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10 best retinol creams and serums that are powerful and effective

Everything you need to know about vitamin A, including our tried and tested favourite formulas

Lucy Partington
Monday 26 February 2024 15:06 GMT
<p>Retinol can boost collagen production which in turn helps with hydrating the skin and targetting fine lines </p>

Retinol can boost collagen production which in turn helps with hydrating the skin and targetting fine lines

Our Top Picks

Considered the gold standard ingredient by dermatologists, retinol – which is a derivative of vitamin A – is one of the industry’s most scientifically proven to deliver impressive results.

Originally used to treat acne, multiple studies have also found that vitamin A is also able to improve the overall texture and appearance of the skin by increasing cell turnover. It can also help reduce pore size and the appearance of pigmentation as well.

But that’s not all, as another huge benefit of incorporating it into your routine is that it will also help stimulate collagen production – our own levels deplete as we age – helping to improve dryness alongside any fine lines and wrinkles.

Despite the positive impact vitamin A can have on the skin, it also has a bad reputation owing to possible irritation, sensitivity and dryness that can occur if it’s introduced into your routine too quickly. However, skincare technology has come a long way in a few short years, and as a result, there’s an abundance of cleverly formulated products that not only are less likely to irritate skin but are also incredibly effective.

Here, we’ve rounded up our tried and tested favourites that are suitable for all skin types, no matter whether you’re a retinol newbie or a longstanding fan.

How we tested the best retinol creams and serums

A selection of the best retinol creams and serums we tested for this review

Each of the following products was incorporated into our tester’s routine for a number of weeks (although she has used a couple of them for longer in her routine previously), and although we can’t comment on the long-term effects, we did take note of formula, texture, value for money and any initial dryness or irritation that occurs.

The best retinol creams and serums for 2024 are:

  • Best retinol serum overall – Naturium retinaldehyde cream serum: £32, Spacenk.com
  • Best budget retinol cream – Neutrogena retinol boost serum: £12.48, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best personalised retinol cream – Dermatica personalised formula: £24.99, Dermatica.co.uk
  • Best retinol cream for sensitive skin – CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum with ceramides and niacinamide: £18.94, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best retinol cream for pigmentation – Kate Somerville retinol vitamin C moisturizer: £65.25, Amazon.co.uk

Naturium retinaldehyde cream serum

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Retinol serum overall
  • Product size: 30ml
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Great price point
    • Effective but gentle formula
    • Lightweight
    • Suitable for all skin types

Having launched in the UK last year, Naturium is a brand that offers effective formulas rooted in science at a good price point. This cream harnesses the power of retinaldehyde ­– which is more effective yet more gentle than retinol – to help target fine lines and uneven skin tone and texture. Our tester loved the lightweight formula of this cream, and we found that it absorbed quickly and didn’t cause any dryness or irritation, despite using it every night.

It’s one of the most affordable retinal formulas available, and we like that it’s also fragrance free, making it suitable for pretty much all skin types. Combine that with the expensive-looking packaging and you’ve got a seriously impressive product that could easily cost a lot more than its £32 price point.

  1. £32 from Spacenk.com
Prices may vary
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Neutrogena retinol boost serum

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Budget retinol cream
  • Product size: 30ml
  • Cruelty-free: No
  • Why we love it
    • Silk-feeling
    • Hyaluronic acid
    • No dryness or irritation

Another great choice for retinol newbies, our tester was impressed with the silky-feeling, lightweight texture of this product. Alongside pure retinol, it uses herbal extracts of myrtle which improves the overall efficacy of the serum, plus hero ingredient hyaluronic acid helps to lock-in much-needed moisture for long-lasting hydration. Our tester noticed that her skin looked more radiant and smoother after just a couple of uses, and she didn’t get any dryness or irritation despite using it a bit more frequently than she would recommend.

  1. £12 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Dermatica personalised formula

best retinol serums and creams
  • Best: Personalised retinol cream
  • Product size: 15ml
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Personalised
    • Attention to detail
    • Affordable
    • Glowing skin and reduced breakouts
  • Take note
    • Causes dry skin initially

Dermatica was the first brand to offer personalised prescription formulas, and it’s a firm favourite of our tester. Before purchasing, customers have to fill in an online consultation form and submit photos of their skin that a dermatologist will review. From there, skin concerns, alongside the results you’d ideally like, are considered and a custom, prescription-strength formula is made up and sent in the post.

While not all formulas will incorporate tretinoin (the most potent form of vitamin A), most will, and if you follow the instructions, results are pretty much guaranteed over the course of a few months. Our tester found that the cream serum did initially dry her skin out, but that subsided within a few weeks of use as skin acclimatised to it, and what followed was glowing skin and reduced breakouts.

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Kate Somerville retinol vitamin C moisturizer

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Retinol cream for pigmentation
  • Product size: 50ml
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Results-driven formula
    • Combines retinol and vitamin C
    • Brightening
  • Take note
    • Expensive

Kate Somerville is a brand you can always rely on for creating potent, results-driven formulas, and this cream is no exception. While it may be getting up their in price, it combines the power of both retinol and vitamin C and our tester loved the thick, comforting, velvety feel of this formula – it feels like the most luxe of the bunch.

Incredibly hydrating, thanks to the addition of hyaluronic acid, over time it will help to reduce the look of hyperpigmentation and will help to brighten the overall look of skin. It’s best to incorporate this cream into your routine slowly – use it around twice a week to begin with and gradually increase use to prevent dryness.

  1. £65 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum with ceramides and niacinamide

best retinol creams and serms
  • Best: Retinol cream for sensitive skin
  • Product size: 30ml
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Trusted brand
    • Great for sensitive skin
    • Great entry to retinols
    • Includes niacinamide

One of our tester’s favourite brands, CeraVe’s take on retinol is as you’d expect: packed with skin-boosting ceramides, developed with sensitive skin in mind and helps maintain the delicate skin barrier. The formula is lightweight, absorbs quickly and contains encapsulated retinol alongside liquorice root extract and is designed to help reduce the look of any scarring left behind by acne, but it also helps brighten the skin.

Alongside being suitable for sensitive skin, it would also be a great entry point into retinol for anybody new to the ingredient or curious about it. Our tester also loved the inclusion of niacinamide – a hardworking, multi-tasking ingredient that not only works to soothe and strengthen skin but also helps to reduce oil production and the appearance of pores.

  1. £18 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Shani Darden retinol reform

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Retinol cream for beginners
  • Product size: 30ml
  • Cruelty free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Uses lactic acid to make a great exfoliate
  • Take note
    • Expensive

Shani Darden is one of Hollywood’s most sought after facialists, and this product quickly became a cult favourite for extremely good reason. It combines retinol with lactic acid to gently exfoliate dull, dead cells on the surface of the skin, which helps impart an excellent glow, both instantly and over time. Our tester loved using this cream, and despite the fact it incorporates lactic acid, it’s still gentle on skin, and we loved that it immediately made our skin look fresher, brighter and less tired.

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The Inkey List blemish clearing moisturiser

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Retinol cream for acne-prone skin
  • Product size: 50ml
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Calms blemishes overnight
    • Includes vitamin C
    • No dryness
    • Affordable

New from The Inkey List, this moisturiser promises to calm blemishes overnight – something that our skeptical tester can vouch for. Alongside retinol, this clever moisturiser uses an ingredient called novoretin which helps to bolster its effects, plus it combines a blend of vitamin C and sulphur that work together to help visibly reduce spots and breakouts whilst working to smooth uneven texture.

On the surface, this moisturiser might sound like it has the potential to cause dryness, but our tester found the opposite. The texture of the cream itself is light and it sinks into the skin quickly. Considering its affordable price point, this moisturiser is an impressive multi-tasking hero perfect for anybody with acne- or breakout-prone skin.

  1. £17 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Nip + Fab retinol fix overnight cream 3%

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Retinol cream for sensitive skin
  • Product size: 50ml
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Overnight cream
    • Pure retinol
    • Time-release technology
    • Smoothes and hydrates too

A newly reformulated version of Nip+Fab’s retinol fix overnight cream, it’s now much better than the previous version. Instead of using a vitamin A derivative known as retinyl palmitate, it now features pure retinol, which is 20 per cent more potent, plus it uses clever time-release and encapsulation technology to ensure it’s able to effectively absorb into skin and be as effective as possible. It also combines bakuchiol, a naturally occurring, plant-based retinol alternative proven to encourage skin cell turnover.

Our tester enjoyed using this light formula and loved that it also features ceramides to help smooth and hydrate skin. We also liked the fact there are multiple products within the retinol fix line meaning there is something to suit everybody across all skin types.

  1. £25 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Murad retinal ReSculpt overnight treatment

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Retinol cream for mature skin
  • Product size: 30ml
  • Cruelty-free: Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Great for seasoned retinol users
    • Leaves skin soft and hydrated
    • Not drying
  • Take note
    • Not for newbies
    • Expensive

Another one that uses retinal, we’d recommend this particular product for seasoned retinol users. While our tester can’t vouch for its impressive – and transformative – stats, which say this moisturiser can smooth deep-set wrinkles in two weeks, and increase skin elasticity in four weeks, we can tell you that Murad is a brand we trust implicitly. This powerful but effective formula is a joy to use, and left our skin feeling soft and hydrated – and we didn’t notice any drying or sensitivity. It’s expensive, yes, but with commitment to regular use, we think the results will speak for themselves.

  1. £94 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Farmacy Beauty 1% vitamin A retinol serum

best retinol creams and serums
  • Best: Sustainable retinol cream
  • Product size: 30ml
  • Cruelty-free : Yes
  • Why we love it
    • Upcycled ingredients
    • Soothes and hydrates
  • Take note
    • Takes a couple uses to adjust

This retinol serum comes from a revolutionary brand that, in our tester’s opinion, makes the use of upcycled ingredients exciting. You’ll find both retinol and retinal in this formulas make up, which work in unison to promise quick, effective results, as well as upcycled raspberry and melon seed oils to soothe and hydrate the skin. We found it did take our skin a few uses to adjust to the formula, and we did sandwich it between moisturiser to help create a buffer, but there’s no denying that this cream packs a powerful punch in the best way possible. It’s one that we’d make sure you introduce slowly, and we did notice a slightly unpleasant smell at first but that quickly subsides.

  1. £55 from Amazon.co.uk
Prices may vary
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Retinol creams and serums FAQs

What does retinol do to your skin?

Retinol is derived from vitamin A and works as an intense exfoliator for your skin. It can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as give your skin a plumper, fresh look.

Can you use retinol in combination with other skincare products?

Generally, it’s a good rule of thumb not to mix retinol with vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, and AHA/BHA acids. Some retinol will include these ingredients in the product in order to make them safe for the skin. But it is certainly safe to mix with other skincare routine classics such as moisturising ingredients like hyaluronic acid as well as ceramides and of course, SPF.

Does retinol help with acne?

Retinol has some benefits that help with acne, but always check with a doctor or dermatologist when you can. Retinol can help acne by preventing clogged pores. Remember though, often when first using a retinol your skin is likely to get worse before it gets better, some call it the retinol purge so make sure to push through that in order to get the clear skin of your dreams.

How to use retinol?

After a gentle cleanse apply a pea-sized amount in a thin layer across your face, making sure to avoid the eye area and ensuring you don't get it in your mouth nose or eyes. Some dermatologists recommend that for sensitive skin use the sandwich method, this is where you start with a layer of moisturiser then go in with the retinol and then another layer over the top to make the product slightly less intense on your skin.

How long does retinol take to have an effect?

If you’re looking for a speedy skin fix then retinol is probably not for you, but it is effective. Most users start to see results between three to six months, and the most noticeable will happen at around six to 12 months.

The verdict: Retinol creams and serums

In terms of value for money and efficacy, Naturium’s offering wins hands down, but if you’re somebody with mature skin, Murad’s retinal ReSculpt will be a great choice if you’re happy to spend that much money on it. We were also super impressed with Shani Darden’s retinol reform, not just because of the instant results it gave, but because the whole user experience was great.

Reveal radiant and glowy skin with the best facial exfoliators, tried and tested

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