I've Tried A Lot Of Retinols & These Are The 8 Best Retinol Serums Of 2024

Are you a skin care novice looking to jump-start your routine? You'll likely want something that won't be too aggressive. There is no need to dive headfirst into retinol; your best course of action is to ease into the category with a soothing formula. And we have just the option for you. This gel-cream blend has very little adjustment time or irritation. The formula uses bakuchiol and an encapsulated retinol—and then tosses in some antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients to make sure your skin stays happy.

What users say:

As this first-time retinol user notes, this serum is her gateway to brighter skin: "I love this retinol. It's my first time truly using a retinol consistently. It's very gentle, and I wake up totally glowing. It's not irritating, but I do suggest going heavier on the moisturizer after. Seriously, this product is great and I love it!"

Retinol is a star ingredient for those with acne. The ingredient works by interacting with the skin's receptors, where it beneficially alters the genes involved with inflammation and cell growth. This reduces the formation of microcomedones (a fancy word for skin pores clogged with sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells). In addition, this uses niacinamide at 5%, which has some evidence to suggest it can help reduce breakouts and balance sebum, along with strengthening the barrier. Finally, the formula is further buffered with adaptogens and ceramides for their hydration and soothing properties. 

What users say:

Not only can retinol help reduce breakouts, but it may help ease the appearance of scarring thanks to its ability to encourage skin cell turnover. As one user notes, "My holy grail! Before this product my skin was pretty damaged from the past, with scarring and redness. After using this product for 3 months my acne, scaring, and redness have drastically decreased. I also never got purging in the beginning, which is a freaking miracle because my skin is very sensitive and reactive." However, acne scarring is a very complicated thing to treat depending on the severity, so it may not work for all folks. 

Most people with sensitive skin have had to avoid retinol in the past, as it was just far too irritating. But modern, sophisticated formulas have aimed to change that—including this absolute standout. The lower dosage of pure retinol is blanketed with sensitive-skin-approved ingredients. For example, ceramides and peptides hydrate and support the skin barrier. In addition, allantoin is famous for its wound-healing abilities. Finally, colloidal oat is a derm-favorite ingredient to treat reactive skin and even those with skin conditions like eczema. 

What users say:

Even though this formula is extremely gentle, still proceed with caution as you fold it into your routine. With time, you may even be able to work your way up to nightly use, like this user: "I have super sensitive skin and my last foray into retinol was a disaster. My dermatologist encouraged me to try again and go slower. This product has not irritated my skin at all! I started out as recommended—just a few days a week and now I use it every day. Highly recommend this product if you are curious about retinol and have irritable skin like me."

If you want serious results for fine lines and textural concerns, this serum pulls no punches. The serum not only contains a retinol and bakuchiol blend to enhance collagen production and encourage skin cell turnover, but there's a host of other healthy aging actives that can also improve the complexion and reduce wrinkles: Squalane for barrier support, hyaluronic acid for plumping hydration, rambutan for inflammation reduction, antioxidants to fight free radicals, and salicylic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid for exfoliation. 

What users say:

Lots of users note that this serum has helped their skin appear smooth: "My skin looks good for my age. I have no tiny wrinkles at 68." Not only does it help with fine lines, but this reviewer says it's helped address crepey skin. "I have mature skin. This serum has been gentle, and has provided a really nice moisturizing and smoothing effect. My concealer goes on so much better because of that. If you deal with dry skin and crepiness, you'll like this stuff."

One of my all-time favorite serums, this uses three star ingredients to give you an all allover glow. Its unparalleled performance comes from their unique innovative retinol derivative, a gentler 0.5% option that plays well with other ingredients. And in this case, those other ingredients are niacinamide and vitamin C. The niacinamide helps reduce redness and inflammation (which is very important for hyperpigmentation). And the stable vitamin C improves brightness and tone. As if that wasn't enough, there's also aloe, lactic acid, and a marine extract to help soothe any irritation. 

What users say:

This helped with tone and brightness so well that one user even decided to forgo makeup: "At 65 years young I've tried many anti-aging serums. January Labs is the absolute best. I love being able to go without makeup if I want. My skin tone is a lot more even since I've been using it for the past two years. I highly recommend using the triple active reclaiming serum. It's great for all skin types."

This derm-approved brand makes solid formulas with tried-and-true ingredients and available at the drugstore. What's not to love? This blend uses an encapsulated retinol, alongside niacinamide for barrier strength, licorice root extract for its brightening properties, and a ceramide complex for hydration. 

What users say:

Even the M.D.s behind the hit channel Doctorly endorse this product, to which one user took their advice: "I saw an episode of Doctorly on YouTube and the doctors recommended this retinol product for controlling acne and to stave off fine lines. I immediately purchased, and it's excellent. I have been using it now for 2 months and definitely notice an improvement in my skin texture. It doesn't cause me to break out, and it's really affordable."

Marie Veronique is a cosmetic chemist known for her smart, sophisticated formulas that deliver results. In the case of her retinol-highlighted formula, she blends together the vitamin A derivative with vitamin C and E to enhance the collagen-boosting potential (the latter two are essential in the collagen synthesis and cross-linking process). But why is it so well suited for dry skin types? The blend also comes with hydrating and softening ingredients, like green tea extract, ceramides, algae extract, jojoba oil, and more.    

What users say:

Users definitely note how soothing this is for dry, reactive skin—just be patient: "I have sensitive skin and other retinols have been too intense for me. But this product feels so gentle yet effective. Took a bit to start seeing results but after a few weeks of consistently using it each night I saw my skin become more hydrated, balanced, smoother and generally healthier looking."

While this is dubbed a "cream" thanks to the pillowy texture, it really functions as a serum. Meaning it should be applied in a thin layer under a hydrating face cream. The retinol clocks in at 1%, which is the highest percentage on this list. That means it's strong. In addition to the powerful retinol, it also contains peptides, which are also known for their fine-line-reducing powers, and fatty acids for hydration. 

What users say:

Due to the high dosage of retinol, it's hard to avoid a reaction stage, but once you're through it you'll see major results: "I started slow as instructed and definitely had some noticeable peeling after the first few uses, but now my skin looks 10 years younger. Totally changed the texture, which is now dewy and smooth. My wrinkles have significantly decreased, tone has evened, old discoloration from tanning gone, and totally clear from breakouts. It’s also even made my rosacea less red/noticeable. I love this product and couldn’t recommend it more highly!"