Beauty editor Georgia Day has tested eight retinol formulas for a minimum of one month each on cleansed skin to find the best options for improving firmness, radiance and texture. Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is widely considered the gold standard in anti-ageing ingredients, tackling everything from dullness and slackening contours to tone, texture and enlarged pores.
Understanding Retinol and Vitamin A
Confusion around retinol and other vitamin A actives persists. “Retinoids are essentially a family of vitamin A molecules,” explains Daniel Isaacs, chief product officer and co-founder at Medik8. “The main difference between them is how many steps they need to go through in the skin before they reach retinoic acid, which is the active form of vitamin A.
“The skin's cellular receptors can only directly recognise and bind to retinoic acid, so all forms need to be converted by the body first before they can be used. So, retinol needs to convert first to retinal and then to retinoic acid, whereas retinal only has that final conversion to make. Prescription retinoids, such as tretinoin, are retinoic acid, so they don’t require any conversion at all,” he adds.
How to Start Using Retinol
“The biggest mistake people make with retinoids is assuming that the highest concentration will give them the best results,” says Isaacs. “It really comes down to what your skin is used to. If you’re completely new to vitamin A, I’d start low and build up gradually – that gives the skin time to acclimatise and is much more likely to keep you using it consistently. If you’ve been using retinoids for some time and your skin is comfortable with them, then you can start moving through higher concentrations. But I wouldn’t rush it.”
“The most common mistake I see is people going too hard, too quickly,” adds Isaacs. “There’s a temptation with retinoids to think that using the highest strength every night will get you better results faster, but that’s really not the case. Your skin needs time to acclimatise. I always recommend starting with a strength that’s appropriate for your skin and introducing it gradually. Twice a week for the first two weeks, then every other night for the next two, before working up to nightly use if your skin is comfortable.”
The Best Retinol Products at a Glance
- Best overall – Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6: £55, Lookfantastic.com
- Best budget – The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane: £7.20, Sephora.co.uk
- Best for beginners – Skin Rocks Retinoid 1 Vitamin A Face Serum: £70, Skinrocks.com
- Best for breakout-prone skin – Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum: £70, Marksandspencer.com
- Best for dry skin – Dr Sebagh Retinol Night Repair: £72, Harrods.com
If you experience any issues such as redness, tightness or peeling, ease off and give your skin time to recover before reintroducing it. As many skin health experts say, retinol is a long-term game, not a quick fix. Choosing a properly stabilised formula is essential, as is the delivery system it uses. Products that use encapsulation technology tend to be effective, as it protects the active ingredient and ensures potency without compromising on skin comfort.
Retinoids of all kinds increase the skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so regular SPF every morning is non-negotiable. Anyone pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive should avoid all vitamin A as a precaution, and look for plant-based vitamin A alternatives instead.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
★★★★★ Best for: Overall retinol. What we love: A key differentiator in the Crystal Retinal collection is that it uses a unique retinaldehyde complex that is 11 times more powerful than traditional retinol. Alongside this active are soothing ingredients like vitamin E and glycerin, which help to support overall skin health, as well as reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve elasticity and create a more even tone. Take note: The product forms part of the brand's graduated retinal treatment programme containing 6 formulas that range from one to 24. While I trialled Crystal Retinal 6, which is suitable for regular users, it’s important to choose your formula according to your skin’s own tolerance. After just a couple of weeks, I saw visible results on my skin that included a brighter, more uniform tone, a reduction in pigmentation and dark spots, and an improvement in firmness, especially around the lower half of my face. The creamy consistency of this serum is a bonus, as it's a lovely formula to apply, and it’s also worth saying that I have never experienced any irritation, flakiness or dryness throughout any of my crystal retinal journey. Key ingredients: 0.06% retinaldehyde, vitamin E, glycerin. Buy now £55 Lookfantastic.com
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane
★★★★☆ Best for: Budget retinol. What we love: A gentle yet effective formula for beginners, this retinol oil-serum hybrid tackles issues such as fine lines, enlarged pores, dullness and dark spots. The inclusion of squalane in the formula helps skin feel soft and supple with continued use. Take note: The scent is a little overpowering for my taste, and the formula feels less sophisticated than others I tried, but considering the price, those are trade-offs I’d be willing to make. There’s not much to fault about this serum; the simple, straightforward formula does what it says on the tin, and it delivers exceptional value for money. I can’t say that I noted a dramatic difference in individual issues or particular areas of my skin, but I definitely noticed a change in the overall health and vitality of my skin, which is absolutely a win. Key ingredients: Squalane. Buy now £7.40 Sephora.co.uk
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum
★★★★☆ Best for: Retinol for breakout-prone skin. What we love: This bills itself as a high-strength retinol serum without the associated irritation. As well as a retinoid ester blend, it contains encapsulated retinol to minimise sensitivity and a host of soothing botanical actives to ensure that skin feels comfortable and cosseted as the active ingredients get to work. Take note: A moderately strong formula, this is not suited for those with sensitive skin or anyone who’s just starting out with retinol. I was impressed with this serum. In the initial stages, it felt lovely to apply; it has an emulsion-like consistency, which means it glides onto skin and feels nicely hydrating, but as I continued using it over time, I started to see visible results. The most notable ones for me were a reduction in breakouts around my chin and a brightening effect, especially on areas of post-breakout hyperpigmentation. Key ingredients: 5% retinoid ester blend, 1% liposomal-encapsulated retinol blend, 0.5% blue-green algae, encapsulated CoQ10, Hawaiian white honey, bisabolol, cactus extract, ginger. Buy now £70 spacenk.com
Skin Rocks Retinoid 1 Vitamin A Face Serum
★★★★☆ Best for: Retinol beginners. What we love: Containing a gentle entry-level concentration of retinol, this serum by renowned skin expert Caroline Hirons is designed for use in the evenings to refine the texture and improve the brightness of skin. Take note: While this is great for anyone new to retinol, experienced users will find it much too mild. That said, it’s a great stepping stone product for anyone wanting to incorporate retinol into their nightly routine more seriously. The first thing I noticed about this product was how nice my skin felt after using it every time; it felt hydrated and cushioned, a feeling that lasted overnight and through to morning. I was also impressed by how quickly I started seeing a difference in the uniformity and brightness of my skin. Key ingredients: 0.2% hydroxypinacolone retinoate (HPR). Buy now £70 Skinrocks.com
Naturium Retinol Complex Serum
★★★★☆ Best for: Retinol for a gentle skin refresh. What we love: Helping to improve the texture and radiance of skin over time, this serum uses a combination of retinol and plant-derived actives with a similar action to retinol. Described as a good option for anyone new to retinol, it's a gentle way to start your treatment regimen. Take note: This is a very watery formula which anyone who prefers a thicker serum or cream may find too fluid. This was a lovely overall serum in that it left my skin looking plump and bright afterwards, and over time it did improve the texture of my skin. Although I did not see any dramatic results after using it, I appreciated the formula as a nice addition to my existing routine. Key ingredients: Bio-retinol, encapsulated retinol, bakuchiol. Buy now £22 Boots.com
Dr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Serum
★★★★★ Best for: Retinol for congested skin. What we love: It's the combination of retinol and ferulic acid that makes this formula interesting. While the retinol is designed to tackle the signs of ageing like lack of radiance, lack of firmness and fine lines, ferulic acid has potent antioxidant properties as well as anti-inflammatory and soothing capabilities. Take note: As it contains a few AHAs alongside the retinol, those with sensitive and reactive skin may find it too aggressive. A bit of a hero in my routine, this is a formula that I have used for years and go back to often. As well as delivering impressive results on redness in the first couple of weeks, this serum really helps to refine the texture of my skin, keep breakouts at bay and reduce overall congestion. Key ingredients: Retinol, ferulic acid, bakuchiol, rambutan, salicylic acid, linoleic acid, glycolic acid, squalane, hyaluronic acid. Buy now £76 Cultbeauty.co.uk
Dr Sebagh Retinol Night Repair
★★★☆☆ Best for: Retinol for dry skin. What we love: This treatment bills itself as a potent retinal formula that's also good for sensitive skin, thanks to an oil-rich base that helps to mitigate any irritation and dryness. Take note: If you’re prone to excess oil or breakouts, you may find this too much for your skin. I didn’t love the smell either, but it wasn’t enough to put me off using it. I really enjoyed the oil-like consistency of this formula, which felt nourishing and comforting on my dehydrated skin. While I would say results were slower to see than others I tried, I did notice that enlarged pores on my cheeks did seem smaller and less noticeable after prolonged use. Key ingredients: 0.3% retinol, rosehip oil, vitamin E, coconut oil, squalane. Buy now £72 Harrods.com
Innbeauty Project Retinol Remix 1% Retinol Treatment
★★★★☆ Best for: Retinol for all skin types. What we love: Formulated with three types of retinol for a layered slow-release effect, this cream also includes peptide and tranexamic acid to work on firmness and brightening. With plenty of soothing ingredients to hydrate and calm skin, it claims to minimise any of the associated irritation from traditional retinol creams. Take note: Although it says it helps brighten dark spots, I found it to be more effective on fine lines and wrinkles. For stubborn dark spots, I would use it in conjunction with a standalone vitamin C serum. I love the texture of this cream and found that it left my skin feeling supple and elastic. I also noticed a slight reduction in laughter lines around my mouth and overall, my skin just felt healthier and more even-toned. A product I would definitely use again. Key ingredients: 1% vegan retinol, peptide, tranexamic acid, centella asiatica, Tazman pepper™, German chamomile. Buy now £58 Sephora.co.uk
What Are the Best Retinol Products?
There are endless retinol treatments on the market to choose from, but the main takeaway is to opt for a concentration according to your skin and stick with it. Consistency really does pay off, but do as the experts say and introduce retinol into your regimen slowly if you are a beginner. When it comes to personal preferences, the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 was hard to beat, given that it delivered on multiple issues with proper visible improvement. Aside from that, the Dr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Acid really showed the difference in the inclusion of the acids and antioxidants in helping to improve the quality of skin. As for a good all-rounder that’s great for beginners, The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane is an excellent option.
