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26 best retinol creams and serums (according to our beauty team)
The skincare ingredient that needs no introduction...
Retinol: it's the skincare ingredient that needs no introduction. By now you're likely already aware of the near infinite benefits it has to offer. From working wonders on fine lines and wrinkles to improving skin's texture, and reducing scarring and enlarged pores, there's not much it cannot do. Oh, and it's also great for anyone hoping to target acne flare-ups!
So, 'what is retinol?' you may ask. Well, as leading Hollywood dermatologist, Dr Lancer, who works with famous faces like Victoria Beckham and Beyonce, explains – it's one of the most effective skincare ingredients out there.
"Retinol is lauded for its medically and scientifically-proven ability to speed up the skin's cell cycle," he says. "It is one of the few ingredients on the market that comes with this absolute guarantee – it has no gimmicks." The zero BS approach makes it even more appealing.
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When should you start using retinol?
In theory, you could start using retinol in your mid to late 20s. Prevention is better than cure – meaning, the earlier the better – but obviously, within reason (if you're under 25, you probs don't need it).
What strength retinol do you need?
There are variations of retinol and also different strengths. If you're just starting out, you should be using a low percentage. La Roche-Posay Redermic [R] is the perfect starting point as it contains a mere 0.3%, so, it's also a good option for people with sensitive skin. The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane is a great contender for newbies, too, plus it's super affordable.
If you're a seasoned retinol user, Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 is a great option (and one we personally swear by). One of the strongest formulas out there, aka Sunday Riley's A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum is an incredibly potent, supercharged serum that will get you results fast.
How do you use retinol?
Apply it at night and avoid mixing it with other active skincare ingredients. It can be layered with hyaluronic acid, but try to minimise mixing it with lots of products.
Are there any side effects of retinol?
Unfortunately, retinol does come with some side effects, though these can be reduced by choosing the right formula for your skin type and applying it properly. You should always introduce retinol tentatively into your skincare routine at first, then build it up slowly as your skin becomes more tolerant.
Initially, begin using it a couple of times a week in smaller doses. As you start to see results and less irritation, you can steadily increase the percentage – but this has to be done over time (reading more on best practice retinol usage is recommended). Overuse of retinol can cause redness, sensitivity and peeling, so, do keep in mind that whilst using any product containing retinol you'll need to apply daily sunscreen.
These are 26 of our favourite retinol formulas that we actually use.
Victoria Jowett is an award-winning journalist and the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work in beauty journalism and oversees the skincare, hair, makeup and fragrance content across all of Cosmopolitan’s platforms. She's worked in the beauty industry for over 13 years (and tested 1000s of products), making her an expert when it comes to recommending beauty brands that truly work. Having started her career working weekends on a makeup counter, Victoria began interning at the likes of AnOther and IDOL magazine, before landing her first Beauty Writer job at weekly fashion magazine, LOOK. Joining Cosmopolitan in 2016, Victoria has always remained a beauty fanatic and has been lucky enough to interview everyone from Britney Spears to Kourtney Kardashian about their beauty routines. Follow her on LinkedIn.
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Assistant at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from viral celebrity hair and makeup news to the latest trend predictions, she’s an expert in recognising the season’s next big beauty look (before it ends up all over your social media feeds). You’ll usually find her putting TikTok’s recent beauty hacks to the Hype Test, challenging the gender-makeup binary and social stereotypes, or fangirling over the time Kourtney Kardashian viewed her Instagram Story (yes, it’s true). Find her also on LinkedIn.
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