Talk to a dermatologist or scroll through #BeautyTok feeds—it’s hard not to come across the famous R word. Yes, we’re talking about retinol.
“A vitamin A derivative, retinol is one of the best skincare ingredients for improving skin texture and pigmentation,” says dermatologist Dr. Davar Bhanusali.
“It exfoliates and boosts collagen synthesis, which tightens, brightens, smoothes, and thickens the epidermis.”
Now that retinol eye creams, lotions, serums, and eye oils are considered the best acne and Botox products, it was only a matter of time before this powerful ingredient became a favorite.
These formulas deliver the hydration you need while fighting stubborn breakouts, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing rash skin, and lightening hyperpigmentation and age spots below the neck.
The best retinol body lotions can even help reduce unwanted cellulite on your thighs and butt. (It’s bikini season, what a blessing.)
The only downside to this versatile ingredient is that it can irritate sensitive skin. But don’t worry, there are many high-quality retinol moisturizers that are gentle on sensitive skin, too.
If you haven’t invested yet, we’ve got you excited.
Here are the 11 best retinol body lotions for optimal nourishment and radiance, according to dermatologists, ELLE editors, and thousands of satisfied customers who’ve tested them.
1. NatureWell Clinical Retinol Advanced Moisturizer: With more than 9,000 positive reviews, dozens of buyers rave about this retinol body lotion for mature skin.
Customers love its lightweight texture and note that it effectively reduces fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and age spots without causing irritation.
The key to its magical effects is microencapsulated retinyl palmitate (a slow-release, gentle retinol), brightening grapeseed oil, and a host of moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil and glycerin.
“I’ve been using it every night for about a month. I’m 72. My skin is smoother and my dark spots are so light they’re invisible,” writes one Amazon reviewer.
Skin is also slightly firmer, but it doesn’t look like I’ve had plastic surgery. Looks natural. I will continue to use this product. It’s a great value.”
Key Ingredients: Retinyl Palmitate, Grapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil,
Glycerin
2. Advanced Clinicals Retinol Moisturizer: More than 46,000 customers gave this firming lotion five stars, especially for its anti-cellulite benefits.
This fragrance-free cream contains powerful retinol and caffeine to tighten the skin, as well as aloe, chamomile, glycerin, and green tea to plump and moisturize the skin.
One Amazon user commented: “I was 24 years old and bought this product to treat my stretch marks. In less than a week, my stretch marks were much lighter!
I then used it to treat cellulite, and wow, my skin is so much smoother, more elastic, and more supple now. The best part: I had an old, purple, ugly scar, and it disappeared in four uses! ”
This recipe is a godsend! It’s amazing! I will use it for the rest of my life.” Key Ingredients: Retinol, caffeine, aloe, chamomile, glycerin, green tea, and ferulic acid
3. Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Nighttime Body and Face Lotion: This nighttime lotion from classic drugstore brand Gold Bond is another affordable option that tones and firms your skin while you sleep.
In addition to retinol, it contains a blend of seven hydrating ingredients, three vitamins, and plumping peptides to smooth and soften skin.
The evidence is clear. In a clinical study, 93% of users saw noticeably smoother skin after just three days.
“It’s a thick cream, so in the summer I sometimes use it with a urea lotion to make it easier to apply,” says one Amazon reviewer.
“After a few weeks, I noticed an improvement in my skin texture and the disappearance of dark spots on my arms and legs. No skin irritation. I recommend them.” ”
Key Ingredients: Peptides, Glycerin, Squalane, Shea Butter, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Urea.
4. Press Restart when done. Dr. Bhanusali loves this affordable retinol body lotion because it’s packed with nourishing ingredients squalane and cocoa butter.
ELLE Beauty Editor Margaux Anbouba is also intrigued by it because it’s a great introduction. “When the first retinol body lotion came out, I was skeptical,” she says.
“When I started using retinol for wrinkles, my face needed to be thoroughly exfoliated and cleansed, and I didn’t want to go all in.
But this body lotion with 0.1% retinol doesn’t cause any of those unwanted side effects.” ”
Instead, it leaves you feeling soft and hydrated while providing all the firming and smoothing effects you could want.”
Key Ingredients: Retinol, Cocoa Butter, Squalane, Vitamin E
5. Medix 5.5 Retinol Body Lotion Although it
This retinol body lotion is less than $16, the quality is impressive. It has over 14,500 four- and five-star reviews on Amazon.
Buyers confirm that the product “really works” to address issues like wrinkles, dark spots, and bumps associated with keratosis pilaris.
The addition of ferulic acid and vitamin E makes it an effective blend for fighting hyperpigmentation and signs of aging.
Green tea, shea butter, and chamomile provide extra moisture and reduce redness.
“I had dry skin on the back of my arms and thighs, as well as keratosis pilaris…until I used this retinol cream,” writes one Amazon reviewer.
“I’ve tried countless brands of expensive oils, cream concentrates, body mousses, scrubs, and cleansers, but this cream is the best.”
After using this product, the backs of my arms and legs have become smoother, and my thighs, which were somehow always dry, are now soft and supple.
It’s now an integral part of my skincare routine. Key Ingredients: Retinol, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E, Green Tea, Shea Butter, Chamomile.
6. Beauty Pie Youth Bomb Body 360° Repair Concentrate If you want to maximize the benefits of a retinol body lotion, Beauty Pie’s Youthbomb Concentrate is the way to go.
It was created by world-renowned London dermatologist Dr. Marcus.
This multi-benefit formula contains a unique 2% Granular Active Retinol Complex (proven to be as effective as retinol but less irritating) and Niacinamide to brighten, plump and strengthen the skin barrier.
It also contains gentle chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid, as well as nourishing shea butter, glycerin and soothing allantoin for a smooth and even complexion.
Key Ingredients: Granular Active Retinol, Niacinamide, Shea Butter, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
