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We've Rounded Up The Best Vitamin A Products For All Skin Types
Vitamin A – and its many derivatives, including retinol, retinal and retinoid - are incredible ingredients, says Pamela Marshall, founder of Mortar & Milk and renowned clinical aesthetician. “They can help clear up acne while stimulating fibroblasts to produce more collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Used correctly, they can thicken skin and boost hydration.”
However, with great power comes great responsibility. Retinoids are potent, and using them incorrectly can lead to irritation or damage. “Vitamin A should be introduced slowly, particularly if you’re a first-timer or have sensitive skin,” says Caroline Hirons, skin expert and founder of Skin Rocks. “Start once or twice a week, see how your skin reacts and build tolerance from there. You can also add in a layer of moisturiser underneath your retinoid as a buffer if you’re particularly sensitive.” Have more burning questions about retinol? Find all the answers in our ultimate retinol guide.
Finally, the most important step: finding the right formula for your skin. That’s where we come in. Whether you’re after a lightweight retinol serum for sensitive, reactive skin or a potent retinoid for seasoned users, we’ve curated the best retinols and retinol serums in the UK to help steer you in the right direction.
Best retinol serums and creams: Our top picks
The INKEY List
Starter Retinol Serum, £ 12,00
Best retinol for beginners
This affordable The INKEY List retinol serum is specially formulated for beginners or those with sensitive, reactive skin. It’s powered by a slow-release Dual-Retinoid complex that gently promotes cell turnover, while barrier-friendly ingredients like 0.2% Symrelief 100 help soothe and protect your skin as it adapts. Then, after using Starter Retinol consistently for eight to 12 weeks, if your skin feels comfortable, you can progress to the Advanced Retinal Serum.
Medik8
Crystal Retinal 6, £ 69,00
Best retinol for intermediate users
The Medik8 range is one of the most talked-about series of retinols in the industry, thanks to its variety of potencies that let you gradually progress from one formula to the next. This particular product, Crystal Retinal 6, features encapsulated retinol, which penetrates deeper and works faster, helping to reduce pigmentation and plump the skin.
Skin Rocks
Retinoid 3, £ 90,00
Best retinol for advanced users
If you’ve been using an intermediate strength for a while and you're looking to maintain or advance your results, you're going to love Retinoid 3. Over four times stronger than its series predecessor, Retinoid 2, this potent serum helps significantly reduce the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. It also contains Adapinoid®, a precursor to adapalene (the retinoid found in prescription acne treatments like Differin) making it highly effective at reducing the appearance of breakouts.
The Ordinary
Retinol 1% in Squalane, £ 9,00
Best affordable retinol
For a budget-friendly, well-tolerated but effective retinol, it doesn’t get much better than this formula from The Ordinary. It blends retinol with comforting squalane to ensure skin remains calm, hydrated and resilient, while the active ingredients help reduce hyperpigmentation and plump skin. Apply a few drops to clean skin every evening, after your serum and before moisturiser.
Murad
Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream, £ 89,00
Best retinol for hydration
What are sweet dreams made of? We'd say this rejuvenating night cream from Murad. Powered by pioneering Retinol Tri-Active technology, this advanced moisturiser visibly minimises the appearance of fine lines and strengthens the skin’s protective barrier as you sleep. Enriched with a botanical blend of swertia flower extract and algae extract, it veils your complexion in sumptuous nourishment for a firmer, lifted and more radiant appearance.
Summer Fridays
Midnight Ritual Retinol Serum, £ 72,00
Best retinol night serum
With this retinol night serum, the magic is in the blend. Vegan retinol plus retinyl linoleate to reduce the appearance of lines, plus strengthening and hydrating niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. To help mitigate the sensitivity some people experience with retinol, this formula contains oatmeal and tiger grass to sooth and comfort skin.
Dr. Dennis Gross
Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Intense Wrinkle Cream, £ 77,00
Best retinol serum for wrinkles
All retinols will help make skin look and act more youthful if used consistently, as they help speed up cell turnover and prompt collagen production. But if you’re looking for an anti-ageing heavy hitter, look no further than this retinol cream. It combines retinol with the potent antioxidants, ferulic acid and bakuchiol. Massage into skin as the last step of your routine.
Dermalogica
Retinol Clearing Oil, £ 85,00
Best retinol for acne
Containing salicylic acid and retinol, this luxurious over-night oil is ideal for anyone with oily, breakout prone skin (yes, it’s totally okay to use an oil on oily skin, in fact it’s beneficial). While the retinol helps speed up cell turnover, salicylic acid works to keep pores clear of acne-causing bacteria. Use it as you would any other retinol product in the evening: cleanse your face and dry it completely before massing 6-10 drops of oil into your skin. Don’t forget to bring it down onto your neck and décolleté.
Drunk Elephant
A-Passioni Retinol Cream, £ 18,20
Best retinol for sensitive skin
If your skin has reacted to retinol before you will appreciate the addition of jojoba and vitamin F in Drunk Elephant’s retinol cream as they help restore skin of its lipids, strengthen its protective barrier and keep inflammation in-check. Apply a pea-sized amount to clean, dry skin twice a week and slowly build up your usage over the following weeks.
Paula's Choice
1% Retinol Treatment, £ 15,00
Best retinol for stressed skin
A clever blend of retinol, antioxidants, and soothing plant extracts that amounts to a very effective multi-tasking overnight treatment. It contains 1% Retinol, making it ideal for someone who is already familiar with using retinol. Apply in the evening before moisturiser to help refine pores, reduce discolouration, and minimise the appearance of lines.
Nécessaire
The Body Retinol, £ 58,00
Best retinol body lotion
Don’t let the skin on your body miss out on all the action. This fantastic retinol body lotion has been formulated with 0.1% pure retinol, plus 10% AHAs, and vitamin C. It helps to clear body acne, soften skin and reduce the texture of bumps, and reduce the appearance of lines and crepiness. Slather it on daily and don’t forget the SPF if your skin is exposed the following day.
How to choose the right retinol strength
‘Retinoid’ is a catch all for a variety of vitamin As. “When scanning Space NK’s shelves of its retinoid products you may notice various iterations,” says Pamela. “There are many, including retinol, retinyl palmitate, or retinaldehyde.” Essentially, they all do the same thing – which is convert into retinoic acid in the skin - to create those wonderful results, but they do it at different speeds. The main reason why you might want a slower retinoid is to avoid the sensitivity that can sometimes accompany a faster one.The strongest type of retinoid or retinol is tretinoin which is only available via a doctor, whereas other retinols are openly available but can take some navigating. “It’s less about the medium,” explains Pamela when discussing the various options available, including creams, serums, and oils. “The formulation is more important. Retinyl palmitate, for example, is a low dose retinol and ideal for beginners as you can use it without any irritation, especially when it is formulated with a blend of PHAs.”
Most importantly, if you are using a retinol serum or cream, make sure you use SPF and reapply liberally throughout the day as vitamin A makes your skin more sensitive to UV rays.
Read More
• What Is Retinol?• How to do the Retinol Sandwich Method • Natural Retinol Alternatives Explained
• Can you use vitamin C with retinol?
