The Complete Guide to Drugstore Retinol

Retinol is one of the few over-the-counter drugstore anti-aging skincare ingredients that can provide the most consistent and visual improvement in the skin.

By improvement, I mean brighter, clearer skin, improved skin texture, and reduced pore size. Over time, retinol can also help with hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and even acne.

Today the drugstore has an expansive selection of effective retinol treatments, some of which rival their more expensive luxury counterparts.

Before we get into all of the retinol goodness that the affordable brands offer in this drugstore retinol guide, let’s take a look at what retinol is and how it works.

What is Retinol?

Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A. Retinol is a type of retinoid, the umbrella term used for vitamin A derivatives.

• Although discovered in 1909, retinol wasn’t formulated until 1947.
• As a supplement, it is used to treat vitamin A deficiency, but we love it for other reasons, especially its topical use as an anti-aging treatment.
• Retinol effectively treats photoaging, increases skin cell turnover and collagen production, smoothes the skin, reduces hyperpigmentation, prevents wrinkles, improves acne, improves skin texture and radiance, and even affects gene expression.

That’s quite an impressive list. But before you go to the drugstore and pick up the first retinol you come across, it’s important to understand the difference between retinoid products.

The Different Types of Retinoids

There are so many different variations of retinoids. This makes it quite confusing when trying to decide which one to try.

Remember that all retinoids need to be converted into retinoic acid at the cellular level to be used by the skin.

Let’s take a quick look at the main retinoids from weakest to strongest:

• Retinyl palmitate must be broken down into retinol, then retinaldehyde, and finally retinoic acid before becoming available for your skin to use.
• Retinol must be converted into retinaldehyde and then retinoic acid before becoming available for your skin to use.
• Retinaldehyde, also called retinal, gets converted into retinoic acid and then is available in its active form. This is a step up from retinol and stronger too. (See this Avene RetrinAL review post for more details.)
• Adapalene (known under the brand name Differin and now also available from La Roche-Posay and a few other brands) is the most potent over-the-counter retinoid and a newer-generation retinoid that has primarily been used to treat acne. It’s fat-soluble, making it less irritating than prescription retinoids.
• Prescription retinoids (i.e., the strongest) such as tretinoin or tazarotene contain retinoic acid. They are best for those who have been using retinoids for a while and have built up their tolerance to more potent retinoids. It could take several months or even a year to build your tolerance to more potent retinoids.

Clearly, using retinoids is not a quick anti-aging fix. Note that prescription retinoids will work quicker than over-the-counter retinoids. As a result, you should see improvements in your skin faster.

In fact, while prescription retinoids may be seen in as little as 4-6 weeks, over-the-counter retinoids may take around three months to start seeing benefits.

This post contains affiliate links, and any purchases made through these links will result in a commission for me at no extra cost to you. Please read my Disclosure for additional information.

How to Use Drugstore Retinoids

Depending on your skin’s sensitivity, you can add a retinoid serum into the treatment step of your skincare routine. Apply after cleansing and toning but before a moisturizer.

Avoid using more than one retinoid product in the same routine. Also, avoid using retinoids and potent actives (i.e., direct acids, vitamin C, or benzoyl peroxide) in the same routine.

If you have particularly sensitive skin, you may want to apply a retinoid near the end of your skincare routine, even after a moisturizer. This will dilute the strength of the retinoid and make it slightly gentler on your skin.

If you are new to retinoids, you can slowly introduce over-the-counter retinoids to your evening skincare routine by following this easy-to-remember rule of thumb:

• 1x a week for 1 week
• 2x a week for 2 weeks
• Gradually increasing your application depending on how your skin reacts

If you have excessive redness and peeling, take a step back and evaluate whether or not you need a gentler retinoid or if your skin is currently too sensitive to use retinoids at all.

Or you can continue to use a retinoid at 1x a week until your skin acclimates and move up from there.

Related Post: Olay Regenerist Collagen Peptide 24 Skincare Review

Retinoids for Sensitive Skin

These days you’ll find many retinoids advertised for sensitive skin. In this type of formula, retinoids are included in lower amounts. Therefore you should experience fewer side effects. These are the perfect introductory retinoid products.

I’ve learned that the longer you use these products, the better your skin adapts. So as time goes on, you can slowly increase the strength of the retinoid you use.

If you have particularly sensitive skin, you may even want to apply the retinoid as the last step of your skincare routine, after a moisturizer, to lessen the potency of the retinoid.

The Best Drugstore Retinol & Retinoids

Several brands offer drugstore formulations of retinol and retinoids in their product lines. It’s difficult to cover every brand, but by breaking it up into product types, this guide should give you some solid retinoid options for your whole face, all at drugstore prices.

New retinoid treatments are introduced frequently, so while this list will give you several options to consider, please note that it is not all-inclusive, but some of the best options out there.

Let’s take a look at some of the best drugstore retinol products:

Drugstore Retinol Serums

Retinol serums are my favorite way to use retinoids. Treatment serums should usually be one of the first products applied after cleansing and toning.

As a result, they will penetrate the skin the best. A few of the serums below are gentle enough for sensitive skin to use as a first treatment step, while a few stronger options are also provided.

The best drugstore retinol serum for you is the one that works best for your skin type and skin concerns.

Here are some of the best drugstore retinol serums:

It also contains squalane for its lightweight moisturizing properties.

This cream is GENTLE. Unfortunately, I can’t help but wonder how strong a cream is when it doesn’t irritate my skin, but I know that I need to change my thinking.

Today’s next-generation retinoids can deliver results without the irritation, redness, and sometimes burning and peeling that we’ve come to expect from retinoids.

For more on this retinol serum, please see my The Inkey List Retinol review.

It is a white milky liquid consistency that absorbs quickly without any irritation. Over time I have noticed a refinement in my skin’s texture and pore size. And you can’t beat the low price of this retinoid!

For more details on my experience with this retinoid, please see The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion Review.

If you are ready to move on to more potent retinoid treatments from The Ordinary, you have additional options.

They also formulate Granactive Retinoids in Squalane at 2% and 5% and Retinol in Squalane at 0.2%, 0.5%, and 1%.

PLEASE NOTE: This retinoid emulsion and all retinoid products from The Ordinary should be refrigerated after opening.

For a skincare routine for aging and mature skin using The Ordinary retinoids, be sure to check out my post: The Ordinary Skincare Routine For Over 50.

This serum is potent. Unfortunately, my skin has not yet acclimated enough to use it daily.

When you hear that retinol improves skin texture, it’s evident with this product, which combines retinol and retinyl propionate. Plus, my pores appear smaller.

If you want to supercharge your results, you can try Olay Retinol 24 MAX Night Serum which contains 20% more Retinol 24 Hydrating Complex vs. the base Retinol24 serum.

For more on Olay Retinol 24 products, check out this post on the Olay Retinol 24 collection of products, which I’ve updated to discuss their Retinol 24 MAX products.

• Encapsulated retinol smoothes the look of wrinkles and fine lines and improves cell turnover for more radiant skin.
• This CeraVe retinol serum also contains three essential ceramides (1, 3, 6-II) to help restore the protective skin barrier.
• Niacinamide calms redness and irritation, balances sebum production, reduces the look of pores (making it excellent for oily skin), improves the appearance of wrinkles, and helps reduce hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.
• Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) improves skin surface hydration.

This was the first over-the-counter retinol product I tried that did not irritate my skin. For a while, I was devoted to using this as a serum, often every night of the week.

I’ve since moved on to what I consider more potent over-the-counter (OTC) retinoids, but this serum may just be the ideal introduction to OTC retinol if you have sensitive skin.

These ingredients target skin tone and texture to refine pores while brightening the skin, all with minimal irritation.

1.5% Retinol Complex

As noted in the title of this retinol product, this night concentrate contains No7’s 1.5% Retinol Complex. Don’t be fooled into thinking that it is 1.5% retinol. Instead, it includes the following:

• 0.3% Pure Retinol (.3%) – reboots and renews skin for a younger-looking complexion
• 1% Retinol Optimizer – slow-release system for optimal delivery throughout the night
• 0.2% Retinol Soother – to minimize irritation and calm the skin

I’m not sure why they didn’t just name this 0.3% Retinol since that’s the actual amount of retinol in the product.

Regarding the soothing ingredient in this product, this concentrate contains bisabolol, a compound from chamomile that offers anti-inflammatory benefits.

Please note that there is silicone in this product to give it slip and a smoother feel on your skin.

Matrixyl 3000+

Also in this formula is Matrixyl 3000+. Matrixyl 3000+ uses matrikine peptide technology that contains two peptides to support the skin’s collagen production, improve skin tone, and reduce deep wrinkles.

This blend of ceramides is formulated to repair the skin barrier, soothe, protect, hydrate, brighten, and smooth fine lines.

The serum contains a 3% encapsulated Retinol complex, which works on the skin at 0.09% pure Retinol. This serum comes from a leading Swiss skincare lab.

They formulated this retinol by encapsulating it, which increases its stability and improves skin delivery. It’s a slow-release formula, which helps to maximize efficacy and minimize irritation.

I am so thrilled to find this, as this serum is effective and does not irritate my skin at all. My skin is more refined and brighter after using it without the dryness that often comes along with retinoids.

The low price makes it a no-brainer, although you must have a subscription to purchase from Beauty Pie.

You can read all about Beauty Pie’s fantastic skincare products in this post.

It uses L’Oreal’s international patent-pending technology, Retinol Guard, to ensure that its potency and stability are not compromised.

This serum also contains glycerin to soothe the skin and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, which balances out the drying effects of retinol.

The optimal concentration of retinol refines skin texture, and over time, wrinkles and fine lines are reduced (including forehead wrinkles).

This quick-absorbing serum will also help to brighten the skin and help the skin appear smoother. Plus, it won’t clog pores as it’s non-comedogenic.

This is another OTC retinol that has really produced great results for my skin. It has a nice texture, and the hyaluronic acid in the serum helps keep my skin from drying out.

The serum does not irritate my skin at all (yay!). It brightens and smooths with a respectable amount (0.3%) of retinol.

Retinol breaks down after prolonged exposure to light and air, so these little capsules take care of those issues while delivering the same amount of retinol every use.

It is formulated to be used on both your face and décolleté.

The retinol serum capsules are formulated with pure RoC Retinol and a bio-derived antioxidant to improve the appearance of the signs of aging without irritation. In fact, there are only eight ingredients in each capsule.

The capsules are vegetable-based and 100% biodegradable.

• Retinol smoothes and firms the skin.
• Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol is known to be a very potent antioxidant that protects the skin.
• Ceramide NP helps with hydration and supports the skin barrier.
• Glycine Soja Oil is an emollient and moisturizing plant oil. This oil is rich in linoleic acid, which helps with skin barrier repair.

I like the consistency of this RoC serum. It leaves my skin silky smooth with no irritation, redness, or dryness. After using it in the evening, I wake up in the morning with bright and clear skin with improved texture.

Even though the serum is in an oil base, it sinks in quickly without any greasiness.

I think this is one of the best drugstore retinol products for travel, as you can just pack the number of capsules needed, and you’re done.

No need to pack a full-size bottle or jar!

NOTE: RoC has multiple retinol products, so if you prefer a traditional serum or cream format, see below for more details on RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Daily Serum and a RoC retinol cream: RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream.

Related Post: RoC Vitamin C Skincare Review

The list of actives in this serum doesn’t stop there:

• Anti-inflammatory adenosine supports the skin barrier.
• Humectants glycerin and sodium PCA moisturize the skin.
• Sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid, hydrates and helps the skin retain moisture.
• Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) and aloe soothe, protect and offer anti-inflammatory benefits.

The list of moisturizing and emollient ingredients in this serum is quite impressive. Skin is brighter and fresher in the morning after using this at night.

Wrinkles are softened, and the look of pores is minimized. Please note that there is added fragrance in this serum.

You can even use this lightweight serum around the delicate eye area. It combats pesky crow’s feet and brightens dark circles under your eyes.

Neutrogena does not disclose the amount of retinol in their products, but retinol is listed as ingredient 24 of 30. Ingredients are listed in order of concentration, so the amount of retinol in this Neutrogena serum is probably not very high.

The serum also contains Ascorbyl Glucoside, a vitamin C derivative that is more stable than pure vitamin C and offers many of the same antioxidant benefits. It helps to fade hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production.

Please note that there is fragrance in this serum, which may be an issue for those with sensitive skin.

• Encapsulating retinol helps stabilize the ingredient and slow its release into the skin, which reduces the chance of irritation.
• Bakuchiol is a plant-based ingredient that has been shown in studies to be as effective as retinol in treating signs of aging but without the typical irritation.
• Bidens pilosa extract is a natural plant extract that provides a retinol-like effect.
• The serum also contains vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, to help soothe and protect the skin from free radical damage.
• Sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid, is added to the formula to help hydrate and plump the skin.

This gentle retinol serum is a good option for those with more sensitive skin types who want to try retinol but can’t tolerate traditional, more potent retinoids.

After acne and breakouts have healed, you may have acne scars and uneven skin tone. This retinol serum helps to reduce the look of post-acne marks and pores without affecting your delicate skin barrier.

• CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum contains encapsulated retinol to deliver a slow release of retinol over time, along with licorice root extract to brighten skin.
• Niacinamide works to calm the skin and help reduce inflammation while balancing sebum (oil) production.
• CeraVe’s proprietary three essential ceramides help restore and maintain the skin’s protective barrier. Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) helps attract and hold moisture within the skin.

The serum also uses CeraVe MVE Technology to help deliver moisturizing ingredients for continuous and extended daily nourishment.

This is another gentle retinol serum and an excellent choice for those just starting out with retinol.

As this is one of the stronger OTC retinol serums, you should see an improvement in the look of wrinkles and fine lines in two weeks.

Skin will be firmer and smoother with improved clarity.

Please note that Neutrogena does not recommend Retinol Pro+ Serum for beginners due to the higher retinol concentration. Also, the serum contains added fragrance.

This potent formula reduces the size, depth, and discoloration of acne scars while smoothing out fine lines.

• Enriched with 5% apricot kernel oil, the serum helps keep skin hydrated and nourished.
• A 2% squalane concentration strengthens the skin’s natural moisture barrier.
• Avocado oil adds extra moisture and a dose of suppleness.

The serum has a creamy yellow nourishing consistency and absorbs quickly, leaving skin moisturized without any greasy or sticky residue.

The result is a smoother, more youthful-looking complexion.

Retinaldehyde, also called retinal, is a form of vitamin A and is considered one of the most effective over-the-counter retinoids available.

Retinaldehyde needs only one conversion step within the skin to become active retinoic acid, which helps accelerate cell turnover and stimulate collagen production.

It targets uneven skin tone and texture and reduces the appearance of wrinkles while improving skin elasticity and firmness.

The cream serum also contains bio-fermented oligopeptide to improve skin texture and radiance.

Naturium’s Retinaldehyde Cream Serum has an elegant creamy texture and doesn’t irritate my skin as long as I limit usage to a few times a week.

Naturium also offers the stronger Retinaldehyde Cream Serum 0.10% if you’re ready for a more potent retinaldehyde serum.

The full-size bottle contains 30 fresh doses (the 7-day travel-size bottle is shown above).

The seaweed capsule design is water-biodegradable, making it an eco-friendly choice for your skin care routine.

Each capsule contains a precisely measured dose of retinol in a lightweight serum, making them ideal for travel or busy lifestyles.

The formula is simple yet effective, containing only seven ingredients, including the over-the-counter gold standard of anti-agers, retinol, known for its ability to smooth fine lines and improve skin elasticity and firmness.

In addition to retinol, the capsules contain the nourishing antioxidant vitamin E and soybean oil as the carrier oil.

Drugstore Retinol Eye Creams

You may think that you should avoid retinol around the eyes. Yet, the eyes are one of the first places on your face that begin to show the signs of aging.

Retinol can be extra effective around the eyes for brightening and smoothing the orbital area.

It targets crow’s feet and fine lines while hydrating the skin for up to 24 hours. The fragrance-free retinol eye cream is safe to use nightly.

This retinol eye cream is gentle yet effective and leaves your eye area hydrated and silky smooth.

Also Available: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Max Night Eye Cream for a more potent Olay retinol eye cream.

It is formulated to reduce eye wrinkles by up to 50% without the irritation associated with retinol. Within four weeks, it visibly reduces dark circles and puffiness.

This combination of actives is supposed to speed up results while protecting your skin’s natural moisture barrier.

It even contains ascorbic acid (i.e., pure vitamin C) to help boost collagen production and brighten the under-eye area. This fragrance-free eye cream is lightweight and sinks in quickly.

NOTE: Retinol is listed as ingredient 28 of 29 total ingredients in this eye cream. Ingredients are listed in order of concentration, so there probably is only a small amount of retinol in this eye cream.

Drugstore Retinol Moisturizers

The nice thing about drugstore retinol face creams and moisturizers is that many not only have retinol in them but also contain soothing and hydrating ingredients to offset retinol’s irritating ways.

This cream is potent. It noticeably brightens and refines the texture of my skin.

If you want a stronger night retinol cream, Olay offers Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Max Moisturizer, which contains 20% more Retinol 24 Hydrating Complex than the original Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer.

This oil-free, non-comedogenic retinol cream contains retinol to help speed up the turnover of dead skin cells to reveal brighter, more luminous skin.

The cream also contains moisturizing glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrates and helps the skin retain moisture.

RoC does not disclose the amount of retinol in the formula. Retinol is ingredient 25 out of 31 total ingredients, so the concentration may not be too high since ingredients are listed in order of concentration.

Even so, it does a good job of smoothing and renewing skin overnight.

While you can use this retinol cream daily, RoC notes that you may want to apply it every other day for the first two weeks until your skin gets used to the formula.

The lightweight cream is formulated with grape seed oil and glycerin to moisturize and plump skin while targeting the visible signs of aging.

This gentle, fragrance-free retinol cream is also enriched with antioxidant vitamin E, which helps soothe and protect skin from free radical damage. Allantoin further helps to calm and soothe the skin.

If you are new to retinoids and prefer a moisturizing cream instead of a serum, this Good Molecules retinol cream is my pick for the best retinol cream for beginners, as I think it is the perfect affordable starter retinol.

It targets wrinkles, fine lines, and lack of skin elasticity and contains ingredients to soothe and minimize irritation and dryness. Plus, you can’t beat the low price.

Hyaluronic acid in the form of sodium hyaluronate hydrates and plumps the skin for improved moisture retention.

Neutrogena’s Accelerated Retinol SA is a technology designed to provide rapid results without the typical irritation that comes with retinol.

It combines retinol SA (Sustained Action), glucose complex, and hyaluronic acid to speed up performance and improve the skin’s moisture barrier.

It helps fade the appearance of forehead and cheek wrinkles and crow’s feet while brightening skin tone.

Related Post: Olay Retinol 24 vs Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair

Drugstore Retinol Body Moisturizer

It’s so great to see drugstore brands coming out with affordable retinol body lotions! I’ll add to this list as I test more body lotions!

Encapsulated retinol is formulated in a protective outer layer that disintegrates slowly, delivering retinol below the skin’s surface.

This limits the irritation, flakiness, and dryness that come with retinol, making it a great choice for sensitive skin.

This body lotion is also enriched with:

• 2.5% cocoa butter
• 1.0% squalane
• 0.01% vitamin E

The lotion firms your skin, brightens dull and discolored areas and smooths skin texture. This retinol lotion also treats body breakouts and the resulting post-acne scars/dark spots.

It’s also ideal for crepey skin on your chest, knees, and rough elbows.

The non-greasy formula absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling silky soft and smooth.

Read more about this retinol lotion in my Versed review.

Adapalene Drugstore Treatment

While it is FDA-approved to treat acne, you can also reap the anti-aging benefits from this retinoid.

This Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment is a topical retinoid that reduces breakouts and clogged pores, prevents pimples, regulates cell turnover, and reduces inflammation.

I quickly gave up on Differin as it was too strong for my skin. I experienced significant peeling and irritation. Now I know that you must slowly build up to more potent retinoids like these.

Drugstore Retinol Oil

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Oil contains Neutrogena’s Retinol SA (Sustained Action). This skincare ingredient works throughout the day to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots.

This Neutrogena retinol oil is a lightweight oil that contains 0.3% retinol. It is formulated to reduce the look of dark spots, age spots, and deep wrinkles.

Neutrogena recommends applying four to five drops on clean skin and following with a face cream. Neutrogena suggests pairing this oil with their Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream for 2X the wrinkle-fighting power.

Retinoid Use – Sun Exposure and Pregnancy

Since retinol can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, be sure to use sunscreen while using retinol or any type of retinoid and for a week after.

Actually, you should use sunscreen every day, but be extra careful when using retinoids.

If you are pregnant or nursing, be sure to speak to your physician/obstetrician before starting a retinoid regimen.

Related: The Best Drugstore Mineral Sunscreens

Retinol & Retinoid Packaging

TIP: Heat, light, and air can compromise the effectiveness of retinoids and cause them to degrade and lose efficacy, so look for products packaged in dark or opaque packaging and preferably air-restrictive containers.

Cosmetics companies continually develop new formulations and packaging to keep their products stable.

Case in point: For their Retinol 24 products, Olay encapsulates their retinoids in micro-droplets of an oil blend in a water emulsion to keep their retinoids stable.

Affordable Drugstore Retinol

Drugstore retinols and all retinoids have come a long way.

Drugstore brands are finally offering next-generation retinoids with little to no side effects like redness, peeling, itchy and irritated skin that you typically associate with retinoids.

When you are starting out with retinoids, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which products to use, especially with all of the marketing aimed at their quick ability to fight the signs of aging.

How your skin reacts will help you determine which products will work best for you.

I am currently strictly using over-the-counter retinoids. I hope to one day increase retinoid strength to the point where I can consider prescription-strength retinoids.

Until then, I am very happy with the results that I am seeing. I have brighter skin, more refined skin texture, clearer skin, and the minimization of fine lines and wrinkles.

All thanks to drugstore retinoids. They really are amazing anti-aging superstars!

A Final Tip for Sensitive Skin

Don’t forget about bakuchiol, a retinol alternative sourced from plants! This clinical study on bakuchiol determined that bakuchiol is just as effective as retinol without the irritation!

I like to use bakuchiol serums alongside over-the-counter retinoids for a double dose of anti-aging goodness.

While I’ve seen great results with bakuchiol, in my experience, they seem to work a little slower than retinoids.

Ultimately, the best drugstore retinol for you will work with your skin type and skin concerns. It may take some trial and error until you find the one that works best for your complexion.

What is your favorite over-the-counter drugstore retinol treatment? I’d love to know!