If you’re even remotely interested in skincare, chances are that you’ve heard of retinol. As one of the most studied and oft touted ingredients by dermatologists, aestheticians and beauty editors alike, retinol has a reputation of being “the gold standard of anti-aging” because of its ability to tackle a wide range of skin concerns, from acne to fine lines and collagen breakdown.
While retinol is often used as a catchall term for any products containing the ingredient, there are many variants of it (i.e., retinoic acid, tretinoin, retinyl palmitate, retinyl linoleate and retinyl acetate), which all come in varying degrees of strength.
Retinol is a great addition to many people’s skincare routines because it can be found in over-the-counter products (meaning you can buy them without a prescription) and because it contains a lower concentration of the active ingredient than prescription-strength formulas, it's typically more tolerable for more skin types.
Ahead, we’ve picked 25 tried-and-true retinol serums, creams and even capsules for every skin type and concern.
