Everything You Need to Know About Retinol and the 14 Best Serums to Try Now

The brainchild of celebrity facialist Shani Darden, this gentle retinol serum is ideal for those who want to inject a dull complexion with some radiance. Containing lactic acid as well as retinol, it reveals a visibly more luminous glow. Plus, celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Kim Kardashian swear by the stuff.

Customer review: "Love applying this one overnight, waking up to even toned glowing skin every time. Good quality packaging, texture and dispenser too."

Another celebrity-favourite skincare brand, this retinol-infused serum works by promoting the production of collagen within the skin to boost elasticity, firm the skin and target fine lines and wrinkles. A great option if you specifically want to focus on signs of ageing.

Customer review: "This is the best product ! and yes probably the most expensive which would not mean anything in itself. My skin immediately feels soft and looks . as young as it can at my age, over 60. I am so glad I found this product and I imagine its great for any age, softening lines, scars, pores, etc."

I'd describe this as the perfect retinol starter serum. It contains just 0.2% pure retinol, so if you're in your 20s and only just thinking about retinol, then this will begin to target fine lines and even skin tone without causing any sensitivity or irritation.

Customer review: "Just started using retinol on my skin and this one is perfect. Might work my way up for for now this is the ideal amount: doesn’t irritate my skin and I can see results!"

A go-to brand for the likes of Victoria Beckham, Hailey Bieber and Priyanka Chopra to name a few. Who What Wear UK beauty editor Eleanor Vousden tested this very retinol over a six week period and noticed that her complexion had become more even-toned, her pigmentation from hormonal acne breakouts quickly lessened, and her skin had tons more radiance. Sold.

Customer review: "The only reason I won’t give this serum 5 stars, is the price. Overall, the serum was a delight to use and my skin did look great when using it. The consistency of the serum is more liquid than my usual retinol. This meant only a pea sized amount was needed for my face and neck. And the serum glided over my skin nicely. But using this serum repeatedly and long term unfortunately is not in my budget."

I'm a huge fan of Paula's Choice as a brand for its effective, hardworking formulations. This treatment is particularly good if you've been partial to a little sun worship in the past. It fades dark spots and repairs wrinkles caused by sun damage while building collagen within the skin for a plumper, more radiant complexion long-term.

Customer review: "I really like this, I have very sensitive skin but wanted a retinol and this is super gentle and moisturising. I'm not sure if it's due to the retinol or the hydration but either way I feel fine lines look improved."

To minimise irritation and redness, opt for a slow-release retinol like this one from The Inkey List. It tackles blemishes and evens skin tone over time to leave you with brighter, smoother skin.

Customer review: "I’ve got my whole family on this because it’s that good! Made my skin improve so much. I had a lot of tinny bumps on my skin which I couldn’t get rid of but after 2 weeks on this and they all gone. So glad I started using it."

Specially formulated with Oskia's own Super-Nutrient Retinoid Complex (a mix of retinol, vitamin C and provitamin D3), this is a gentle nighttime serum that will help you wake to plumper, healthier-looking skin come morning.

Customer review: "I have been using this product for about 3 years now and it has completely transformed my skin. I have less, if any, blemishes now and my skin texture has greatly improved."

Containing Swertia flower extract and hyaluronic acid, this line-reducing, skin-strengthening retinol serum also delivers a hearty dose of hydration. It uses three different ingredients—fast-acting retinoid, time-released retinol and a retinol booster—so you can trust that it's going to get to work quickly.

Customer review: "I absolutely love this serum! Now that I've started using this, despite the price, I will continue to repurchase. It has made such a difference to my skin - my complexion looks brighter and healthier and both any fine lines or enlarged pores are minimised. Honestly, can't sing it's praises enough, I really reccommend!!"

The name says it all with this retinol serum. It's created for beginners with a 0.25% concentration of pure retinol alongside the brand's skin saver complex. I like that it's able to deliver all of those retinol benefits without causing sensitivity.

Customer review: "I love this product, it’s a great beginners retinol. Based off my experience with it, I didn’t peel, I didn’t purge a ton. I just got a few small pimples but they went away fairly quickly. I noticed that my skin was brighter just a week after using this product. I’m only about 6 weeks in, my skin has cleared up tremendously, it looks brighter and more plump."

This silky serum sinks quickly into the skin and has the added benefit of skin-plumping collagen so your skin will look healthier, glowier and improve elasticity. 

Customer review: "I tried a sample of this and I swear I saw a difference straight away. My 11's looked much improved after 3 uses. Very happy with it."

This retinol serum means business and probably isn't one for beginners. After the first use, be prepared to wake up to visibly brighter, smoother and more youthful-looking skin. There are very few retinols out there that can compete with this one in terms of results.

Customer review: "I finished a bottle of this recently and I really enjoyed using it. Texture is lovely, thicker than a traditional serum but still lightweight and sinks in. Made a big difference to my hormonal breakouts, they were both less frequent and less likely to leave marks on my skin. As much as i like it, I struggle to justify the price though as there are definitely cheaper, equally effective options."

If you are prone to breakouts, look no further than this high street hero. Packed full of ceramides and niacinamide, it is specifically formulated to reduce the appearance of post-acne marks by exfoliating and brightening the skin.

Customer review: "Been using this for a few weeks and noticed how much brighter my complexion is! I had a compliment saying my skin looked very glowy and healthy and I swear it is down to this product, haven’t seen much visible reduction to my acne scars or pigmentation but overall it is definitely changing my complexion for the better!"

One of the best products I've had the pleasure of trying in the last few months. As someone who is blemish-prone, not only has it helped to really clear my skin, but it's also the brightest, smoothest, plumpest and generally happiest it's been for a long time. So much so, my husband has been continually feeding back how good it looks – for reference, he's someone who didn't bat an eyelid at my new curtain bangs. High praise indeed.

Customer review: "My first time using an actual decent stable retinol. It’s extremely gentle on my skin and it doesn’t break me out. I notice that if I use it after I’ve had a breakout it really helps speed up the healing process. I use it 2 to 3 times a week and it pairs really well with the vitamin c of this brand in the morning."

If all of this retinol talk is leaving you confused but you still want in on the benefits, Medik8's Crystal Retinal range is for you. It's available in lots of different strengths. Start at 1 and work your way up through the different numbers. Trust me—you'll have minimal irritation and will reap some very impressive plumping, smoothing results.

Customer review: "Never written a review for a skincare product before but tbis has blown me away. I’ve always had pretty acne prone skin and this has completely cleared my skin up and it’s never looked better. I bought it for the purpose of reducing fine lines and have been using it for a few months now - I’m not sure if my wrinkles have reduced but it’s still the absolute holy grail for how clear and fresh my skin now looks - I literally never bother wearing make up anymore now I have this product - it’s incredible!"

Scarring and hyperpigmentation are some of the most stubborn skincare concerns out there, and while wearing SPF daily (to prevent UV from causing further inflammation) and using ingredients like vitamin C (to brighten skin) will help, nothing quite beats a high strength retinoid. Powered by tretinoin (an retinoid typically only available on prescription), this serum works hard and fast to transform skin tone and texture.

Customer review: "I tried multiple retinol serums over the years, none of which helped to clear my stubborn acne and the red marks that every spot leaves behind. After three months of using this my skin was transformed. I now rarely break out at all, and my hyperpigmentation and scarring are gradually but noticeably fading."

The eye area is delicate and prone to sensitivity so your regular retinol serum may be too harsh to apply here. But of course, if you want to address fine lines, wrinkles, and discolouration in the eye area, retinol really is your best friend. Combining retinol with ceramides (to moisturise skin and stregthen the skin barrier), this serum was specifically formulated with the eye area in mind.

Customer review: "I bought this product as I started to notice some fine lines under my eyes. I have terribly sensitive skin so I decided to start with strength number 3. Using 2-3 times per week I have found that this has improved my eye area greatly. I haven’t found that this has reacted with my skin or make it dry. Would purchase again!"