8 best retinols for brighter, firmer skin, tried and tested by a beauty editor

I’ve tested each formula for a minimum of a month on cleansed skin Georgia Day/The StandardThe best retinol products can improve the firmness, radiance and texture of skin, as well as address its overall health. Known as the gold standard in anti-ageing ingredients by experts alike, retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is regularly touted as the best way to tackle everything from dullness and slackening contours to tone and texture and enlarged pores. That said, confusion around retinol and other vitamin A actives persists. “Retinoids are essentially a family of vitamin A molecules,” explains Daniel Isaacs, chief product officer and co-founder at Medik8. “The main difference between them is how many steps they need to go through in the skin before they reach retinoic acid, which is the active form of vitamin A.“The skin's cellular receptors can only directly recognise and bind to retinoic acid, so all forms need to be converted by the body first before they can be used.“So, retinol needs to convert first to retinal and then to retinoic acid, whereas retinal only has that final conversion to make. Prescription retinoids, such as tretinoin, are retinoic acid, so they don’t require any conversion at all,” he adds.Best retinols at a glance Best overall – Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6: £55, Lookfantastic.comBest budget – The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane: £7.20, Sephora.co.ukBest for beginners – Skin Rocks Retinoid 1 Vitamin A Face Serum: £70, Skinrocks.comBest for breakout-prone skin – Sunday Riley A+High-Dose Retinoid Serum: £70, Marksandspencer.comBest for dry skin – Dr Sebagh Retinol Night Repair: £72, Harrods.comSo, if you’re anything like me, a middle-aged woman whose contours seem to be slowly slackening, whose lines seem to be more pronounced and whose skin post-summer is flecked with sunspots, where is the best place to start? “The biggest mistake people make with retinoids is assuming that the highest concentration will give them the best results,” says Isaacs. “It really comes down to what your skin is used to. If you’re completely new to vitamin A, I’d start low and build up gradually – that gives the skin time to acclimatise and is much more likely to keep you using it consistently. If you’ve been using retinoids for some time and your skin is comfortable with them, then you can start moving through higher concentrations. But I wouldn’t rush it.”On the subject of rushing it, one of the key things to note, especially if you’re new to retinol, is the frequency with which you use it. Although irritation still occurs (and is what most people worry about when starting retinol for the first time), thankfully today’s sophisticated formulations and innovations in technology mean most formulas are able to mitigate irritation virtually entirely. “The most common mistake I see is people going too hard, too quickly,” says Isaacs. “There’s a temptation with retinoids to think that using the highest strength every night will get you better results faster, but that’s really not the case. Your skin needs time to acclimatise. “I always recommend starting with a strength that’s appropriate for your skin and introducing it gradually. Twice a week for the first two weeks, then every other night for the next two, before working up to nightly use if your skin is comfortable.” Retinol is a long-term game, not a quick fix Georgia Day/The StandardAnd if you do experience any issues, such as redness, tightness or peeling, ease off and give your skin time to recover before you reintroduce it. As many skin health experts say, retinol is a long-term game, not a quick fix.As for what else you should consider when choosing the best retinol for you, it comes down to formulation as much as strength. Choosing a formula that is properly stabilised is essential, as is the delivery system it uses to get the actives into the skin. Products that use encapsulation technology tend to be effective, as it protects the active ingredient and ensures its potency can be delivered without compromising on skin comfort. This is especially important for anyone with sensitive skin, so do your due diligence and find something that will work for you. Finally, it’s important to note that retinoids of all kinds will increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so regular SPF every morning is non-negotiable. Anyone pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive should avoid all vitamin A as a precaution. In the meantime, look for plant-based vitamin A alternatives instead.How I testedAny kind of retinoid needs time to take full effect and deliver results. Thanks to the nature of these products, each of them was tested gradually, building up regularity of use over time. While some are or were staples in my skincare routine already, several of the products tested here were new to me. All were tested for a minimum of a month on cleansed skin.Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6Georgia Day/The Standard★★★★★Best: Overall retinol What we love: A key differentiator in the Crystal Retinal collection is that it uses a unique retinaldehyde complex that is 11 times more powerful than traditional retinol. Alongside this active are soothing ingredients like vitamin E and glycerin, which help to support overall skin health, as well as reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve elasticity and create a more even tone.Take note: The product forms part of the brand's graduated retinal treatment programme containing 6 formulas that range from one to 24. While I trialled Crystal Retinal 6, which is suitable for regular users, it’s important to choose your formula according to your skin’s own tolerance.After just a couple of weeks, I saw visible results on my skin that included a brighter, more uniform tone, a reduction in pigmentation and dark spots, and an improvement in firmness, especially around the lower half of my face. The creamy consistency of this serum is a bonus, as it's a lovely formula to apply, and it’s also worth saying that I have never experienced any irritation, flakiness or dryness throughout any of my crystal retinal journey.Key ingredients: 0.06% retinaldehyde, vitamin E, glycerinThe Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in SqualaneGeorgia Day/Boots★★★★☆Best: Budget retinol What we love: A gentle yet effective formula for beginners, this retinol oil-serum hybrid tackles issues such as fine lines, enlarged pores, dullness and dark spots. The inclusion of squalane in the formula helps skin feel soft and supple with continued use.Take note: The scent is a little overpowering for my taste, and the formula feels less sophisticated than others I tried, but considering the price, those are trade-offs I’d be willing to make.There’s not much to fault about this serum; the simple, straightforward formula does what it says on the tin, and it delivers exceptional value for money. I can’t say that I noted a dramatic difference in individual issues or particular areas of my skin, but I definitely noticed a change in the overall health and vitality of my skin, which is absolutely a win.Key ingredients: SqualaneSunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum Georgia Day/Sunday Riley★★★★☆Best: Retinol for breakout-prone skinWhat we love: This bills itself as a high-strength retinol serum without the associated irritation. As well as a retinoid ester blend, it contains encapsulated retinol to minimise sensitivity and a host of soothing botanical actives to ensure that skin feels comfortable and cosseted as the active ingredients get to work.Take note: A moderately strong formula, this is not suited for those with sensitive skin or anyone who’s just starting out with retinol.I was impressed with this serum. In the initial stages, it felt lovely to apply; it has an emulsion-like consistency, which means it glides onto skin and feels nicely hydrating, but as I continued using it over time, I started to see visible results. The most notable ones for me were a reduction in breakouts around my chin and a brightening effect, especially on areas of post-breakout hyperpigmentation.Key ingredients: 5% retinoid ester blend, 1% liposomal-encapsulated retinol blend, 0.5% blue-green algae, encapsulated CoQ10, Hawaiian white honey, bisabolol, cactus extract, gingerSkin Rocks Retinoid 1 Vitamin A Face SerumGeorgia Day/SpaceNK★★★★☆Best: For retinol beginnersWhat we love: Containing A gentle entry-level concentration of retinol, this serum by renowned skin expert Caroline Hirons is designed for use in the evenings to refine the texture and improve the brightness of skin.Take note: While this is great for anyone new to retinol, experienced users will find it much too mild. That said, it’s a great stepping stone product for anyone wanting to incorporate retinol into their nightly routine more seriously.The first thing I noticed about this product was how nice my skin felt after using it every time; it felt hydrated and cushioned, a feeling that lasted overnight and through to morning. I was also impressed by how quickly I started seeing a difference in the uniformity and brightness of my skin.Key ingredients: 0.2% hydroxypinacolone retinoate (HPR)Naturium Retinol Complex SerumGeorgia Day/SpaceNK★★★★☆Best: Retinol for a gentle skin refreshWhat we love: Helping to improve the texture and radiance of skin over time, this serum uses a combination of retinol and plant-derived actives with a similar action to retinol. Described as a good option for anyone new to retinol, it's a gentle way to start your treatment regimen.Take note: This is a very watery formula which anyone who prefers a thicker serum or cream may find too fluid.This was a lovely overall serum in that it left my skin looking plump and bright afterwards, and over time it did improve the texture of my skin. Although I did not see any dramatic results after using it, I appreciated the formula as a nice addition to my existing routine.Key ingredients: Bio-retinol, encapsulated retinol, bakuchiolDr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic SerumGeorgia Day/Cult Beauty★★★★★Best: Retinol for congested skinWhat we love: It's the combination of retinol and ferulic acid that makes this formula interesting. While the retinol is designed to tackle the signs of ageing like lack of radiance, lack of firmness and fine lines, ferulic acid has potent antioxidant properties as well as anti-inflammatory and soothing capabilities.Take note: As it contains a few AHAs alongside the retinol, those with sensitive and reactive skin may find it too aggressive.A bit of a hero in my routine, this is a formula that I have used for years and go back to often. As well as delivering impressive results on redness in the first couple of weeks, this serum really helps to refine the texture of my skin, keep breakouts at bay and reduce overall congestion.Key ingredients: Retinol, ferulic acid, bakuchiol, rambutan, salicylic acid, linoleic acid, glycolic acid, squalane, hyaluronic acidDr Sebagh Retinol Night RepairGeorgia Day/Harrods★★★☆☆Best: Retinol for dry skinWhat we love: This treatment bills itself as a potent retinal formula that's also good for sensitive skin, thanks to an oil-rich base that helps to mitigate any irritation and dryness.Take note: If you’re prone to excess oil or breakouts, you may find this too much for your skin. I didn’t love the smell either, but it wasn’t enough to put me off using it.I really enjoyed the oil-like consistency of this formula, which felt nourishing and comforting on my dehydrated skin. While I would say results were slower to see than others I tried, I did notice that enlarged pores on my cheeks did seem smaller and less noticeable after prolonged use.Key ingredients: 0.3% retinol, rosehip oil, vitamin E, coconut oil, squalaneInnbeauty Project Retinol Remix 1% Retinol TreatmentGeorgia Day/Sephora★★★★☆Best: Retinol for all skin typesWhat we love: Formulated with three types of retinol for a layered slow-release effect, this cream also includes peptide and tranexamic acid to work on firmness and brightening. With plenty of soothing ingredients to hydrate and calm skin, it claims to minimise any of the associated irritation from traditional retinol creams.Take note: Although it says it helps brighten dark spots, I found it to be more effective on fine lines and wrinkles. For stubborn dark spots, I would use it in conjunction with a standalone vitamin C serum.I love the texture of this cream and found that it left my skin feeling supple and elastic. I also noticed a slight reduction in laughter lines around my mouth and overall, my skin just felt healthier and more even-toned. A product I would definitely use again.Key ingredients: 1% vegan retinol, peptide, tranexamic acid, centella asiatica, Tazman pepper™, German chamomileWhat are the best retinol products?It goes without saying that there are endless retinol treatments on the market to choose from, but my main takeaway is to opt for a concentration according to your skin and stick with it. As with most things, consistency really does pay off, but do as the experts say and introduce retinol into your regimen slowly if you are a beginner. When it comes to my personal preferences, I found the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 hard to beat, given that it delivered on multiple issues with proper visible improvement. Why trust me?Georgia Day is a beauty journalist, editor and consultant with more than a decade of experience writing about beauty, hair, skincare and wellness. Having held editorial roles at titles including ELLE and Glamour, Georgia now contributes to publications including The Standard, British Vogue, and Sheerluxe.