The Best Retinol Moisturizers for Your Face

As any dermatologist will tell you, retinol is truly the all-time best product you could ever put on your skin (aside from sunscreen, that is). This powerhouse ingredient is derived from vitamin A, which helps stimulate collagen and elastin production, and promote better, quicker cell turnover. This, in turn, can help smooth the surface of your skin, plump up wrinkles and fine lines, boost overall radiance, and even cure your pesky breakouts. Sounds pretty good, right? There's just one tiny problem: retinol can really dry out your skin. That's why retinol moisturizers are basically the perfect product. A good retinol moisturizer may be infused with a healthy dose of retinol, but it's also packed with hydrating ingredients to help keep flakiness and dryness at bay. Here are a few of the best on the market.

LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream

A Skincare Hero

This LilyAna Naturals retinol cream is a godsend.

Best Overall

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For the best retinol-infused moisturizer that money can buy, look no further than LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream. This gorgeous cream smooths onto your skin like butter with its silky, lightweight texture and nourishing ingredients. It’s made with a mix of natural oils (like jojoba), green tea, hydrating hyaluronic acid, aloe, vitamin E, and of course, 2.5 percent pure retinol. This cream sinks easily into your pores, leaving your skin looking and feeling more refreshed and rejuvenated almost instantly. Over time, this product can help banish wrinkles and acne, plump up fine lines, eliminate dark circles, and firm up the skin. Not too shabby.

Pros:

Delivers a maximum-strength dose of retinol to the skin
Has a brightening effect
The formula is very moisturizing, with aloe, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and jojoba oil
Lightweight texture
Gentle enough for sensitive skin
You can use it around the eye area

Cons:

A tad expensive

Baebody Retinol Moisturizer

Eco-Friendly, Animal-Friendly, and Super-Effective

No animals were harmed in the making of this Baebody cream.

Best Cruelty-Free

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The Baebody Retinol Moisturizer is a superior product with its retinol-rich formula that also includes ingredients like argan oil, activated charcoal, tea tree oil, and hyaluronic acid. It’s a potent combo that effectively aids in the growth of new skin cells, so skin appears brighter, plumper, and smoother. Not only does this cream work like a charm, but you can feel good about using it, too – it’s sourced from all-natural, cruelty-free ingredients that weren’t tested on animals.

Pros:

Made from cruelty-free, eco-friendly ingredients
Boosts the skin’s natural renewal process, shedding dead skin cells and making skin appear brighter
Smooths out skin texture
Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Cons:

Not the most lightweight formula, so if you have particularly oily skin, this might not be the product for you

Simplified Skin Retinol Moisturizer

Pure Radiance, 24/7

Enjoy smooth, supple skin all day and night, with Simplified Skin Retinol Moisturizer.

Best Day & Night Cream

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Feel free to slather the Simplified Skin Retinol Moisturizer all over your face and neck at any time of day or night, because unlike some other retinol-based products, this cream won’t cause extreme sensitivity to sunlight. It’s chock-full of good-for-you ingredients like green tea, shea butter, vitamin E, and jojoba oil, in addition to 2.5 percent active retinol (aka the strongest non-prescription retinol blend available). This cream is fast-absorbing, too, so you don’t have to wait long before seeing those marvelous results – namely, smoother, brighter, tighter, healthier-looking skin that shines like the sun.

Pros:

Advanced formula contains 2.5% active retinol
You can use it day and night
Formulated with bio-active ingredients that soothe and hydrate the skin, like vitamin E, green tea, hyaluronic acid, and more
Helps to improve uneven skin tone and texture
Can help prevent clogs and breakouts
Cruelty-free

Cons:

The packaging is poorly designed

InstaNatural Retinol Moisturizer

Brighten and Tighten

What's better than a moisturizer with vitamin A? A moisturizer with vitamin A *and* vitamin C.

Best Vitamin C Formula

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With InstaNatural Retinol Moisturizer, you really get a 2-for-1 deal. The vitamin A takes care of fine lines, dullness, and acne, while the vitamin C infuses your skin with rich antioxidants that work to repair sun damage and protect your complexion from environmental stressors. It’s a powerful, results-driven formula, but it’s also gentle enough for virtually all skin types. Plus, this moisturizer is sourced from clean, natural ingredients, with no harsh chemicals or other additives included.

Pros:

The formula contains vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant for the skin that can help improve past sun damage and give your complexion a healthy, bright glow
Can help improve the signs of premature aging
Suitable for all skin types
Can help reduce discoloration and blemishes
Sourced from clean, natural ingredients

Cons:

You have to be very careful about using an SPF every day when you use this cream; it really increases your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight

Pinpoxe Retinol Cream

No Greasy Residue

No need to worry about having a shiny, greasy face when you use this retinol cream.

Best Lightweight Formula

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If you have oily skin, you’ll absolutely cherish Pinpoxe Retinol Cream. That’s because this retinol moisturizer sinks into your skin like a dream, with none of the greasy residue or film that some other moisturizers can leave on the skin. With a winning formula of retinol and naturally hydrating ingredients like organic aloe and shea butter, this cream does a fantastic job of repairing and restoring your skin. It can help with a wide range of skin issues, like rough, uneven texture, fine lines and wrinkles,dark spots, and sun damage.

Pros:

Super-lightweight formula; doesn’t leave a greasy residue
Cream quickly sinks into the skin
Contains all-natural, cruelty-free ingredients: organic aloe, jojoba oil, green tea, and shea butter, in addition to a hefty dose of retinol
Skin looks and feels softer and smoother
Can help fight acne and aging

Cons:

The pump on the bottle leaks slightly

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does retinol do for my skin?

The better question is: what doesn’t retinol do for the skin? This awesomely effective ingredient works to combat virtually any and all skin issues, from acne and aging to dullness and enlarged pores. Retinol can also help even your skin tone and give your complexion a nice, healthy glow.

How does it work?

Retinol, which is a derivative of pure vitamin A, increases the production of collagen, and collagen is what gives your skin its elasticity, smoothness, and lift. This powerful ingredient also helps prevent the clogging of pores and promotes cell turnover, so the texture of the skin appears less bumpy and the pores less apparent.

Should I use my retinol moisturizer in the morning or at night?

Dermatologists always recommend using retinol at night, since it can increase sensitivity to the sun and make you more susceptible to burns.