Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that has been proven to be an effective skincare ingredient. It is used to treat a variety of skin issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and acne. Retinol exfoliates the skin's top layer, helping remove dead skin cells and stimulate collagen production. This can result in a more youthful appearance and glowing complexion.
When picking the best retinol for your skin, there are several factors to consider: the concentration of retinol, other ingredients that may help address your specific concerns and how regularly you plan on using your product and if you have any sun sensitivity associated with it.
Our team has examined hundreds of retinol products available online to help you pick the best option for your skin's needs. We evaluated options from brands such as CeraVe, Versed, The Ordinary and many more.
Our team has chosen the Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment Cream as the best overall retinol you can get online. This anti-aging product has garnered tons of positive reviews and a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
This cream is made with a special combination of retinol, antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients that all work together to improve skin tone and texture and to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has peptides, licorice extract and vitamin C.
Customers said it has a light texture that doesn't feel greasy when applied. Instead, it absorbs easily into the surface without leaving any residue behind. It works gently on delicate skin so you don't need to worry about irritation or drying out the skin.
The A313 Vitamin A Retinol Cream is worth considering if you prefer a cream-type retinol. This French cult favourite has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
This retinol cream features a rich pomade-like texture to deliver high-strength vitamin A, helping promote cell turnover for clearer, glowing skin. It can be applied directly to the face or neck area. It has a thick and rich texture that spreads easily and sinks in quickly, making it suitable for those with dry skin.
This cream also works wonders for acne as it helps reduce oiliness on the face while promoting clearer-looking skin with reduced breakouts. But as with all retinol products, it may cause slight dryness in some cases so regular moisturising is necessary when using this product.
For the best retinol serum, we recommend the Alpha-H Vitamin A Serum with 0.5% Retinol, which has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Adore Beauty.
With its low concentration, this serum can be used by all skin types and those just starting their retinol journey. Apart from being made in Australia, it is cruelty-free and free from artificial fragrances, sulphates, mineral oils, alcohol and parabens. It helps protect against environmental damage such as pollution, sun damage and oxidative stress from free radicals which can lead to premature aging of the skin.
The serum is lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin so there's no heavy residue or greasiness left behind on the face after use. It also has a gentle yet effective formula, making it suitable even for sensitive skin. Despite being advertised as artificial fragrance-free, some users said it smells a bit funky, but added that it's not really a deal-breaker.
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With a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars on Mecca, the Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Oil is our pick for the best oil-type retinol product.
Sunday Riley's Luna Sleeping Oil is a luxurious, lightweight oil with powerful retinol, essential oils and blue tansy that work together to improve texture and brightness while you sleep. Retinol helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots while essential oils provide nourishment and hydration. The blue tansy adds a cooling, calming effect on the skin while balancing excess sebum production.
Many users have said this oil is a game changer in their routine. They said it has softened the appearance of fine lines around their eyes and their overall skin looks smoother and softer. The oil itself is lightweight and absorbs quickly. However, it can be irritating for people who are new to retinol.
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For people looking for a retinol eye cream, we recommend the Dermalogica Age Reversal Eye Complex. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The product contains a complex blend of powerful ingredients that work together to create an effective anti-aging solution. The key active ingredients are vitamin A, palmitoyl tripeptide-5, licorice root extract and soy protein extract. It also contains natural oils to help soothe redness and hydrate the skin.
Apart from its non-irritating formula, customers said the eye cream is lightweight and doesn't have any weird smell. It sinks quickly and leaves the under-eye area hydrated overnight. The formula is also gentle to ensure you get the full benefits without any adverse side effects. However, several reviews mentioned that it requires continuous use for months before you can see any noticeable difference.
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The Ordinary's Retinol 0.5% in Squalane is our pick for the best affordable option, with a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on Myer.
The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane is a beginner-friendly and affordable anti-aging treatment designed to reduce the signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. This product contains a concentration of 0.5% pure retinol and squalane, a natural emollient that helps protect skin from environmental stressors while leaving it feeling hydrated and soft.
Customers gave positive feedback on the product's ease of use, lightweight texture and value for money. You only need 2–3 drops each use to cover the entire face. It sinks in quickly without any residue, leaving the skin feeling hydrated. However, people with oily skin may find it heavy even for night use.
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For the best high-strength retinol, our team selected the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10, which has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Adore Beauty.
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 is specially formulated with a unique crystal encapsulation system to slowly release retinaldehyde into the skin for minimal irritation. This helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving skin tone and increasing collagen production.
This retinol has a lightweight, creamy formula suitable for all skin types and can be used in the evening only. Many customers reported fantastic results after just 4 weeks, adding that they noticed improvements to their skin tone and decreases in wrinkles and fine lines. In addition, several reviews mentioned that it helps reduce blemishes and acne while still protecting against further signs of aging.
We picked The Inkey List Retinol Serum as the best option for beginners. On Amazon, it has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Featuring a slow-release formula, this retinol serum helps target the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles without irritation. It's ideal for normal, oil, dry or combination skin types. Apart from a lightweight texture, the serum is cruelty-free and vegan.
A relatively affordable retinol, this serum is gentle enough for daily use in the evening. It has a thin yet creamy texture that absorbs quickly without leaving any sticky residue. Users said it doesn't irritate their skin but cautioned that those with sensitive skin may experience redness at the beginning.
You might want to check out La Roche-Posay Redermic Retinol Serum if you have sensitive skin. It's our best pick for this category, earning a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
La Roche-Posay Redermic Retinol Serum is a powerful anti-ageing serum formulated to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. With a combination of pure retinol for instant release and gradual retinol for progressive release, this serum works to effectively fight visible signs of ageing without compromising the skin barrier.
It also features some skin-nourishing supporting ingredients such as vitamin B3 and 10% glycerin, which work to keep the skin hydrated and retain its natural moisture barrier. Despite these hydrating ingredients, the formula is thin and won't clog pores even if you have oily skin.
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With a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is our best pick for acne.
This retinol serum is formulated for smoother and more even-toned skin. It has a gel texture and a non-greasy feel, making it ideal for those with oily skin. For added benefits, it has licorice extract to brighten the complexion and 3 essential ceramides to maintain the skin's natural moisture barrier.
Customers loved the gel texture, easy application and affordable price tag. While it's not the strongest retinol option out there, it's more than enough to help eliminate acne flare-ups and fade marks. It leaves the skin feeling nourished and soft while balancing excess sebum. A few customers said it smells a bit like gasoline, but added that it fades a way after a few seconds.
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The Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum is our pick for the best plant-based retinol. On Cult Beauty, this product has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
The serum contains non-drying encapsulated retinol and natural retinol alternatives that help retexturise skin, smoothen the appearance of fine lines and improve overall skin health. It also keeps pores clear, which is great for preventing breakouts.
This is vegan, cruelty-free and does not contain any parabens, silicones, sulphates or artificial fragrances. The serum is suitable for sensitive skin and is a great starter retinol. It does take time to see results with this product, but customers said it's worth the wait. Some added that it has helped fade acne scars and minimise the appearance of pores.
Retinol is a derivative of vitamin A. It's one of the only skincare ingredients that's been extensively tested and studied, so we know that it does work.
Retinol works to increase the rate of cell turnover in the skin, helping with issues such as skin aging, pigmentation and acne.
How do you use retinol?
Retinol comes in different forms, with the main 2 being creams and serums.
At times, retinol can be irritating, especially if too much is used at a time. It's highly recommended to start slow. Beginners should use it once a week, slowly building that up to every other night.
Try to avoid using other active ingredients at the same time. Instead, follow up retinol with a gentle and hydrating moisturiser.
Retinol is best used at night as it can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun. Always make sure you're lathering on plenty of sunscreen during the day.
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Methodology
20+ Brands considered
100+ Products compared
11 Best retinol products chosen
Why you can trust our picks
We compared retinol products from the following brands:
A313
Alpha-H
Aspect
CeraVe
Dermalogica
Dr Dennis Gross
L’Oreal
La Roche-Posay
LilyAna Naturals
Mad Hippy
MediK8
Murad
Neutrogena
Olay
Ole Henrikson
Paula's Choice
Peter Thomas Roth
SkinCeuticals
Sunday Riley
The Inkey List
The Ordinary
Versed
We narrowed down our choices based on customer ratings and reviews (as of February 2023). We also considered each retinol's key product features, ease of use, strength, texture, packaging and value for money. We came up with what we believe are the 11 best retinol you can get right now in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
We picked Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment Cream as the best retinol product available online.
Retinol and tretinoin are both types of vitamin A, often used in creams and other topical applications. Retinol is a natural form of vitamin A found in many animal sources such as dairy, fish and eggs. Tretinoin is a synthetic form of vitamin A developed to be used topically and is more concentrated than retinol.
It is recommended to start slow with retinol. In the beginning, you should use retinol every other night for 4 weeks before using it every night, provided you didn't experience any irritation.
Yes, you should wear sunscreen when using retinol because this makes the skin more sensitive to UV rays.
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Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in reviews. She has previously written articles about property investment, finances, and health. She’s a huge fan of Tina Fey, bubble teas and dogs. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila and is currently writing her thesis for a Master’s degree in Communication
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