount of a retinol serum to your forehead, cheeks, and chin. Once it dries, layer your nighttime moisturizer on top to support your skin barrier.
Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to retinol: Start by using it just once a week, then work your way up to applying it every day, Dr. Gohara suggests. Even if your skin is a little irritated at first—or with each increase in frequency—it’ll eventually adjust, Mina Amin, MD, FAAD, a cosmetic and medical dermatologist at California Dermatology Specialists in Los Angeles, tells SELF.
How we tested retinol serums
I asked SELF staffers to share the retinol serums they’ve used for years. On top of those tried-and-trues, the team took home several popular retinol serums and added them to their nightly skin care routines. After a few weeks, they gave me their unfiltered thoughts on how well the serums improved their skin tone and texture.
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