RETINOL
Gentle Retinol Best For New Users And Sensitive skin
The Ordinary has an extensive range of retinol products and this is the most gentle in the line.
- Contains 0.2% pure retinol in a squalane solution. Squalene helps your skin absorb the retinol and is very moisturizing.
- Like all ordinary products this is solid ingredients at a fantastic price, if your new to retinol and don’t want to spend a hundred dollars on trying it out then start here.
- It’s cruelty-free, the squalane is plant based not shark liver based!
- Apply 2 – 3 drops to freshly cleansed face, neck and decolletage. Allow to absorb for 10 minutes before applying moisturizer. Use every second night initially.
- Use 3 – 4 drops at night and allow a couple of minutes for it to sink in and then apply moisturizer.
- Not suitable for pregnancy/breastfeeding because it is Vitamin A.
- You must wear SPF daily when using retinol.
Buy now from Sephora
PAULAS CHOICE Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol
Paula’s Choice is a budget friendly good quality skincare brand. I don’t love all of the products but I do really like this formula.
- It has lots of anti-irritant and moisturizing ingredients as well as retinol.
- It comes packaged in an air-tight pump bottle. This is great because retinol breaks down and losses some of it’s effectiveness with sun-light and air exposure.
- It’s cruelty-free and part of the leaping bunny program
- Low Strength 0.01% Retinol.
- This is a low strength very moisturizing retinol. you can use this as your last step of your nighttime routine.
- You must wear SPF daily when using retinol.
Buy now from PAULAS CHOICE
ALPHA-H Retinol 0.5%
There’s lots to love about this retinol from Alpha-H. It makes the list because:
- Contains 0.5% Retinol + Retinyl Propionate. Good for your skin if you haven’t used Retinol before.
- Has a low pH of 4.0 – 4.5. This means it will penetrate through the epidermis.
- It’s vegan, cruelty-free and not formulated with anything nasty.
- Apply 2 – 3 drops to freshly cleansed face, neck and decolletage. Allow to absorb for 10 minutes before applying moisturizer. Use every second night initially.
- Increase to every night gradually.
- Not suitable for pregnancy/breastfeeding because it is Vitamin A.
- You must wear SPF daily when using retinol.
Buy now from Sephora
Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid +Retinol Brightening Solution
Despite a lot of flowery sales language which I don’t like, because it misleads the average consumer. I do really like this product.
- Contains Ferulic Acid which is good as it’s an antioxidant and boost the effects of the retinol. It also contains licorice root which has anti inflammatory properties.
- It doesn’t state what percentage of retinol it contains, but it has lots of soothing and moisturizing ingredients. I found it didn’t tingle and caused no purging on my skin. But I have been using retinol for years.
- It absorbs quickly and really delivers on the promise of “smoother brighter skin”.
- It’s vegan, cruelty-free and not formulated with anything nasty.
- Apply 3 – 4 drops to freshly cleansed face, neck and decolletage. Allow to absorb for 2 minutes before applying moisturizer.
- Not suitable for pregnancy/breastfeeding because it is Vitamin A.
- You must wear SPF daily when using retinol.
Buy now from Sephora
LA ROCHE-POSAY retinol B3 Serum
From their marketing team “This anti-aging face and neck serum with pure retinol leaves skin feeling smoother, hydrated, and renewed. As a result, the look of lines, wrinkles and premature sun damage is reduced. This retinol serum combines concentrated pure retinol and vitamin B3 for optimal effectiveness while also being suitable for sensitive skin.”
It does deliver and is really nicely formulated.
- It contains instant release and slow release active ingredients. Despite this it is very suitable to sensitive and new to retinol users.
- La Roche-Posay do really elegant formulations and they rate high on my list of great skincare makers.
- Apply 3 – 4 drops in the evening. Follow with a moisturizer.
- Not suitable if you are pregnant or breast feeding as it is a Vitamin A.
- You must wear SPF sunscreen everyday when using retinol products.
Buy now from LA ROCHE-POSAY
La roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Cream
The claim on this product is” Formulated with our highest concentration of pure retinol, this potent retinol cream visibly reduces wrinkles with virtually no irritation. This award-winning formula visibly diminishes premature sun damage and is gentle enough for sensitive skin”. I have used this retinol many times and it is very gentle yet potent.
- Contians both retinol and a La roche-Posay exclusive “Retinol Booster Complex” which is Retinyl linoleate+Adenosine. This is just marketing fluff, but I do very much like and recommend this product.
- Despite being a cream based formula you should still moisturize after suing it.
- Apply it to your clean face and neck in the evening.
- Not recommended for pregnancy or breastfeeding because it contains vitamin A.
- You must wear SPF daily when using retinol.
Buy now from LA ROCHE-POSAY
Medik8 3TR Retinol
Medik8 do in my opinion the best retinols on the market. I did hesitate to recommend them because Medik8 is not the easiest brand to buy in the USA.
Medik8 do a range of retinols from this one which is the most gentle right up to Retinol 10TR.
This is the one I recommend the most for new to retinol users.
As well as retinol this formula contains:
- Vitamin E which is an antioxidant and acts as a stabilizer for the retinol
- Time release formula which means the retinol is taken up by the skin slowly and there fore is not as irritating.
- TAll of the Medik8 retinols are very stable and even at higher strengths are not as irritating.
- It’s vegan, cruelty-free and not formulated with anything nasty.
- Apply 3 – 4 drops to freshly cleansed face, neck and decolletage. Allow to absorb for 10 minutes before applying moisturizer. Use every second night initially.
- Increase to every night gradually.
- Not suitable for pregnancy/breastfeeding because it is Vitamin A.
- You must wear SPF daily when using retinol.
