The 7 best retinol products for beginners

Key takeaways

• A beginner retinol should be low strength. We also favored fragrance-free formulas with hydrating ingredients.

• Our top pick is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum: encapsulated retinol with ceramides and niacinamide, fragrance-free, for about $22.

• The cheapest good starting point is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane at $8.10.

• Whatever you choose, start every other night with a pea-sized amount, use it at night, and wear sunscreen during the day.

• Expect some dryness or peeling in the first few weeks, and give it at least six weeks before judging results.

What to look for in a beginner retinol

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that skin converts into retinoic acid, the same active ingredient as prescription tretinoin. It takes two conversion steps to get there, and research puts retinol at about 20 times less potent than tretinoin. That gentler strength is why it’s the usual place to start.

The catch is that brands don’t have to tell you how much retinol is in a product. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes there’s no requirement to disclose the percentage on over-the-counter labels, and its advice is to use the lowest formulation you can find.

We compared each product on its published ingredients and directions, not on hands-on testing. We looked for a stated or clearly low strength, no added fragrance, supporting ingredients that help with dryness, and a price that works for something you’ll use for months.

1. CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum: best overall

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum pairs encapsulated retinol with three essential ceramides, niacinamide and licorice root extract in a lightweight, fragrance-free serum. The ceramides and niacinamide are there to support your skin while it adjusts, and CeraVe positions it for post-acne marks and uneven texture.

Key features:

• Encapsulated retinol. CeraVe uses an encapsulated form of retinol, and its MVE technology releases the ceramides slowly over time.

• Ceramides and niacinamide. These support the skin barrier while you adjust to retinol.

• Fragrance-free. CeraVe labels it free of added fragrance.

Tradeoff: CeraVe doesn’t disclose the retinol percentage, and it’s marketed mainly for post-acne marks and texture.

Best for: first-time users who want barrier support built into their retinol.

Price: $21.99 for 1 fl oz.

2. The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane: best budget pick

The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane is a water-free serum with a clearly stated 0.2% retinol, which The Ordinary describes as entry-level. The squalane and jojoba oil base adds some cushion, and at $8.10 it’s the cheapest way to find out how your skin handles retinol.

Key features:

• Stated strength. At 0.2%, you know exactly where you’re starting.

• Squalane base. It’s an oil-based serum that suits dry skin.

• No fragrance on the ingredient list. The formula itself is short and simple.

Tradeoff: the oily texture won’t suit everyone, and The Ordinary lists it as suited to dry skin.

Best for: dry skin, and anyone who wants a stated low strength for very little money.

Price: $8.10 for 30 ml.

3. Paula’s Choice CLINICAL 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment: best for fine lines

Paula’s Choice CLINICAL 0.3% Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment combines a stated 0.3% retinol with 2% plant-derived bakuchiol. Its ingredient list also includes ceramide NG, peptides, a vitamin C derivative and oat extract, and Paula’s Choice calls it a mid-strength treatment.

Key features:

• Stated 0.3% retinol plus bakuchiol. It gives you a known strength with extra support.

• Ceramide, peptides and oat. These help offset dryness.

• Starts slow. Paula’s Choice’s directions suggest up to three times a week at first.

Tradeoff: at $65 it’s the most expensive pick here, and some reviewers on the brand’s site report irritation, so it’s a better second step than a very first one for sensitive skin.

Best for: beginners with normal skin who mainly want to target fine lines.

Price: $65 for 1 fl oz.

4. Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Starter Lotion: best drugstore lotion

Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Starter Lotion is Olay’s retinol made specifically for first-time users. It combines retinol and retinyl propionate with niacinamide and peptides in a fragrance-free night lotion, so it doubles as a moisturizer.

Key features:

• Made for first-timers. Olay describes it as a starter level of Pro-Retinol.

• Lotion format. It can replace your night moisturizer.

• Niacinamide and peptides. These add hydration and support.

Tradeoff: Olay’s directions say to use it every night from the start, which is faster than the AAD’s every-other-night advice. Start every other night anyway. The strength isn’t disclosed.

Best for: beginners who want one product that works as a night moisturizer.

Price: $36.65 for 1.7 oz.

5. Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5: best retinal to try next

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5 uses 0.05% retinal (retinaldehyde), which sits one conversion step closer to retinoic acid than retinol. The brand compares its strength to a mid-strength retinol, and the formula adds allantoin and panthenol in a fragrance-free, essential-oil-free emulsion.

Key features:

• Retinal, not retinol. It’s a step up for people who’ve already tolerated a gentle retinol.

• Stated 0.05% strength. The concentration is on the label.

• Fragrance-free. Geek & Gorgeous says it’s free of fragrance and essential oils.

Tradeoff: retinal is stronger than a beginner retinol, and the brand gives it a six-month shelf life once opened.

Best for: people who’ve finished a first retinol and want an affordable next step.

Price: $14.90 for 30 ml.

6. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Retinol Serum with 0.3% Retinol Complex + Peptides: best for sensitive skin

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Retinol Serum with 0.3% Retinol Complex + Peptides pairs a stated retinoid strength with peptides. The 0.3% figure covers a complex of retinol and retinyl propionate combined, with hexapeptide-9 added, and there’s no fragrance on the ingredient list.

Key features:

• Stated 0.3% retinoid complex. You get a known total strength, split across two retinoids.

• Peptides included. Hexapeptide-9 is on the ingredient list.

• No fragrance on the ingredient list. The brand also describes it as allergen-free.

Tradeoff: the 0.3% combines two ingredients, so the retinol on its own is lower and undisclosed, and it’s one of the pricier picks.

Best for: sensitive skin that wants a gentle, stated-strength option.

Price: $49.

7. Differin Gel: best retinoid for acne-prone skin

Differin Gel isn’t a retinol. It’s adapalene 0.1%, a retinoid that was prescription-only until the FDA approved it for over-the-counter use in 2016 to treat acne in people 12 and older. It’s on this list because it’s the only prescription-strength retinoid sold over the counter in the US, and it’s made specifically for acne.

Key features:

• Prescription-strength adapalene. It’s an FDA-approved acne treatment.

• No synthetic fragrance. The label says so.

• Clear directions. Differin recommends using it consistently for 12 weeks.

Tradeoff: it’s an acne drug, not an anti-aging serum, and it’s a prescription-strength retinoid, so start slowly. Differin’s directions allow day or night use, but not both.

Best for: acne-prone skin, especially if blackheads and breakouts are the main concern.

Price: varies by retailer for the 15 g tube.

How to start using retinol

• Start every other night. The AAD recommends the least-intense formula you can find, used every other night at first, building up slowly.

• Use a pea-sized amount. Cleveland Clinic says a pea-sized dose covers the face.

• Use it at night and wear sunscreen by day. Retinoids can make skin more sensitive to the sun.

• Expect an adjustment period. Dryness, redness, peeling and mild burning are common in the first few weeks and usually ease as your skin adjusts. Our guide to skincare routine order shows where retinol fits.

• Skip it if you’re pregnant. The AAD says retinoids shouldn’t be used during pregnancy.

Frequently asked questions

What strength of retinol should a beginner use?

As low as you can find. Of the retinols on this list that state a strength, the range is 0.2% to 0.3%, and the AAD advises starting with the least-intense formula available.

How long does retinol take to work?

The AAD says most anti-aging products take at least six weeks to work and sometimes up to three months. Cleveland Clinic notes your skin may look worse at first while it adjusts.

Can I use retinol every night?

Not at first. Start every other night and build up slowly. Once your skin stops getting dry or flaky, you can move toward nightly use.

What’s the difference between retinol, retinal and tretinoin?

They’re steps on the same path. Skin converts retinol into retinal and then into retinoic acid, which is tretinoin. Retinol needs two steps, retinal needs one, and tretinoin is already active, which makes it the strongest of the three. It’s prescription-only.

Is Differin a retinol?

No. Differin is adapalene, a different retinoid. It’s sold over the counter for acne at prescription strength.