Beauty Today's Woman February 28, 2025 0 Comments

11 Gentle, Non-Irritating Retinol Serums You Can Use Every Day

Retinol is touted as one of the best skin care ingredients for tackling dullness, acne, fine lines, dark spots, and signs of aging. This vitamin A derivative is popping up in moisturizers, eye creams, and even body lotions—but if you’re overwhelmed by the sheer number of options out there, finding a good retinol serum is a great place to start.

A serum is an easy way to add retinol into your routine because you can layer it with products you already know play well with your skin, like your daily moisturizer. Plus, many serums are labeled with their exact retinol concentration, so you can find a lower strength product and work your way up as your skin adjusts (a pro tip from the dermatologists we chatted with for this story).

To find the best retinol serums, we snagged some recommendations from derms and tested a ton for ourselves. Now, we’re glowing—and ready to share our favorites.

Our top picks

Best Overall: Paula’s Choice PRO Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment
Best Budget Pick: Naturium Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10%
Best for Oily Skin: La Roche Posay Retinol B3 Serum
Best for Dry Skin: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
Best for Sensitive Skin: Kiehl’s Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum
Best for Fine Lines: L’Oréal Revitalift Derm Intensives 0.3% Pure Retinol Serum
Best for Retinol Fans: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ 0.5% Power Serum

In this article

FAQs about retinol serums

What’s the most effective form of retinol?

Retinol can be irritating (especially if you have sensitive skin), so it’s important to find a serum that works, but isn’t too strong for your face. If you’re new to retinol, a concentration of 0.25% to 0.3% is low enough that your skin should tolerate it well, Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, tells SELF. Once your skin adjusts to that, she recommends upgrading to a 0.5% concentration “for stronger anti-aging and acne benefits.” From there, you can advance to 1%—past that, Dr. Gohara recommends following a dermatologist’s guidance.