Unveiling the 10 Best Retinol Creams

Retinol is arguably the most transformative yet least understood skincare ingredient. You’d be hard-pressed to come across another dermatological powerhouse as omnipresent as retinol considering that endless skincare lines including gels, oils, and serums employ it in their formulation. Nonetheless, the proliferation and unsurpassed popularity of retinol creams only mean that it becomes exceedingly difficult to work out which exact retinol face cream is correctly tailored for your skin type. Luckily for you, however, we have done the hard work on your behalf and compiled 10 best retinol creams that are present in the market.

What is Retinol?

Even before delving further into the best anti-aging retinol cream that money can get you at the moment, it’s imperative to understand what exactly this derivative of vitamin A entails. Retinol is famously considered by dermatologists and skincare experts to be the trailblazer of active and effective skincare. If anything, there is no shortage of studies that have proven its ability to solve a number of skin concerns starting from acne to anti-aging and even pigmentation.

It’s a form of vitamin A. Some dermatologists love to refer to it as the skin’s vitamin A1. It can be available as a gel, cream, emollient, lotion or liquid serum. In this writeup, the term ‘retinol’ will be used to refer to a class of cosmetic inputs that are derived from vitamin A.

Retinol, unlike most other skincare ingredients, is uniquely capable of penetrating the exterior-most layer of the skin known as the stratum corneum. Studies show that it is also capable of penetrating the dermis layer slightly after being converted into retinoic acid by the body.

How does retinol work?

To put it simply, this derivative of vitamin A works by speeding up the rate of cell turnover in your skin. In other words, it continually encourages the production of fresh and new skin cells to replace the dead and worn-out ones. From a cellular standpoint, this implies that new and undamaged cells will start rising to the surface at a faster rate than they normally would, and this harbors a number of cosmetic upsides such as;

• An increased collagen and elastin production hence fewer visible fine lines/wrinkles. There is also evidence that the best retinol night cream can also prevent the progressive breakdown of collagen.
• Reduced cellular ageing.
• Reduced pore congestion.
• Regulated production of sebum – not too much or too little.
• Thickening and strengthening of the epidermis which may protect your skin against a myriad of external stressors e.g sun damage or pollution.
• Minimizing the appearance of pores and scars by making them significantly less visible with time.

Vitamin A, being an essential vitamin, cannot be synthesized naturally by the body. It has to be supplied directly through dietary means or infused topically via retinol cream for face or serums.

What Exactly Does Retinol Do?

The increased rate of cellular regeneration that retinol stimulates has a number of significant far-reaching benefits that can be used to address a variety of cosmetic concerns. There are actually a number of studies that have linked retinol night creams, for instance, with esthetic upsides such as reduced skin roughness, less wrinkling from photoaging and less visible hyperpigmentation.

Other than this, retinol has also demonstrated remarkable promise in correcting hyperpigmentation, treating various types of acne and reducing the severity of recurring breakouts. Improvement of skin texture by lessening the conspicuousness of pigmentation and scarring has been observed too.

To delve a little deeper, here is a quick premise to some of the numerous uses that can come in handy in benefiting your skin’s health.

Treating Acne

Acne is the result of the accumulation of sebum (oil produced naturally by your skin’s glands) and dead skin cells to a point where it blocks the hair follicles. Acne-causing bacteria, which thrive on the skin’s surface, can invade these clogged pores and trigger inflammation. If not attended to in good time, this could then precipitate into;

• Whiteheads
• Blackheads
• Cysts
• Pimples

Topically applied retinoids such as the best night creams with retinol can reduce the occurrence of retinol by slowing down abnormal skin peeling that later blocks pores. And when the emollient is combined with the best moisturizer to use with retinol cream, it has a way of unclogging these pores.

What’s more, retinol is also capable of reducing inflammation by inhibiting the molecules that later go on to cause inflammation.

Anti-aging Benefits

Aging of the skin can be a result of biological factors as well as external factors such as pollution, smoking, UV light exposure among others. This can sometimes result in a notable loss of skin elasticity in the skin’s underlying dermis layer as well as cause the shriveling up of the epidermis. The end result will later cause

• Sagging
• Fine lines
• Wrinkles

Having said that, sun damage is conventionally signified by dark spots on the skin (if you have fair skin) also commonly known as age spots. Retinol face creams can protect against this by stimulating cell turnover and triggering the production of collagen in the fibrous epidermis. What’s more, this vitamin A derivative also proves to be extraordinarily handy in reducing the amount of moisture that the skin naturally loses to the surrounding environment. If not for anything else, this can result in the skin looking well-moisturized, plumper and slow down the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Speaking of anti-aging, retinol is also thought to thicken the epidermis, especially when applied on mature skin at the risk of age-related weakening by strengthening the fibrous base that supports it.

A Look at the Vastness of the Retinoid Family

Not all retinoids are created equal – this continues to add to the confusion surrounding this derivative of vitamin A. The retinoid family has become so vast that it is now used as an umbrella term to refer to an entire host of retinol’s natural and artificial derivatives such as retinyl esters, retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde and the likes.

Any retinoid, whether naturally or artificially derived, has to be converted into retinaldehyde then later retinoic acid before it can stimulate the regeneration of skin cells or trigger the production of collagen. Pure retinoic acid is not easy to land and can mostly only be found readily available in prescription products such as the famous Treclin cream or  Accutane (an oral drug). Intrinsically speaking, the retinoids found in any other non-prescription product have to be converted severally before finally transforming into usable retinoic acid. In a way, this underlines the importance of consistency of use and patience when you land the best retinol cream.

Having said that, the best otc retinol creams are used to promote cell renewal, boost collagen and banish hyperpigmentation. If anything, when employed consistently and in the right manner, a retinol cream can improve one’s skin tone, texture while still minimizing fine lines thereby leading to brighter, smoother and firmer skin in the long run. Here’s the thing, face cream with retinol remains by far one of the most powerful tools for keeping your skin healthy. It plays a critical role in maintaining a youthful appearance by simply aiding regular and consistent cell regeneration. Apparently, scientists have figured out that vitamin A and its related retinoid forms stimulate the renewal of skin cells by improving the cell division rate thus improving the growth of new cells. If not for anything else, this keeps the skin smooth and soft.

What is the Best Percentage of Retinol

Now that we have shed some crucial light on the dermatological role played by the best night creams with retinol, one cannot help but wonder what exact percentage of retinol strikes the sweet spot between potency and effectiveness without side effects.

The truth is that retinoids come in a variety of strengths, ranging from extremely low 0.1 percentages to stratospherically high 2% or 3%.  If you are a beginner, it is vital to start slow and work your upwards considering that most people are sensitive to this derivative of vitamin A. Hence, the lower the percentage when starting out, the lower the risk of peeling and dryness in the long run.

Brushing that aside, for retinol to actually have any beneficial element to your skin, you need at the very least a percentage of 0.1%. There’s a certain elusive sweet spot between here and 0.7% where the benefits are almost palpable while being accompanied by very little irritation. The reason behind this is that, unlike other skincare ingredients, retinol works a little differently. Unlike other skincare powerhouses that tend to infuse their active element into the skin, retinol works by speeding up the rate at which the skin regenerates itself thereby making it more probable for irritation to occur.

What are the Retinol Side-effects?

Just like anything else in life, the usage of retinol anti-aging creams is not at all trouble-free or completely seamless. Striking a balance between having a punchy retinol-based product whose risks of side-effects generally outweigh the upsides and a brand that uses very mild ingredients with no real dermatological benefits is not easy. In fact, very few skin care manufacturers have mastered this art and science.

Some of the major side effects of retinol revolve around symptoms such as flaking skin, moderate irritation and having a dry countenance. Fortunately, they have increasingly become less prevalent as skincare innovation progresses to point that now the best retinol creams that you can find on the supermarket shelves employ advanced formulations coupled with slow-release encapsulation ingredient delivery systems that are designed to side-step the traditional irritation that is associated with heightened skin cell regeneration.

The Basics of How to Use Retinol

Like in all aspects of skincare, regular application, adhering to the usage instructions and consistency is critical in extracting the most from any retinol-based formulation. For best results, experts advise using any retinol-inspired formulation at night after using an appropriate cleanser and just before applying a mild night cream. As long as you are using a decent quality vitamin a retinol cream, the absorption process should be rapid enough to allow you to follow up a moisturizer almost immediately afterward.

Speaking of which, adhere to the following rules of engagement when working with retinol-based formulations.

• Start slowly: Beginners, especially, should begin by applying just once a week and slowly building a tolerance to allow them the luxury of using it every other night. Patience is the name of the game if you are to avoid flaking and irritation.
• Use sunscreen: It’s highly paramount to wear a broad-spectrum and reliable SPF (at least 30 and above) as long as you are using a skincare formulation that contains retinol. The ingredient is likely to make you photosensitive as it triggers the proliferation of new skin cells.
• Stick to proven manufacturers: Not every retinol cream for face that you come across meet the minimum dermatological threshold to be potent but still safe enough for regular use, particularly for beginners. And that’s the reason it’s exceedingly necessary to prioritize the best retinol creams only as outlined in this guide.
• Use it at night: There’s no point in applying a retinol-based formulation when the sun is shining as retinol is quite photosensitive and breaks down when exposed to the UV rays.

Myths and Misconception that Revolve around the Usage of Retinol

One of the many pitfalls that haunt the usage of creams with retinol is the numerous myths and misconceptions that surround it. In this section, we attempt to dissect some of the most common ones in a bid to simplify your experience in trying out this wonder vitamin.

Does using retinol thin the skin?

One of the numerous myths that permeate the skin care community is that retinol thins the skin. Well, that couldn’t be any further than the truth. In actuality, retinol tends to thicken the epidermis thus counteracting its tendency to become thinner with age. Overall, this improves the skin’s elasticity and makes fine lines less visible or conspicuous. This is the main reason starting a retinol-application regime when you are younger will help prevent the onset of wrinkles, fine lines and skin creases as you get older.

Using retinol also inhibits time-related depletion of collagen which, therefore, explains why it is widely employed as an anti-aging specimen.

Are there any risks of using retinol when expectant?

When it comes to using a retinol anti aging cream when pregnant, it is best to err on the side of caution. You see, retinoids can be absorbed through the epidermis and pass into the bloodstream. All other factors held constant, it is safest to give them a wide berth throughout your pregnancy to avoid any potential risks of harming the baby.

Can you use retinol with vitamin C?

One of the hotly contested and debated areas of skincare revolves around using this vitamin A derivative alongside ascorbic acid. Let’s put an end to it.

For starters, studies and observations alike tend to suggest that vitamin C and retinol get along very well. It only becomes a problem if you are new to these extremely potent and efficacious skincare ingredients. Otherwise, ascorbic acid is an antioxidant and using it in conjunction with retinol has proven to boost the overall effectiveness of the vitamin A derivative.

What’s the best age to start using retinol?

The accurate answer to such a dilemma depends mostly on the type of skincare concern that you are looking to fix using retinol. If you are hoping to use this ingredient to tackle old acne scars, then the earlier you start using vitamin A products, the better the results will be. Otherwise, your 30s are the opportune time to start using retinol products if your main objective is to hold on to your youthfulness.

The Best Retinol Creams, Serums and Treatments to Try Now

To make it easier for you to reap the dermatological awards of this skincare superstar without much head-scratching, we have compiled the best anti aging creams with retinol designed for each skin texture or type, right from sensitive novice users to experienced aficionados.

Maryann Retinol Cream

Maryann Retinol Cream is designed to be an age-defying, hydrating and firming cream that makes heavy use of this vitamin A derivative alongside a number of supporting ingredients such as green tea, shea butter, jojoba oil, hyaluronic acid and aloe vera. And this is not surprising considering that it is presently one of the best otc retinol creams in its league that is optimized for beginners and seasoned users alike.

The cream, which has been consistently lauded over the past few years as a true anti-aging lotion, comes in handy in getting rid of signs of aging such as rough texture, puffy eyes, loss of elasticity and unsightly wrinkles. What’s more, users have also reported that the cream does an extraordinary job in revitalizing, nourishing and sprucing up the epidermis in an effort to keep acne at bay.  However, the best part about Maryann’s Retinol Cream is that it can be used to complement an existing daily makeup routine.  Speaking of which, if you have been wondering what is the best retinol cream in beauty circles at the moment, then this one comes very close to fitting that highly subjective description.

Collagen & Retinol Cream by Bloommy

Truth be told, Bloommy has done an excellent job creating a potent but still gentle cream with retinol.  Coming in at an impressive 3% retinol content, this is without a doubt one of the highly concentrated anti-aging moisturizers that are optimized for both novice users and experienced vitamin A lovers alike. What’s more, it is also lauded to be an instant wrinkle remover that can be used as safe at night as during the day (with ample sunscreen of course).

As far as the ingredient list goes, the list is as natural as it can get. The cream’s formulation makes use of coconut oil, jojoba oil, and aloe vera. Having said that, you are still advised to exercise a little bit of caution if you have never used a retinol-based serum or product before. The idea here is to build up a tolerance by only applying the cream once a week then bumping up the frequency continually as your skin gets used to it.

Otherwise, being a collagen-infused cream makes it incredibly adapted in keeping signs of aging at bay. Remember that collagen is the fibrous-like protein that gives your skin both volume and structure. Intrinsically, bumping up your skin’s collagen content while also promoting the regeneration of new epidermal cells is a sure way of hanging on to precious youthfulness.

L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle Night Serum

This one is a  newly-launched milky serum from a brand that is no stranger when it comes to crafting innovative skin care products. It combines reasonable efficacy with an even rational price point. The concentration, being a mild product formulated for the greenest of beginners, is pegged at a pleasingly petite 0.2% of pure retinol. As expected, it is packed alongside stabilizers that guarantee maximum potency and a humectant (hyaluronic acid) to temper its drying effects. Apart from being a fine line eliminator, it is also quite instrumental in reducing the conspicuousness of deep-set wrinkles. Ingredient-wise, it utilizes an array of botanical extracts that are melded together to give rise to a luxe serum that can be considered a stepping stone to higher concentration creams such as Collagen and Retinol Cream by Bloommy

Paula’s Choice Resist Retinol Booster

Containing a nifty 1% retinol percentage, this clever booster is one of the few creams with retinol that can be mixed directly with your favorite moisturizer to deliver outstanding results. As the name suggests, it’s more of a booster than a standalone retinol cream for sale. As such, it is best employed alongside another retinol-free anti-aging lotion such as a vitamin C serum. It has a very light consistency, and this means that it is especially excellent for those with sensitive/oily skin that can easily get overloaded by standard anti-wrinkle creams.

Speaking of which, some retinoid-employing products can be a little bit too harsh around the ultra-sensitive eye area. Nonetheless, this specially formulated cream has somehow managed to combine both elastin and retinol to combat pigmentation, fine lines and, thereby, leaving the skin looking and feeling firmer and more youthful.

Beauty Pie Super Retinol Anti-aging Face Serum

It’s a gentle yet highly effective serum that ranks as one of the best anti aging cream with retinol. Unlike other lotions and emollients on this list, it employs encapsulated retinol that is slowly but constantly released into the epidermis to trigger the proliferation of new skin cells. And alongside this is hyaluronic acid, which acts as a hydrating agent and a humectant to tone down the natural skin-drying effects of the vitamin A derivative that acts as the active ingredient.

What’s even better, this Beauty Pie is considered vegan-friendly and completely free of the notorious ‘suspicious six’ ingredients namely; drying alcohols, essential oils, silicones, dyes/fragrances, chemical screens and SLS. In other words, if you like to have your beauty pie and eat it too, then this one is a must-have.

The 0.5% Ordinary Retinol Serum

It is an excellent option for newbies and it’s quite affordable too. In other words, it is a superior option for those looking to try the retinol waters without committing too much or breaking the bank in the process. What’s more, despite being quite an action-packed retinol a face cream, it does not necessarily feel as heavy as it sounds on your face.

The fact that it contains a generous-but-still-cautious 0.5% retinol means that it is rightfully suited to tackle almost all problems that are associated with skin ageing including the loss of elastin and collagen. In this case, the serum works dermatological wonders in a bid to stimulate the proliferation of elastin and collagen fibres. The gentle-but-still potent serum employs the services of retinyl palmitate (a type of retinoid ester) before combining it with stabilizing ingredients such as lactic acid, aloe vera and a soothing vitamin C base.

That aside, it is optimally used after thorough toning and cleansing, and  if you want to guarantee the best results, you better invest in a gentle and nourishing moisturizer after use.

SkinCeuticals Retinol Cream

If you are looking for a no-nonsense retinol-powered regimen, then these cute little vials produced by skinceuticals are tailored for you. Unlike other serums or creams on this list, they are available in three distinct strengths (0.3%,0.5% and 1%) to allow a beginner to work up a tolerance. Also, you can apply different predetermined concentrations on various parts of the face if you happen to have a combinational skin profile and each area requires a different treatment strength.

Apart from the retinol, the formula also contains chamomile, frankincense and herb extracts as soothing/accompanying ingredients just to make sure that the active vitamin A element does not do a number on your skin.

Speaking of which, for those interested in minimizing fine lines, then this is without one of the few stellar options available. It combines the highly efficacious Matrixyl 3000 with retinol (the active ingredient). The Matrixyl 3000 is a peptide complex that is involved in the communication between skin cells in a process that prompts the optimal production of collagen.

Roc Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream

It may look like just another assumable little gold tube but it packs quite a potent dose of retinol either way. In fact, it is one of the few retinol creams that is considered non-greasy enough to be used even by folks with extremely oily complexions. Still, it remains hydrating enough to be a best-selling eye cream even though the manufacturer – ROC – does not list a definitive percentage of the active retinol on it. 

This implies that the percentage of retinol in the cream/serum can be anywhere between 0.1% to 1%, which should be mild enough for beginners but still efficient enough for veterans to note a difference on its extrapolation. Nevertheless, it is recommended that you start slowly by applying on a small amount of it until the skin gets acclimated enough to the vitamin A derivative if you are just getting started on this regime.

All other things held constant, the cream is excellent for clearing acne scars around the t-zone without irritating it too much for it to become very red or dry. The double hit of both retinoic acid and lactic acid is not to be underestimated though when it comes to hydrating as well as infusing an anti-aging component.

Beautycounter Countertime Lipid Defense Cleansing Oil

A pumpable, silky and quite nifty cream that comes in an equally attractive bottle, there’s no denying that Beautycounter does not disappoint when it comes to leaving the skin plumper and dewier. Users have reported that it has an uncanny way of leaving the skin with a perfectly smooth finish even where rough and very sensitive skin existed before.

As far as the formulation goes, this lipid defense oil makes excellent use of a blend of plant oils and bakuchiol which makes it a reliable nourishing and ultra sensitive oil cleanser. So much health-giving is it that it is capable of adding a gentle contrast to any overly-aggressive retinol cream on this list.  This translates to a reliable cleanser that is suited to protect your moisture barrier, suited wonderfully for anyone who is looking to dip their toes into the realm of retinol use while still protecting their moisture barrier.

Drunk Elephant A Retinol Cream with Passioni

Boasting just 1% retinol, this is one of the highly-rated retinol skin cream that can be gotten without a prescription. However, unlike standard creams of that concentration calibre, this one manages to balance out fine-line diminishing, pore-shrinking, and texture-smoothing with a number of nourishing ingredients such as apricot, passion fruit, jojoba oil alongside standard elements such as vitamin F. Either way, the objective for the supporting ingredients here is to restore moisture as the active ingredient (retinol) clears and smooths your skin.

And although its comparatively pricey compared to its immediate compatriots, the overnight emollient ranks as one of the best otc retinol creams that you can land without hurting your pockets. Expert and reviewers are under the impression it is because of its ability to combine a number of super strength peptides with a concoction of niacinamide, antioxidants and retinol to make acne, stress and ageing less conspicuous without as much irritation as observed with standard retinol-containing creams.