Everything You Need to Know About Retinol and the 14 Best Serums to Try Now
Despite being a beauty editor, I've been afraid of retinol for the longest time. In fact, I've written previously about how I totally avoided it for years after a particularly adverse reaction to a dermatologist-prescribed retinol and only came around when I discovered a certain £20 retinol product that transformed my skin. I'll be honest, though: When it comes to trending ingredients, retinol has to be up there with one of the most confusing in the industry. Advice varies greatly on when you should start using it, how often you should be using it and where it should sit within your current skincare routine.
But that's about to change. Ahead, I've got the lowdown on exactly what retinol is, why it's the ingredient that I'm recommended most by experts, and most importantly, the best retinol serums to try now.
Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about retinol and to find a serum that will work for you.
What even is retinol?
A derivative of vitamin A, retinol is a gentler version of tretinoin—the kind of retinol that you might be prescribed by a dermatologist (and that my skin hated). It's a bit of a does-it-all ingredient, but one of its main benefits is that it acts as a natural exfoliator for your skin, which means it removes dead skin cells from the top layer to reveal the fresh, glowy skin beneath.
But there's more. Retinol does pretty much everything from minimise fine lines and pores to encourage cell renewal and diminish breakout-causing bacteria. It's no surprise then that retinol is one of the most-recommended skincare ingredients and alongside SPF has proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent signs of ageing.
When should you start using retinol?
Most facialists and skin experts that I have spoken to recommend that everyone aged 30 and over start using retinol immediately. But if you have specific skincare concerns like congestion, scarring or regular breakouts, then it won't do you any harm to start using a retinol serum earlier.
If you do have oily/combination skin, then a retinol serum is ideal, as it's lightweight in texture and won't weigh your skin down. Of course, though, if you do prefer richer formulations, then you can look for a retinol cream or moisturiser instead. (You'll get the same results—it's just down to personal preference.)
Oh, and it's important to note here that if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, then you should totally avoid retinol.
Where does retinol fit in your routine?
Retinol serums should always be used at night and applied to clean skin. Our skin works to rejuvenate itself overnight, so adding in a skin-repairing ingredient like retinol here makes sense.
While a lot of retinol serums are coined for daily use, most skin experts recommend that you start introducing the ingredient slowly. Start with once or twice a week for a couple of weeks, and then build it up slowly as your skin adjusts. Keep an eye on your skin—a little dryness or irritation is normal, but decrease the frequency of your application if you notice anything more than this.
You can go straight to bed after you've applied your retinol serum, but if your skin does feel a little tight, then apply a gentle moisturiser afterwards. In fact, if you have sensitive skin, then it's often recommended that you apply a moisturiser first and your retinol serum on top.
The next morning, be sure to apply an SPF, as your skin will be more sensitive to the sun.
Keep scrolling to shop the 16 best retinol serums around.
Shop Our Favourite Retinol Serums:
1. The Best Glow-Boosting Retinol Serum: Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform
2. The Best Luxury Retinol Serum: 111Skin Black Diamond Serum
3. The Best Retinol Serum for Beginners: The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane
4. Best Affordable Retinol Serum: The Inkey List Retinol Serum
5. Best Nighttime Retinol Serum: Dr. Sam's Flawless Nightly Serum
6. The Best Hydrating Retinol Serum: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
7. The Best Retinol Serum for Your Eyes: Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3
1. The Best Glow-Boosting Retinol Serum: Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform
The brainchild of celebrity facialist Shani Darden, this gentle retinol serum is ideal for those who want to inject a dull complexion with some radiance. Containing lactic acid as well as retinol, it reveals a visibly more luminous glow. Plus, celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Kim Kardashian swear by the stuff.
Customer review: "Love applying this one overnight, waking up to even toned glowing skin every time. Good quality packaging, texture and dispenser too."
2. The Best Luxury Retinol Serum: 111Skin Black Diamond Serum
Another celebrity-favourite skincare brand, this retinol-infused serum works by promoting the production of collagen within the skin to boost elasticity, firm the skin and target fine lines and wrinkles. A great option if you specifically want to focus on signs of ageing.
Customer review: "This is the best product ! and yes probably the most expensive which would not mean anything in itself. My skin immediately feels soft and looks . as young as it can at my age, over 60. I am so glad I found this product and I imagine its great for any age, softening lines, scars, pores, etc."
3. The Best Retinol Serum for Beginners: The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane
I'd describe this as the perfect retinol starter serum. It contains just 0.2% pure retinol, so if you're in your 20s and only just thinking about retinol, then this will begin to target fine lines and even skin tone without causing any sensitivity or irritation.
Customer review: "Just started using retinol on my skin and this one is perfect. Might work my way up for for now this is the ideal amount: doesn’t irritate my skin and I can see results!"
4. The Best Retinol Serum for Celebrity Skin: Augustinus Bader the Retinol Serum
A go-to brand for the likes of Victoria Beckham, Hailey Bieber and Priyanka Chopra to name a few. Who What Wear UK beauty editor Eleanor Vousden tested this very retinol over a six week period and noticed that her complexion had become more even-toned, her pigmentation from hormonal acne breakouts quickly lessened, and her skin had tons more radiance. Sold.
Customer review: "The only reason I won’t give this serum 5 stars, is the price. Overall, the serum was a delight to use and my skin did look great when using it. The consistency of the serum is more liquid than my usual retinol. This meant only a pea sized amount was needed for my face and neck. And the serum glided over my skin nicely. But using this serum repeatedly and long term unfortunately is not in my budget."
5. The Best Retinol Serum for Sun-Damaged Skin: Paula's Choice Intensive Wrinkle Repair Retinol Serum
I'm a huge fan of Paula's Choice as a brand for its effective, hardworking formulations. This treatment is particularly good if you've been partial to a little sun worship in the past. It fades dark spots and repairs wrinkles caused by sun damage while building collagen within the skin for a plumper, more radiant complexion long-term.
Customer review: "I really like this, I have very sensitive skin but wanted a retinol and this is super gentle and moisturising. I'm not sure if it's due to the retinol or the hydration but either way I feel fine lines look improved."
6. Best Affordable Retinol Serum: The Inkey List Retinol Serum
To minimise irritation and redness, opt for a slow-release retinol like this one from The Inkey List. It tackles blemishes and evens skin tone over time to leave you with brighter, smoother skin.
Customer review: "I’ve got my whole family on this because it’s that good! Made my skin improve so much. I had a lot of tinny bumps on my skin which I couldn’t get rid of but after 2 weeks on this and they all gone. So glad I started using it."
7. Best Nighttime Retinol Serum: Dr. Sam's Flawless Nightly Serum
Specially formulated with Oskia's own Super-Nutrient Retinoid Complex (a mix of retinol, vitamin C and provitamin D3), this is a gentle nighttime serum that will help you wake to plumper, healthier-looking skin come morning.
Customer review: "I have been using this product for about 3 years now and it has completely transformed my skin. I have less, if any, blemishes now and my skin texture has greatly improved."
8. The Best Hydrating Retinol Serum: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum
Containing Swertia flower extract and hyaluronic acid, this line-reducing, skin-strengthening retinol serum also delivers a hearty dose of hydration. It uses three different ingredients—fast-acting retinoid, time-released retinol and a retinol booster—so you can trust that it's going to get to work quickly.
Customer review: "I absolutely love this serum! Now that I've started using this, despite the price, I will continue to repurchase. It has made such a difference to my skin - my complexion looks brighter and healthier and both any fine lines or enlarged pores are minimised. Honestly, can't sing it's praises enough, I really reccommend!!"
9. The Best Non-Irritating Retinol Serum: First Aid Beauty Skin Lab Retinol Serum
The name says it all with this retinol serum. It's created for beginners with a 0.25% concentration of pure retinol alongside the brand's skin saver complex. I like that it's able to deliver all of those retinol benefits without causing sensitivity.
Customer review: "I love this product, it’s a great beginners retinol. Based off my experience with it, I didn’t peel, I didn’t purge a ton. I just got a few small pimples but they went away fairly quickly. I noticed that my skin was brighter just a week after using this product. I’m only about 6 weeks in, my skin has cleared up tremendously, it looks brighter and more plump."
10. The Best Plumping Retinol Serum: Pixi Botanical Collagen Retinol Serum
This silky serum sinks quickly into the skin and has the added benefit of skin-plumping collagen so your skin will look healthier, glowier and improve elasticity.
Customer review: "I tried a sample of this and I swear I saw a difference straight away. My 11's looked much improved after 3 uses. Very happy with it."
11. The Best Retinol Serum for Instant Results: Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum
This retinol serum means business and probably isn't one for beginners. After the first use, be prepared to wake up to visibly brighter, smoother and more youthful-looking skin. There are very few retinols out there that can compete with this one in terms of results.
Customer review: "I finished a bottle of this recently and I really enjoyed using it. Texture is lovely, thicker than a traditional serum but still lightweight and sinks in. Made a big difference to my hormonal breakouts, they were both less frequent and less likely to leave marks on my skin. As much as i like it, I struggle to justify the price though as there are definitely cheaper, equally effective options."
12. The Best Retinol Serum for Blemish-Prone Skin: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
If you are prone to breakouts, look no further than this high street hero. Packed full of ceramides and niacinamide, it is specifically formulated to reduce the appearance of post-acne marks by exfoliating and brightening the skin.
Customer review: "Been using this for a few weeks and noticed how much brighter my complexion is! I had a compliment saying my skin looked very glowy and healthy and I swear it is down to this product, haven’t seen much visible reduction to my acne scars or pigmentation but overall it is definitely changing my complexion for the better!"
13. The Best All-Rounder Retinol Serum: Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum
One of the best products I've had the pleasure of trying in the last few months. As someone who is blemish-prone, not only has it helped to really clear my skin, but it's also the brightest, smoothest, plumpest and generally happiest it's been for a long time. So much so, my husband has been continually feeding back how good it looks – for reference, he's someone who didn't bat an eyelid at my new curtain bangs. High praise indeed.
Customer review: "My first time using an actual decent stable retinol. It’s extremely gentle on my skin and it doesn’t break me out. I notice that if I use it after I’ve had a breakout it really helps speed up the healing process. I use it 2 to 3 times a week and it pairs really well with the vitamin c of this brand in the morning."
14. The Best Retinol Serum for Signs of Ageing: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3
If all of this retinol talk is leaving you confused but you still want in on the benefits, Medik8's Crystal Retinal range is for you. It's available in lots of different strengths. Start at 1 and work your way up through the different numbers. Trust me—you'll have minimal irritation and will reap some very impressive plumping, smoothing results.
Customer review: "Never written a review for a skincare product before but tbis has blown me away. I’ve always had pretty acne prone skin and this has completely cleared my skin up and it’s never looked better. I bought it for the purpose of reducing fine lines and have been using it for a few months now - I’m not sure if my wrinkles have reduced but it’s still the absolute holy grail for how clear and fresh my skin now looks - I literally never bother wearing make up anymore now I have this product - it’s incredible!"
15. The Best Retinol Serum for Scarring & Hyperpigmentation: Skin + Me Daily Doser
Scarring and hyperpigmentation are some of the most stubborn skincare concerns out there, and while wearing SPF daily (to prevent UV from causing further inflammation) and using ingredients like vitamin C (to brighten skin) will help, nothing quite beats a high strength retinoid. Powered by tretinoin (an retinoid typically only available on prescription), this serum works hard and fast to transform skin tone and texture.
Customer review: "I tried multiple retinol serums over the years, none of which helped to clear my stubborn acne and the red marks that every spot leaves behind. After three months of using this my skin was transformed. I now rarely break out at all, and my hyperpigmentation and scarring are gradually but noticeably fading."
16. The Best Retinol Serum for Your Eyes: Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3
The eye area is delicate and prone to sensitivity so your regular retinol serum may be too harsh to apply here. But of course, if you want to address fine lines, wrinkles, and discolouration in the eye area, retinol really is your best friend. Combining retinol with ceramides (to moisturise skin and stregthen the skin barrier), this serum was specifically formulated with the eye area in mind.
Customer review: "I bought this product as I started to notice some fine lines under my eyes. I have terribly sensitive skin so I decided to start with strength number 3. Using 2-3 times per week I have found that this has improved my eye area greatly. I haven’t found that this has reacted with my skin or make it dry. Would purchase again!"
- Grace DayFreelance Beauty Editor
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