The best retinol overall
Differin Gel is the retinoid. Getting your hands on one of these little blue and white tubes used to require a prescription from your dermatologist, but it’s now available for anyone to pick up at the drugstore. And you truly can’t beat it in terms of effectiveness and affordability.
Differin is primarily known as an acne treatment, but you can expect great results for just about any of the common skin concerns retinol is known to address. One potentially major downside is that it can take a while to see any of these results — the brand says 2 to 4 weeks — and your skin may get worse before it gets better.
Per the product description, “common side effects include dryness, redness, irritation and burning/stinging.” If you experience them, they should subside after the first two weeks or so.
As always, it’s probably a good idea to check with a dermatologist before you introduce anything major into your skincare routine.
Despite the possibility of harsh side effects, Differin is a popular retinol choice because, well, it works. The gel has a 4.0 rating out of 5 on Amazon, based on more than 1,500 customer reviews, and has been featured in tons of publications, including Prevention and NY Mag’s The Strategist. It was also a 2017 Allure Best of Beauty winner.
Pros: Affordable, prescription-strength retinoid available OTC
Cons: May cause negative reaction within the first few weeks of use
Buy Differin Gel at Ulta for $28.99The best retinol for sensitive skin
I have relatively sensitive skin, but I still want the benefits that come from powerful ingredients. First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum helped ease me into a retinol routine without turning my face into a peeling red mess.
It contains 0.25% retinol concentrate and peptides for anti-aging effects, along with the brand’s Skin Saver Complex, which is full of soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C + E, aloe, and colloidal oatmeal. The result is a powerful formula that won’t aggravate even the most sensitive skin types.
I applied the serum every other night, using every single drop of the bottle, and experienced no irritation. While the formula includes hydrating ingredients, I definitely needed an additional moisturizer on top when I applied this, but that’s to be expected — I almost never use a serum alone for hydration.
The packaging on this stuff is totally genius. It comes in an airtight bottle with a twist-up pump that minimizes the serum’s exposure to light. While I only have very minimal fine lines and am not super prone to breakouts, I noticed a difference in the softness of my skin and how quickly blemishes faded.
My First Aid Beauty retinol recommendation is backed up by editors at Town & Country, Elle, and Prevention.
Pros: Gentle formula, clever airtight packaging, won’t irritate sensitive skin
Cons: Pricey
Buy First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum 0.25% Pure Concentrate at Sephora for $58The best retinol eye cream
Yes, the Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream is expensive. Like, ridiculously so — it’s $85 for 0.5 ounces. But it’s also really, really good. I use my tube approximately every other night, alternating with a non-retinol eye cream, which means it has lasted me a long time.
The fragrance-free formula contains a powerful blend of retinol, babchi edible seeds, and palm, cotton, and linseed oils for anti-aging. Moisturizing hyaluronic acid rounds out the mix and helps mitigate the sensitizing effects of the retinol.
+Retinol Firming Eye Cream did sting the skin under my eyes the first few times I used it, but the longer I have it in my routine the less I notice any irritation. One of my favorite details is the cooling applicator. To apply, I squeeze the base to dispense some product and drag the metal tip in a half circle from my inner corner out to my orbital bone, being careful not to tug the delicate skin. Then I pat the eye cream until it’s fully absorbed.
Plenty of other shoppers and experts agree this product is worth the hefty price tag. It has a 5-star rating on review website Beautypedia and has been recommended by Byrdie, Best Products, and Elle.
Pros: Specifically designed for eyes, contains hyaluronic acid, cooling applicator
Cons: Extremely pricey, might sting at first
Buy the Kate Somerville +Retinol Firming Eye Cream at Sephora for $85The best retinol booster
My cocktail mixing skills leave much to be desired, but my skincare mixing skills are on point. If you like playing mix-master with your beauty routine, the Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Booster might be for you.
On its own, it’s a lightweight retinol serum, but the thin texture makes it easy to blend with a thicker moisturizer or hydrating serum. This is great news if you don’t want to replace anything in your current line-up — simply add the retinol into your existing routine and enjoy the anti-aging benefits.
This formula is very potent, so it’s maybe not the best choice for beginner retinol users. That said, if you’ve used retinol before you probably won’t find this too sensitizing, especially if you cocktail it with something soothing. The Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Booster has been featured by Elle, PopSugar, Allure, and is an Amazon’s Choice pick.
Pros: Lightweight formula can be added to moisturizer or used alone, high 1% retinol concentration
Cons: Might be too harsh for sensitive skin or first-time retinol users
Buy the Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Booster on Amazon for $49.40 or $52The best retinol moisturizer
Looking for a good multi-tasking product? Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream is the retinol-meets-moisturizer combination you’ve been waiting for all your life. Who says laziness never pays off, right?
Neutrogena makes some of the best retinol products available at the drugstore, period, and the Regenerating Cream is a beauty editor favorite. It couches an accelerated Retinol SA booster in a hydrating formula with plumping hyaluronic acid. The texture is creamy, but not so thick that it can’t be worn under makeup.
Experts at Prevention, Elle, and Best Products praise the Regenerating Cream for its effective formulation at a reasonable price and Amazon shoppers rate the cream a 3.6 out of 5 based on 370+ customer reviews.
This isn’t as concentrated a retinol product as the others on this list, but it’s a great 2-for-1 way to get some anti-aging benefits on a budget.
Pros: Affordable, two products in one, anti-aging moisturizer
Cons: Non-air-tight jar packaging, not as powerful as some pricier formulas
Buy the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream on Amazon for $22.49Check out our other skincare product buying guides
Using a serum as part of your skincare routine is essential to keep your skin looking youthful and to keep those darn wrinkles at bay. Considered the superheroes of skincare, serums are packed with powerful ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin.
Anti-aging serums deal primarily with fine lines, wrinkles, and dehydration, but also tone, texture, and dark spots. Some of the best anti-aging Ingredients to look out for are vitamin C, for brightening the skin, hyaluronic acid for plumping it up, and Retinol, a vitamin A derivative that treats a multitude of skin concerns from wrinkles to acne.
Here are our top picks for the best anti-aging serums you can buy:
- Best serum overall: Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum
- Best serum on a budget: Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Anti-aging Serum
- Best serum to splurge on: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum
- Best all-natural serum: Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum
- Best serum for acne-prone skin: Instanatural Age-defying Skin Clearing Serum
It's good for your skin to remove makeup every night, but it can be a pain without the right makeup remover.
We've done our research and tested the best makeup removers on the market to come up our top recommendations. Whether you're a devout double cleanser or prefer removing makeup on the fly, there's something on this list for everyone.
Here are the best makeup removers you can buy:
- Best overall: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
- Best cleansing oil: Tatcha Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil
- Best foaming cleanser: Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash
- Best cleansing wipes: Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Cloths
- Best milk cleanser: Avène Eau Thermale Gentle Milk Cleanser
- The best eye makeup remover you can buy
Whether you're new to the exfoliation game or a seasoned skincare pro, Glossier's Solution is the exfoliator you should be reaching for. Its powerful mix of acids dissolves dead skin cells and improves your complexion, giving your face a gorgeous glow.
You might also like the Simple Kind to Skin Smoothing Facial Scrub, the Dermalogical Daily Microfoliant, the Juara Radiance Enzyme Scrub, and the Ole Henriksen Transforming Walnut Scrub.
The best moisturizers you can buyEveryone wants healthy, smooth, and soft skin. Dry skin not only looks dull and flaky, it also feels tight and itchy. The solution? A good moisturizer. Our favorite moisturizer for both face and body is the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.
You might also like the Neutrogena Hydro Boost, the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat, the Pacifica Coconut Probiotic Water Rehab Cream, the Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion, the Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream, the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, and the Aveeno Active Naturals Skin Relief Hand Cream.
The best sunscreen you can buyDaily use of a good sunscreen like the Coppertone Ultraguard SPF 70 or the Goddess Garden Organics' Everyday SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen will fend off sunburns today, and help prevent the skin damage that leads to aged, wrinkled, blotchy skin later on in life. Here are our top picks for the best sunscreen you can buy:
- Best sunscreen overall: Coppertone Ultraguard SPF 70
- Best mineral-based sunscreen overall: Goddess Garden Organics Everyday SPF 30 Natural
- Best spray-on sunscreen: Bare Republic Mineral Spray Vanilla-Coco SPF 50
- Best facial sunscreen: Neutrogena Pure & Free Sunscreen SPF 50
- Best cheap facial sunscreen: Simple Facial Moisturizer with SPF 15
- Best sunscreen for kids: Thinkbaby Safe Sunscreen SPF 50
Eye creams and serums are likely the product you know you should be using but have no idea how to actually shop for. If you're unsure of where to start, reach for the Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic + Retinol Eye Serum. Buyers and experts agree that this is the cream of the crop when it comes to treating under eye circles.
You'll also love the Sunday Riley Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Cream, the Aveeno Absolutely Ageless Eye Cream, the Uma Absolute Aging Eye Oil, and the Lancôme Vissionaire Yeux.
The best clay masks you can buyClay masks are an easy and cost-effective way to give your skin a boost without hitting the spa. Our top pick is the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask because it is a super affordable all-natural mask that deep cleans your pores.
You might also like the Glossier Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Mask, the Pure Biology Clay Face Mask, the L'Oréal Paris Pure Clay Exfoliate & Refine Mask, or the Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Skin Clay Mask.
The best body oil you can buyIf smooth, supple skin is what you're looking for, then the Fresh Sugar Ultra-Nourishing Body Oil is the bottle you want to reach for.
You might also like the Jao Goe Oil, the Herbivore Jasmine Glowing Hydrating Oil, the Kypris Body Elixir Inflorescence, and the Burt's Bees Body Oil.
The best face cream for dry skinIf you're one of those people whose face feels flaky whether it's December or August, finding the right face cream can be difficult. But if full-on hydration and protection are what you're after, Dr. Jart+ Ceramindin Cream is your best bet.
You should also consider the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, the Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, and the Youth To The People Age Prevention Superfood Cream.
