Your Sensitive Skin Will Love These Gentle Retinoids

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Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Serum

Credit: Versed

The encapsulated retinol—at a 0.03% concentration—and bakuchiol (at 1.05% concentration) in this lightweight, budget-friendly formula are purportedly offset by anti-inflammatory antioxidants.

Peach & Lily Retinal for All

Credit: Peach & Lily

“Our mission was to create one of the most powerful non-prescription formulas that even the most sensitive skin could use without worry,” says Yoon of Peach and Lily’s Retinal for All, which features encapsulated 0.1% retinaldehyde (aka retinal) coupled with ectoin, a substance that’s said to prevent irritation triggered by retinoids.

Glossier Universal Pro-Retinol

Credit: Glossier

To stave off the potential dryness and peeling associated with retinol and retinoic acid, the team at Glossier used a hybrid of retinol and sunflower seed fatty acids called retinyl sunflowerate in their creamy night serum. They say you can expect a little extra smoothing and resurfacing power due to the presence of stevia leaf extract in the formula, and a dewy, healthy glow when you wake up in the morning, thanks to the moisture-binding humectants glycerin and mondo grass root extract.

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Foy x Dr. Collins Night Treatment Oil

Credit: Foy

Dr. Collins’s waterless skin care line includes this night treatment oil with retinyl retinoate (a retinyl ester) and hexyl resorcinol, which she says is a free radical neutralizer that reduces DNA damage, rosehip oil, sea buckthorn oil, macadamia nut oil, and all eight forms of vitamin E to drive hydration into the skin.

Biossance Squalane + Retinol Night Serum

Credit: Biossance

Biossance’s newest retinol serum packs a one-two punch with a duo of encapsulated time-release retinol and retinal. Pair that combo with antioxidants from rosemary and saffron, which is said to stabilize those retinoids, and sugarcane-derived squalane, the brand’s signature hydrator that’s in all its formulations, and you have a recipe for an effective skin corrector and wrinkle reducer. “There’s a reason it’s always sold out on this [the Biossance] website,” says one reviewer.

First Aid Beauty FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum 0.25% Pure Concentrate

Credit: First Aid Beauty

Touted as a beginner retinol, First Aid Beauty’s Skin Lab Retinol Serum can help to firm, even out tone, and reduce pore size. It’s also packed with colloidal oatmeal and aloe vera to offset its strength.

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SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.25

Credit: SkinMedica

Similar to First Aid Beauty’s serum, this retinol complex from SkinMedica has a retinol concentration of 0.25%. The difference-maker here when it comes to gentler formulation is that the retinol is encapsulated with an antioxidant technology that’s said to counter dryness and peeling.

Honest Beauty Honestly Pure Retinyl Serum

Credit: Honest Beauty

Retinyl linoleate, a retinyl ester, mingles with hyaluronic acids in this night treatment that would be a nice option for anyone with especially reactive skin. “I was looking for a starter retinol as I have never used one before,” said one reviewer. “This one is gentle and works really well. It has fought my acne, scars, and hyperpigmentation!”

Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion

Now 20% Off

Credit: Gold Bond

Retinoids aren’t just for the face; you can give the rest of your skin a little boost with an overnight lotion like this one. The non-greasy formula pairs retinol with peptides to purportedly lightly exfoliate, hydrate, and plump.

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Burt’s Bees SPF 30 Renewal Firming Day Lotion

Credit: Burt’s Bees

Powered by bakuchiol, Burt’s Bees Renewal Firming Day Lotion is said to tighten and smooth but claims not to make your skin photosensitive like retinoids. Think of it as a souped-up primer that’ll help protect your face from the sun and maybe even reduce the look of your crow’s feet and wrinkles over time.

Farm Rx Bakuchiol Serum

Credit: Farm Rx

Farm Rx’s lightweight, oil-based serum also uses bakuchiol, which goes to work on minimizing fine lines and brightens dull skin. Again, it’s not a synthetic retinoid but a gentle retinoid replacement, so you can use this one any time of day, too, without worrying about sun sensitivity.

Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer

Credit: Olay

Olay’s fragrance-free night cream contains the brand’s proprietary blend of retinol and retinyl propionate (a retinyl ester). Moisturizing niacinamide is in the formula, along with amino peptides to provide a silky smooth finish. There’s also an eye cream, cleanser, night serum, and moisturizer available in the Retinol24 range.

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Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty Retinal Night

Credit: Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty

Formulated with a 0.1% concentration of retinaldehyde (aka retinal), this night treatment also contains a lipid blend to help shore up the skin barrier and peptides for an extra elasticity boost. “It’s not irritating to my skin,” writes one reviewer. “My little milia around my nose area are actually fading away!”

Danielle Blundell is a New York City-based lifestyle writer and editor who has written on topics ranging from home to health for a variety of publications including Rachael Ray Every Day, Redbook, Family Circle, This Old House, Elle Decor, Esquire, Domino, and Apartment Therapy. She’s a graduate of Columbia University’s School of Journalism and has appeared as an on-air expert on Today, The Doctors, The Celebrity Page, and other local news programs. Website: https://danielleblundell.myportfolio.com/