16 Best Retinol Serums to Treat Fine Lines & Uneven Texture

You probably already know that retinol addresses a wide range of skin-care issues including, but not limited to, acne, dark spots, dullness, enlarged pores, and fine lines, but this powerful skin-care ingredient often remains shrouded in mystery. Not today, though. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about retinol before you dive into the best retinol serums on the market.

To kick things off, everyone can benefit from retinol — even those with sensitive skin or breakout-prone skin. (More on that later.) “Retinol is great for fine lines and wrinkles, acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and collagen production,” David Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Idriss Dermatology in New York City says, calling it a “rockstar ingredient.” 

Because retinol is so potent, the golden rule is to start low and slow. Most dermatologists recommend applying a pea-sized dollop, two or three nights a week, and ramping us as if your skin builds up tolerance.

What are the most common types of retinol found in skin-care products?

First things first, retinol is not a catch-all term. “Retinoids is the general term that includes all the vitamin A derivatives both natural and synthetic,” Caroline Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Rhode Island Dermatology Institute, previously said. The topical retinoids most commonly used in skin care are retinoic acid, retinol, retinyl esters, and retinaldehyde. 

As for their benefits, “[retinoids] are keratolytics, which means they increase skin cell turnover and are known to stimulate collagen synthesis,” Sheila Farhang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics, previously explained.

Whereas retinoic acid (also known as tretinoin) is only found in prescription formulas, retinol is the most common vitamin A derivative that pops up in over-the-counter (OTC) skin-care products — and it’s arguably just as effective. “There’s a lot of literature showing that while retinol is more gentle than retinoic acid, biochemically it does exactly the same thing — it may just take longer to see results,” Dana Sachs, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Michigan Medical School, previously told Allure. 

You might be surprised to learn this but retinaldehyde (often referred to as retinal) is actually closer in efficacy to retinoic acid than retinol is, as “[retinal] can be directly converted to retinoic acid and is more stable than retinol,” Dr. Kim explains.