Often heralded as the be-all end-all for everything from acne to fine lines to sun damage, retinol is something of a hero skin care ingredient. Even so, it can feel intimidating at times. Especially since its efficacy can sometimes come with side effects like irritation and increased sun sensitivity. So is retinol really something to be afraid of?
We chatted with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Estee Williams to ease all of our retinol-related woes and she assured us that there’s no reason to be afraid. After all, as she put it, retinol is “available over-the-counter because it is generally very safe and easy to use.” She also explained that there are actually no specific safety issues regarding retinol, especially if you’re buying it from a reputable brand.
Still a little nervous? “Start low and go slow,” advises Williams. “Begin with twice weekly at night for two weeks, then three times weekly at night for two weeks, etc., and eventually every night, if tolerated.” She also recommends only using retinol products at night and wearing SPF during the day to offset any of that potential pesky sun sensitivity. You’re also going to want to avoid mixing it with other active ingredients like glycolic acid, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid at least until your skin has adjusted.
Essentially, if used correctly, retinol doesn’t have to be scary at all. And really, at the end of the day, the benefits far outweigh the (potential) costs. According to Williams, retinol can “aid in skin exfoliation, collagen production, reversing DNA damage and lightening skin discoloration.” (If you’re counting with us, that’s pretty much everything.) And because of their myriad benefits, retinol products can be used for everything from acne to stretch marks.
Of course, there are a few very specific instances where Williams says you shouldn’t use it. Such as during pregnancy and before/after potentially irritating treatments like waxing, threading or chemical peels. But if that doesn’t apply to you, we encourage you to go for it.
Want to ease into it? Dip your toe into the pool as opposed to a full-on cannonball? Read on for some of our favorite gentle retinol products.
This article originally appeared on TotalBeauty.com
7 Gentle Retinol Products
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #1
Drunk Elephant A-Gloei Retinol Oil, $72 at Sephora
Drunk Elephant went ahead and formulated 0.5 percent retinol with soothing marula oil and ceramides. That way you get all the retinol benefits minus any redness or irritation.
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #2
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, $105 at Sephora
There's a reason this stuff basically went viral. The efficacy of the retinol combined with the soothing and hydrating oil base (hello, blue tansy!) gives this popular retinol product quite the one-two punch.
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #3
RoC Retinol Correxion Sensitive Night Cream, $19.88 at Walmart
Famous for making retinol products more widely available in the aisles of your local drugstores, RoC has quite the lineup of products. This particular cream is specially formulated for sensitive skin so you don't have to worry about irritation.
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #4
First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum, $58 at Target
First Aid Beauty is known for its sensitive skin-safe products and ideology and this retinol serum is no different. Thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, colloidal oatmeal and ceramides, the formula is very gentle and hydrating — and the 0.25-percent retinol ensures you'll wake up to a brighter, clearer complexion.
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #5
Eve Lom Time Retreat Face Treatment, $110 at Nordstrom
Does it get any lovelier than Eve Lom? This ultra luxurious serum is quite the treat and the encapsulated retinol is gentle yet effective.
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #6
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane, $9.60 at The Ordinary
The Ordinary offers many concentrations of retinol, but if you're a little gun-shy around the ingredient, this is a good place to start. The lightweight squalane base is oh so hydrating and the 2-percent retinoid makes a noticeable difference without any harsh effects.
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #7
PCA Skin Retinol Treatment for Sensitive Skin, $111 at DermStore
Since it's specially formulated for sensitive skin, this treatment happens to be great for retinol newbies. With its richness and effectiveness, a tiny dot is all you need to kick-start your skin care routine.
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7 Gentle Retinol Products #8
Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum, $72 at Sephora
Oddly enough, this serum doesn't actually have retinol in it, rather a botanical extract called bakuchiol that's said to have retinol-like effects, minus the potential side effects.
