Even though retinol is a pretty common and well-known word in the beauty industry, it can still be confusing to know how to use it. And if you’ve started doing a little research, you probably know that there can be an intimidating adjustment period when you first start using retinol products.
But that doesn’t mean you should avoid one. Retinol is one of the most powerful skin care ingredients you can add to your routine. It helps promote cell turnover to exfoliate dead, dull skin cells, it helps boost the skin’s collagen production, and, it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
If you’ve been wanting to add a retinol into your skin care routine but don’t know where to start, we tapped a few experts who can guide you step by step on how to get started.
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What kind of retinol products should beginners use?
According to Kristin Gunn, celebrity esthetician and owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa, “a beginner should start slow when using any form of retinol (serums, oils or creams),” but the key is to start slowly with a lower concentration of retinol and work your way up.
Brendan Camp, MD, FAAD, suggests starting with encapsulated retinols, which “slowly release active ingredients over time, so as not to overwhelm the skin and improve tolerability."
You can tell if a retinol is encapsulated by looking at the label on the retinol product. It will either say explicitly that it’s encapsulated or that it’s in microcapsules. There are many over-the-counter retinol products that are encapsulated, including a few picks below.
Best retinol products for beginners, according to experts
Best with encapsulated retinol: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Feels gentle
- Moisturizing
- Low retinol percentage
Retinol percentage: Not listed | Key ingredients: Retinol, niacinamide
Remember when we mentioned encapsulated retinol? This serum has it, which makes it a great retinol jumping-off point. It’s also formulated “with ceramides and niacinamide to help soothe and minimize retinol-induced irritation,” says Hee Jin Koh, MD, FAAD.
As seen on TODAY: Mad Hippie Super A Retinol Serum for Face
- Smells "wonderful," per review
- Helps soften skin
- Not effective for some
Retinol percentage: Not listed | Key ingredients: Bakuchiol, HPR (bioavailable retinoid)
Dr. Angela J. Lamb, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist, recently recommended this retinol on the third hour of TODAY. She said, "This product is perfect for beginners because it contains a mix of retinol and non-retinols, like bakuchiol."
Best with niacinamide: SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.25
- TSA-friendly product
- Small amount of product
Retinol percentage: 0.25% | Key ingredients: Niacinamide, retinol, PhytoShield™ Complex (antioxidants)
SkinMedica is the skin care brand brought to you from the makers of Botox, so you know it’s good, and this 0.25% retinol complex is relatively affordable as well. Koh says the low strength in this retinol is great for beginners.
Best with pure retinol: SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5
- Multitasking formula
- May be too potent for some
Retinol percentage: 0.5% | Key ingredients: Pure retinol, chamomile soothing complex
The Skinceuticals line of retinol comes in different strengths, so you can start with the lowest one and work your way up within the line. Camp recommends it to his patients, as it’s formulated with pure retinol.
Best retinol products for beginners, according to editors
Gentle, yet strong: Neutrogena Retinol Face Oil .3% Concentrated, Rapid Wrinkle Repair
- Lightweight formula
- Leaves face feeling smooth
- Some experienced burning
Retinol percentage: 0.3% | Key ingredients: Retinol, bisabolol
Emma Stessman, a writer at Shop TODAY, says, "While I once religiously used retinol and worked my way up to stronger concentrations, I fell off the retinol train for a while, so now I feel like I'm back to the beginning."
She continues, "I restarted my routine with this face oil and haven't had any problems adjusting (aka no retinol "uglies" here). It's gentle enough as to not cause those unwanted effects, but still strong enough that I notice a difference in my skin! The oil feels super moisturizing, so it's great for my dry skin. While other retinols have given me those dreaded dry patches, I haven't noticed any while using this."
Retinol hand cream: Theraplush “Hold” Refillable Overnight Retinol Hand Repair Cream
- Also helps nourish nails
- Refills available
- Small amount of product
Retinol percentage: 0.05% | Key ingredients: Colloidal oatmeal, panthenol
Annie Shigo, a social media editorial assistant at Shop TODAY, recommends this hand cream that's formulated with 0.05% retinol. She says she's been using it every night and that it's "really moisturizing."
Worth the splurge: Shani Darden Skin Care Retinol Reform Treatment Serum
- Gentle
- Non-drying formula
- Pricey option
Retinol percentage: Not listed | Key ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, lactic acid, niacinamide, aloe vera extract, apple fruit extract
Madison San Miguel, an editorial assistant at Shop TODAY, recommends this retinol serum. She says, "It’s incredibly gentle and non-drying, so it is a great choice for someone new to retinol or with dry/sensitive skin (like myself!). I always notice my skin looks and feels a lot smoother the day after I use it."
How should a beginner start using retinol?
Beginners should start with a low concentration of retinol to build up their skin’s tolerance to it. "I usually recommend retinol concentration of 0.25% to 1%,” says Koh. “If you have sensitive skin, start with 0.25-0.3%,” she adds.
There are also a few things you should keep in mind when it comes to how many times a week you use retinol.
- Start with one application every three nights. “I inform patients to begin using a retinol or retinoid once every third night for one month, then once every other night for one month if tolerated, and then nightly if tolerated,” explains Camp. “Some people may not be able to tolerate a retinol nightly, but this does not mean you will forgo all benefits of the product if only used three or four times a week.”
- Mix it with moisturizer. “When beginning to use retinol, consider mixing a pea-size of it with an equally sized moisturizer before applying it to your skin,” says Camp. “This will dilute the retinol and may help you tolerate it better."
- Always use an SPF moisturizer in the morning. Retinol can make skin more sensitive to the sun, so it’s important to add SPF protection.
Ingredients to look for in retinols for beginners
Because retinol can be so drying on the skin when you first start to adjust to it, “it helps if retinol serum is formulated with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and/or cica and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and/or ceramides,” says Koh.
You might want to also use an additional hyaluronic acid product while using retinol.
Frequently asked questions
“Lower concentrations of retinol, between 0.1 and 0.5%, are recommended for beginners to reduce the risk of side effects and improve tolerability of the product,” says Camp. Those with sensitive skin should start out on the lower side. Once your skin adjusts, you can work your way up to 1%.
How we chose
Before choosing the best retinol products for beginners, we spoke with three skin care experts (two dermatologists and one esthetician) and included their go-to picks. We also included a favorite of Dr. Angela J. Lamb, a board-certified dermatologist who recently recommended various retinol products on TODAY.
Meet the experts
- Dr. Brendan Camp is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology and sees patients at MDCS Dermatology in New York.
- Kristin Gunn is a celebrity esthetician and owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa.
- Dr. Hee Jin Koh, MD, FAAD is a board certified dermatologist.
- Dr. Angela J. Lamb is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
