Everyone wants radiant and young-looking skin, and retinol is touted as one of the best ingredients to help achieve that. It accelerates the rate of cell turnover, softens fine lines and wrinkles, improves uneven texture, and minimizes age spots! (Harvard Health)
Any vitamin A serum would give your skin these benefits but given the variations in potency of pure retinol, you need one that works specifically for your skin type.
So what’s the best retinol serum for you? Read on to find out!
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What Is The Best Retinol Serum?
Here are my top recommendations:
- Editor’s Choice: La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum
- No.1 Bestseller: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Best for Fine Lines & Wrinkles: CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
- Best for Acne: Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%
- Best Retinol Ampoule: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Night Serum Capsule
- Best Budget Pick: Advanced Clinicals Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Serum
- Best Retinol Night Serum: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum
- Runner-Up: Peter Thomas Roth PM Night Serum
- Most Popular: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Most Potent: Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum
- Best Budget: RoC Skincare Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum
- Highest Rated: SkinMedica Retinol CompleESTx 0.5
- Best for Anti-Aging: Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
Featuring pure and time-released retinol, this bestselling serum from La Roche-Posay helps resurface and refine rough or aging skin for a smoother, clearer complexion.
In a company clinical study, 86% said their skin looked firmer while 88% reported a healthy glow.
As with all retinol products, make sure to use adequate sun protection as retinol increases sun sensitivity.
Smooth over bumps and post-acne marks with this drugstore retinol serum from CeraVe with encapsulated retinol and essential ceramides.
Niacinamide helps heal pimples and fade dark spots while licorice root extract brightens skin complexion.
Perfect for reducing fine lines, acne scars, and sun damaged skin.
Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1%, 0.5 oz.
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, 1.0 fl. oz.
Smooth over bumps and post-acne marks with this drugstore retinol serum from CeraVe with encapsulated retinol and essential ceramides.
Niacinamide helps heal pimples and fade dark spots while licorice root extract brightens skin complexion.
Perfect for reducing fine lines, acne scars, and sun damaged skin.
RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Night Serum Capsule, 30 Count
10K+ sold last month
Advanced Clinicals Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Serum, 1.75 fl. oz.
1K+ sold last month
L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Night Serum with Pure Retinol, 1.0 fl. oz.
5K+ sold last month
Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum, 30 Count
200+ sold last month
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum Capsules, 30 Count
700+ sold last month
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum, 1.0 fl. oz
Featuring pure and time-released retinol, this bestselling serum from La Roche-Posay helps resurface and refine rough or aging skin for a smoother, clearer complexion.
In a company clinical study, 86% said their skin looked firmer while 88% reported a healthy glow.
As with all retinol products, make sure to use adequate sun protection as retinol increases sun sensitivity.
Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum, 1.0 fl. oz.
400+ sold last month
DERMALOGY by NEOGENLAB Real Retinol Serum. 1.0 fl. oz.
IT Cosmetics Hello Results Wrinkle-Reducing Daily Retinol Serum-in-Cream, 0.5 fl. oz.
The formulation has also been allergy tested and is non-comedogenic, paraben-free, and oil-free. Hence, we have an effective retinol serum suitable even for sensitive skin!
Attesting to this are 2,300 reviews on Amazon with 80% 5-stars, a truly exceptional rating in the skincare space. Many users stated that the product helped in reducing the appearance of age spots, fine lines and wrinkles and some even mentioned how it cleared their pore congestion and acne.
But do note that it contains fragrance. If this is your first retinol serum, you’ll want to start using it every other day and then build up from there.
Our Verdict: A bit pricey at $40/oz, but all it takes is 3-4 drops of La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum in the evening and you can experience brighter, smoother, younger-looking skin! Just remember to use SPF sunscreen during the daytime.
Then there’s squalane for moisturizing and reducing redness plus bisabolol for its soothing and anti-aging properties. The entire ingredient mix makes this product great for mature skin types. It can even be used to improve dark circles!
The clincher is that it costs $65/oz. Still, it has over 1,000 reviews and 70% 5-stars on Amazon, so perhaps it’s worth the price.
Just make sure that you’re not buying a fake and remember to give your skin time to adjust. It absorbs quickly and is lightweight on the skin, so you can immediately follow up with a night cream.
Our Verdict: Gently exfoliate your skin with the Peter Thomas Roth PM Night Serum and its 1.5% encapsulated retinol, vitamin A, and vitamin C mix.
Over 24K+ reviews and 75% 5-stars prove how impressive it is as users share how it cleared up their acne while still addressing dark spots and wrinkles. Some even mentioned that it helped with stretch marks!
We have a multi-tasker on our hands, and it’s fragrance-free, paraben-free, and non-comedogenic. Of course, it also helps that this CeraVe product sells for less than $20/oz.
Our Verdict: Get rid of acne blemishes, wrinkles, and imperfections using the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum and its non-drying formula with added ceramides and hyaluronic acid. The % of retinol is not disclosed which implies that it's on the lower end, but this makes it great for particularly sensitive skin and beginners to retinol.
The product has 1,700 reviews and 75% 5-stars on Amazon and users with sensitive skin say that it made their skin soft and smooth with minimal irritation. At $55 for 30 capsules, it costs less than a comparative brand’s 1 oz. retinol serum and as a plus, the capsules are even biodegradable!
One capsule per use should suffice but you may need more if you’re also applying it to your neck.
Our Verdict: Leave your skin feeling and looking young with the Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum using retinol, ceramides, peptides, and emollient oils!
Pro Tip: Take your skincare routine to the next level and use the brand’s highly moisturizing 8 Hour Cream after applying the serum.
According to RoC, the antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C) and chelating agents (zinc gluconate and copper gluconate) help prevent retinol degradation. A company study further shows that after 8 weeks, 97% of users had an overall improvement in photodamage and 100% noticed visibly radiant, younger-looking skin.
However, it is worth noting that the % of retinol in this product is not disclosed.
With over 12,000 reviews and 70% 5-stars on Amazon, we can say that this serum has been tried and tested. Just don’t forget to apply a hydrating night cream afterward to avoid drying out your skin.
Our Verdict: The RoC Skincare Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Serum uses retinol, antioxidants, and chelating agents to provide maximum anti-aging effects at a minimal price. It’s an excellent budget option for beginners to retinol and fans of the RoC skincare line.
SkinMedica’s retinol serum comes in at over $70/oz but we can say that it’s well worth it. All the negative reviews on Amazon were written 4-5 years ago and are directed towards knock-offs. To avoid this, we suggest that you check the seller before buying - look for sold by Amazon or Skinmedica.
Meanwhile, those who left positive reviews speak of how it made a noticeable difference on their mature skin.
Our Verdict: Get the highest rated retinol serum with SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5 and its hydrating, anti-aging formulation! If you’re looking for another top-reviewed product to consider, check out Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum.
A company study showed that after two weeks, 93% of users noticed a reduction in lines and wrinkles, 98% saw smoother skin, and 85% saw more radiant skin. 500 reviews and 77% 5-stars on Amazon also reflect that this retinol serum is great for all skin types and can be used for both preventative and corrective purposes.
You may have to work your way up to nightly use, but a user has found it so gentle that she even uses it during the day. Just make sure not to overdo it and to use the serum under moisturizer and sunscreen.
Our Verdict: At $90/oz, the Murad Resurgence Retinol Youth Renewal Serum is the most expensive among all retinol products on this list, but it’s worth including in your skin care regimen. Its formulation of Retinol Tri-Active Technology and hydrating ingredients leads to firmer, smoother, and brighter skin with minimal irritation!