The 10 Best Retinol Serums And Creams, Recommended By Dermatologists

When it comes to addressing uneven skin texture and tone, laxity and general glow – and creating beautiful skin – retinol is the gold standard. In fact, the best retinol serums and creams can be a total game-changer for your routine. Since retinoids can cause irritation, dryness and flakiness, it pays to find the correct one for you and your skin type – which is where we come in. What is retinol and what does it do to your skin? What do I need to know about the different types of retinol? What is the best retinol overall? And how should I best apply? We are here to help.

Once you’ve found the best retinol serum or cream for your skin type and begin to use it regularly, you’ll soon notice its benefits for skin quality and texture, in ways that few other ingredients can. From increasing cell turnover to stimulating collagen production, when you find the right one for you, there’s a whole world of healthy skin improvements that will appear. If you’re new to this scientifically proven active ingredient, may we suggest you read our guide to the best retinol for beginners?

“When it comes to over-the-counter retinol serums, percentages of 0.01 per cent or greater have been shown to be effective – you don’t need to jump in at the deep end because you will regret it,” explains Dija Ayodele, skin health specialist and founder of the Black Skin Directory. “Start slow and build up use. A one per cent strength is best used by those whose skin has become accustomed to the ingredient.”

To help you find the best retinol creams and serums for clearer skin (and the rest), we put our heads together to decide which ones we love the most. We tested them for consistency, comfort and above all, their power to deliver results. It took a while, but here’s our shortlist.

• Best retinol cream: Elizabeth Arden Retinol + HPR Cream, £75
• Best affordable retinol cream: Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturiser With Retinol & Vitamin B3, £35
• Best retinol serum: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1 Serum, £45
• Best affordable retinol serum: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid, £11
• Best retinol mask: 111Skin Wrinkle Erasing Retinol Patches, £55
• Best retinol neck cream: Rodial Bee Venom Body Serum, £75
• Best retinol oil: Noble Panacea The Absolute Nourishing Lift Oil, £325
• Best retinol for travelling: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, £23
• Best retinol lip treatment: BareMinerals Ageless Phytoretinol Lip Treatment, £25

• Key ingredients: 2 per cent retinol, HPR, peptides, bisabolol, phytoceramides, hyaluronic acid
• Why we love it: Elizabeth Arden’s Retinol + HPR Cream is one of our favourites – so much so that we gave it a prestigious Vogue beauty award. Pairing next-generation retinoid HPR with pure retinol, you’ll notice excellent results without the irritation.

Best affordable retinol cream: Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturiser With Retinol & Vitamin B3

• Key ingredients: retinoid, vitamin B3
• Why we love it: This moisturiser had a huge waiting list when it first launched, and there’s a reason for that. Marrying vitamin B3 with retinoids, it hydrates, smooths and soothes while encouraging collagen production. It’s not the cheapest in the affordable bracket, but for the results it delivers, it’s more than worth the money.

Best retinol serum: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 1 Serum

• Key ingredients: 0.01 per cent stabilised retinal, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin E
• Why we love it: Medik8 is a brand well known for its stellar retinoid formulas. Beginners should start with Crystal Retinal 1, which contains 0.01 per cent stabilised retinal, a retinoid (meaning it’s in the same family as retinol) which has been shown to work 11 times faster on the skin. This formula really works and the number rating system (there is a Crystal Retinal 2, 3 and 4, for example) makes the sometimes confusing task of increasing your retinal strength very easy.
• Vogue-approved review: “Though marketed as a serum, Medik8’s viral retinal feels much more like a lightweight cream. It’s deceptively cosseting – just one use stimulates results, and I was pleasantly surprised to see some dry patches had smoothed out overnight. It also works quickly without being aggressive on the skin barrier. Within a month of using it, I noticed my complexion was calmer and clearer with fewer breakouts. If, like me, you have sensitive skin, you will love this one – as will anyone just starting on their retinol journey.” — Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer

Read more: The Best Bakuchiol Products For Retinol Results Without The Irritation

Best affordable retinol serum: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid

• Key ingredients: 2 per cent granactive retinoid, squalane
• Why we love it: The Ordinary is renowned for bringing us premium ingredients at affordable prices, and this product is no exception. High potency, minimal irritation, low price – what’s not to love?

L’Oréal Paris Pure Retinol Revitalift Laser Night Serum

• Key ingredients: retinol, macro hyaluronic acid
• Why we love it: While on the pricier side of affordable, this powerhouse serum offers a lot of bang for your buck, so we had to include it. Formulated with a high concentration of pure retinol, it is one of the brand’s most potent blends, and targets fine lines and wrinkles, while added hyaluronic acid replenishes the skin with moisture. It’s particularly good for those who want to target the signs of ageing in the skin.

Best retinol mask: 111Skin Wrinkle Erasing Retinol Patches

• Key ingredients: retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C
• Why we love it: Designed to be worn overnight, these clever patches from 111Skin are lined with microdarts, which deliver a cocktail of renewing actives deeper than your average retinol serum can. Totally painless, each dart dissolves on impact to amp up skin regeneration while you sleep – and the patch design ensures every precious drop of serum is absorbed by the skin. Targeting crow’s feet, eleven and smile lines, they’re infused with retinol, peptides and moisture-magnet sodium hyaluronate to help smooth the appearance of lines in as little as one use. We are obsessed.
• Vogue-approved review: “My under-eyes looked plumper and felt noticeably taut in the morning after applying these patches at night. I’m keen to see what they’ll do for my dark circles and emerging lines with frequent use.” – Tracy Achonwa, beauty writer

Best retinol neck cream: Rodial Bee Venom Body Serum

• Key ingredients: bee venom melittin peptide, retinol, vitamin E
• Why we love it: A gel-like consistency means this serum feels hydrating and sinks into the skin quickly. It’s easy to apply, while working quickly to refresh and firm the neck and chest area, which often go neglected.
• Vogue-approved review: “There’s nothing quite like a glowing décolletage, and this peptide-infused formula sinks in quickly, boosting collagen production and promoting luminosity and a distinctive bounce in the skin over time.” – Hannah Coates, beauty & wellness editor

Read more: A Comprehensive Guide To The Best Vitamin C Serums

Best retinol lip treatment: BareMinerals Ageless Phytoretinol Lip Treatment

• Key ingredients: Bidens pilosa (Spanish needles) extract, hyaluronic acid, shea butter and cocoa butter
• Why we love it: Using a plant-derived retinol alternative to target lost volume and lined lips, this balm from Bare Minerals glides onto lips and gently resurfaces, softens and plumps the skin. Rich in plant butters, the conditioning, non-irritating formula is clinically shown to stimulate collagen production and restore lip definition over time.

Best retinol oil: Noble Panacea The Absolute Nourishing Lift Oil

• Key ingredients: retinol, squalane, sea fennel extract, OSMV encapsulated time-released hyaluronic acid
• Why we love it: Retinol is one of several skincare heroes in this high-performance oil, which features hazelnut seed extract and squalane (hailed for their skin-softening and plumping effects), sea fennel extract to repair the skin’s lipid barrier and encapsulated hyaluronic acid. Considering water and oil don’t normally mix, the latter ingredient is pretty groundbreaking – it’s a Noble Panacea-exclusive innovation that means this retinol simultaneously regenerates, hydrates and seals moisture within the skin. Smoothing wrinkles and giving your complexion a cushion-soft feel, each dose comes precisely measured in sustainable packaging to preserve the potency of the formula. It might be pricey, but if you’re looking for a retinol to transform the skin, this is one worth considering.

Read more: 14 Best Acne Treatment & Products For Spots

Best retinol for travelling: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

• Key ingredients: encapsulated retinol, liquorice root extract, niacinamide, ceramides
• Why we love it: CeraVe’s Resurfacing Retinol Serum is brilliant for those suffering with blemishes or acne, as well as enlarged pores and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. With encapsulated retinol, it’s gentler on the skin barrier, so won’t cause further irritation to the skin.