10 Best Retinols for Sensitive Skin, Tested by Experts (original) (raw)

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Best Overall Retinol for Sensitive Skin

EXUVIANCE AGE REVERSE Night Lift Antiaging Face Cream

AGE REVERSE Night Lift Antiaging Face Cream

Pros
Cons

A winner in our best night creams roundup, this cream from Exuviance c ontains a gentler retinoid (retinyl palmitate) but still delivers on performance. Ninety-five percent of testers agreed that it didn’t cause irritation or redness. It got the highest score for improving the look of wrinkles, and according to testers, was the best at firming and making skin feel most lifted. “I especially noticed my skin was brighter," says one tester, while another shares that "fine lines and redness appeared reduced.”

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Best Value Retinol for Sensitive Skin

Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

Pros
Cons

Another winner in our Anti-Aging Night Cream test and a current Good Housekeeping Seal holder, Olay's formula is a top notch moisturizer that tightens skin without causing any irritation. The proof is in the pudding: almost all of the testers (95%) agreed it didn't aggravate skin at all. Plus, it showed a 20% increase in moisturization over six hours, and a 27% increase in firmness after four weeks of use, according to our Cutometer device, which measures skin laxity. Talk about a potent product!

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Best retinol for sensitive skin recommended by dermatologists

AziMD Skincare LIFT + RENEW SERUM

LIFT + RENEW SERUM

Pros

Created by Azadeh Shirazi, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in San Diego, California, AziMD's retinol serum uses a time-release technology to minimize irritation and contains bakuchiol, a plant-based antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce potential irritation. "The formula also contains licorice root extract and green tea polyphenols to calm inflammation, reduce redness and support collagen and elastin regeneration," says Dr. Shirazi.

What Everyone's Shopping

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Best Retinol for Sensitive Skin and Hyperpigmentaton

La Roche-Posay Retinol Face Serum with Vitamin B3

Retinol Face Serum with Vitamin B3

Pros
Cons

La Roche-Posay's serum contains two all-star ingredients in one powerful formula. "It combines retinol and niacinamide, known for its calming effects, to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and sun damage," says Dr. Camp. Plus, it contains two types of retinol: pure retinol and a gradual release version that allows the serum to be optimally effective without causing damage or irritation to the skin.

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Best Retinol for Dry, Sensitive Skin

CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum

Skin Renewing Retinol Serum

Pros
Cons

Both of our expert derms agree that this retinol serum is ideal for those with dry skin. "It contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated," says Dr. Camp. Plus, "it delivers retinol in an encapsulated formula to reduce the risk of irritation," says Dr. Shirazi.

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Best Retinol for Sensitive Skin and Acne

RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream

Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Anti-Aging Night Cream

Pros
Cons

RoC's non-greasy and non-comedogenic formula is the perfect retinol for those with sensitive skin and acne. While those with breakout-prone complexions often also deal with dryness, this night cream "has glycerin and shea butter to nourish the skin and ease the irritation," says Dr. Shirazi.

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Best Starter Retinol for Sensitive Skin

Mary Kay Clinical Solutions® Retinol 0.5 Set

Clinical Solutions® Retinol 0.5 Set

Pros

Starting a retinol can be intimidating for newbies, as it is known to potentially cause redness and peeling, especially for those with more reactive skin. Wnek loves Mary Kay’s Retinol 0.5 Set as a first step for those with sensitive skin, as "it helps incorporate retinol into your routine with minimal irritation." The Good Housekeeping Beauty Award winner and Seal holder comes with a retinol serum as well as a facial milk that calms irritated skin and helps increase hydration. The brand has a suggested application method to slowly incorporate retinol and build up tolerance, starting at once a week and after seven to eight weeks, moving up to three to five times per week.

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Best Under Eye Retinol for Sensitive Skin

Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum

Retinol Youth Renewal Eye Serum

Pros
Cons

Your eyes deserve some retinol love, too. Murad's eye serum was a winner in our recent Anti-Aging Eye Cream test and unanimously didn't cause irritation or redness around the eye area. Both the lab and testers ranked it the best at firming skin and reducing wrinkles, and it also showed some visual improvement in puffiness and undereye bags after four weeks of use. "Finally, an eye treatment that actually delivered on its promises," says one tester. "I liked that it was not irritating and that it is working to tighten the area under my eyes."

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Best Mild Retinol for Sensitive Skin

First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum

FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum

Now 12% Off

Credit: First Aid Beauty

Pros
Cons

With a super low concentration of retinol, "this mild formula is great for newbies," says Dr. Camp. "It contains a retinol concentration of 0.25% to help improve the texture of skin and address fine lines and wrinkles, yet won't dry out the skin." In addition to retinol and powerful peptides, it boasts a laundry list of soothing and hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, vitamins C and E, aloe, colloidal oatmeal, allantoin and ceramides.

10

Best Drugstore Retinol for Sensitive Skin

No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Eye Cream

Restore & Renew Multi Action Eye Cream

Pros
Cons

Receiving top scores in reducing wrinkles, firming skin and moisturizing, No7's eye cream was a winner in our anti-aging eye cream study for good reason. In addition to those accolades, it was also voted as the best scent and texture by reviewers. One tester shares that "the consistency was just right, it absorbed extremely well, firmed up the skin and noticeably reduced the lines and the crepe-like texture of my skin," and another says "While I was using it, I got lots of comments about how well-rested I look — and I’m not!"

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How we choose the best retinols for sensitive skin

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In the Beauty Lab, we are constantly testing different types of skincare products that contain retinol. As mentioned above, we gathered a group of testers aged 35+ and ask them to use their assigned product for four weeks. We measure elasticity improvement using the Courage + Khazaka Cutometer and skin features, such as fine lines, spots, pores and texture using the VISIA Skin Analysis System before and after the testing period. Additionally, we use the Courage + Khazaka Corneometer to evaluate these products' moisturization potential. After the four-week testing period, testers provide their feedback via a standardized questionnaire, rating its texture, scent, absorption, irritation potential and how well it improved the appearance of wrinkles, skin tone, firmness and age spots.

The above products are a combination of lab-tested formulas, as well as top dermatologist retinol picks.

What to look for when shopping for a retinol for sensitive skin

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Retinols come in a range of concentrations, from 0.01 percent to 3.0 percent. "If you have sensitive skin, you may want to choose a product with a lower concentration (think 01. to 0.5 percent) to allow your skin to become more accustomed to retinol before graduating to a higher concentration," advises Dr. Camp. Using higher concentrations may increase the risk of side effects like redness, dryness, flaking or burning.

Dr. Shirazi recommends looking for retinols that are encapsulated and use technology that allows for slower release of the retinol. "Ingredients that help support the skin barrier are also important, like ceramides, glycerin and panthenol, and those that can calm inflammation, like licorice root extract and aloe vera," she adds. You may want to steer clear of retinols formulated with other actives like glycolic acid or lactic acid, as "it will make the product more potent but also more irritating for sensitive skin," says Dr. Shirazi.

One last shopping note: you may also want to look for other forms of over-the-counter retinols, like retinyl palmitate and retinaldehyde. "These ingredients are also derivatives of vitamin A and have the same mechanism of action as retinol, but they require more steps to turn into their active forms," Dr. Camp explains. "As a result, they are less potent, and thus less irritating."

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Is retinol okay for sensitive skin?

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The short answer is yes, but it depends on the type. You should probably avoid tretinoin, also known as retinoic acid, which is a prescription form of vitamin A that is used by doctors mainly for treating acne but also for anti-aging benefits. "Although it has impressive skin benefits, tretinoin is known to cause redness, irritation and burning, especially on those with more sensitive skin," Wnek says.

What is the mildest, most gentle form of retinol?

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Retinyl palmitate is the lightest and most gentle form. "I call it the chamomile tea version since it has to be converted three times to have an effect on the skin," says Dr. Shirazi. Over-the-counter retinol is also gentle and offered in varying concentrations, but "more of a green tea." She considers retinaldehyde a step up, "a black tea version, which is suitable for those who aren’t quite ready for prescription strength, but looking for a step up from retinol."

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How should you use retinol on sensitive skin?

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"The key is to start off slow," says Wnek. "Alternate nights of application and increase frequency to nightly once your skin adjusts." Since retinol increases cell turnover by pushing delicate new skin to the surface, it can potentially cause skin to become more sensitive to the sun. Therefore, Wnek advises to "apply sunscreen everyday when using a retinol (and always)."

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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Danusia Wnek provided expert insights for this article, including what to look for in a retinol for sensitive skin, how the lab tests retinol products as well as the Beauty Lab's top picks. She has been testing skincare products including but not limited to eye creams, serums, night creams, neck creams, facial oils and moisturizing creams for over seven years at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has experience in using specialized skin evaluation lab equipment to gauge changes in skin moisturization, firmness and facial features like wrinkles and texture before and after product use. She also regularly polls our consumer panel on their purchasing and product use habits as well as weighs in on the benefits of skincare ingredients like vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide.

Dori Price worked closely with Danusia to compile the products featured and interviewed the dermatologists quoted in this story. She has over 15 years of experience researching and writing skincare stories, combining her knowledge with the expertise of top industry professionals including dermatologists and aestheticians. She is an expert in all face and body skincare product categories, from cleansers to toners, serums, moisturizers, sunscreens, exfoliators, masks, professional treatments and more.

Headshot of Dori Price

Dori Price is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor and beauty, style and wellness expert who was the Beauty & Fashion Director at Family Circle for 13 years before she joined Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day as a freelance beauty editor. She has also written for WomensHealthMag.com, Elle.com and HealthCentral.com.