When some fine wrinkles start to settle on your forehead, or a stubborn rash appears on your cheeks every month, or your face suffers from a combination of both, your first step is often to use a product containing retinol – and for good reason. The vitamin A derivative helps regulate skin cell turnover, says Marissa Garshick, a dermatologist based in New York City. Thus, retinol creams may improve skin tone, clear pores, boost collagen production, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, she explains. This means it can also help improve texture and wrinkles.
Best Overall Product: Naturium Retinol Body Lotion for Skin Renewal
This product contains an amazing blend of ingredients at a very low price. It has additional ingredients that help support the skin barrier, is fragrance-free making it suitable for sensitive skin types, and contains a great formula of retinol with shea butter and allantoin.
Best Alternative Product: Paula’s Choice Retinol Body Treatment for Smoothing Skin
This small lotion not only contains protective antioxidants but also contains glycerin and other moisturizing boosters to keep sensitive skin calm.
Best Product with Hyaluronic Acid: Replenix Retinol Body Lotion for Smoothing Skin
Both Melanie Palm and Dr. Garshick recommend this retinol lotion because it contains antioxidants to defend against free radicals, ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier, green tea extracts to soothe irritated skin, and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture. The result: brighter, softer, and smoother skin. However, the high price for a small bottle may be a barrier for some shoppers.
Best Product for Wrinkles: Josie Maran Retinol Body Butter
With its super creamy texture and light pink color, this retinol body butter would be a welcome addition to your skincare routine. The body butter contains pink algae extract, a plant-derived retinol that helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles; quercetin, an antioxidant to protect against free radical damage; and argan oil, which also provides antioxidants including vitamin E.
Best Anti-Aging Product: iS Clinical Body Compound
Made with a blend of white willow bark extract to cleanse pores, fruit extracts for exfoliating and smoothing skin, hyaluronic acid for hydration, and aloe vera for soothing, this retinol lotion checks all the boxes for an anti-aging lotion. “It contains a blend of antioxidants, so it’s particularly good for anti-aging benefits, but it’s still hydrating, so you’ll feel moisturized after using it,” says Dr. Garshick. But you should be aware that the formula also contains beta hydroxy acids, which can help smooth rough spots but may irritate sensitive types.
Best High-End Product: Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment
This ultra-luxury product is made with macadamia oil, antioxidants, and moisturizers that all work together to soften and soothe the skin. Additionally, the Swiss-made product has a spa-like scent thanks to rose water. Why the high price? The retinol is encapsulated, so it stays more effective and stable on the shelf.
Best Product Under $20: Versed Gentle Retinol Body Lotion
This product features encapsulated retinol that allows for slow release and less irritation, and it stands out for delivering a significant punch in a low-cost bottle.
Best Product with Bakuchiol: The Organic Pharmacy Advanced Body Oil Retinol Alternative
For those who want to stay away from actual retinol, this formula is a must-try. It contains bakuchiol, which Dr. Castella describes as “an effective retinol alternative that is gentler on the skin.”
Best
Product at the pharmacy: Gold Bond Retinol Renewing Night Body Lotion
Since it is packed with shea butter and cocoa butter, Dr. Castella loves this formula for people who need extra hydration and also want to reap the benefits of retinol. She likes that it absorbs easily and is fragrance-free. However, she warns that although it says it can be used on the face and body, “I would stick to using this formulation from the neck down for acne-prone skin as it can be too heavy and clog pores.”
Best exfoliating product: Nécessaire Retinol Body Lotion
This cream contains 10% alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs) to help improve skin wrinkles and exfoliate dead skin cells, and it also gets high ratings for containing strengthening peptides that can help improve the appearance of skin over time. But Dr. Turner warns that although it is fragrance-free, “some users express concerns about the scent of the product, which the company explains is similar to other high-potency retinol products.”
Best product with ferulic acid: Medix 5.5 Retinol and Ferulic Acid Body Treatment for Firming
Ferulic acid has garnered more attention over the years as a powerful antioxidant – and it’s rare to find it in a body product. This retinol-infused product from Medix offers ferulic acid along with vitamin E and green tea for an added boost in improving skin.
Best product for sensitive skin: Olay Retinol24 Night Body Serum
This product is very popular, with fans saying it is very gentle and makes the skin feel silky, soothing with a vitamin B3 complex. Dr. Castella notes that “theoretically, applying it to damp skin can help it penetrate more efficiently,” however, she also points out that this is not for those looking for maximum retinol impact, as it is a moisturizer that should be applied in the bath. When applying it after a shower, “it’s not clear how effective the brief contact with the skin is,” she says. But this may be a small price to pay for those with sensitive skin looking to reap the benefits of retinol.
How to properly use retinol body lotion
Choosing the right formulation is the first step to getting the most benefit from retinol body lotion.
Before you slather retinol body lotion everywhere, apply a small amount to the inside of your arm to ensure your skin can tolerate it – especially if your skin is sensitive, according to Dr. Garshick. Once you’re ready to use the product for real, gently rub the retinol body lotion onto clean skin, preferably before bed, just as you would with other effective moisturizers, according to Dr. Garshick. “Historically, there has been concern that if you used retinol in the morning and went out in the sun, it would become unstable and lose its effectiveness,” she explains. “Many modern formulations do not necessarily have the same property, so (applying retinol at night) is now about protecting the skin as it is more sensitive to sun exposure.”
If you don’t want to apply it everywhere, focus on areas that need attention. For example, if you’re using retinol body lotion for anti-aging purposes, you may want to concentrate on areas that are most exposed to the sun, like the hands, chest, and neck. But if you want to treat dryness or rough spots, you might focus on applying retinol body lotion to the arms, thighs, and other rough patches, according to Dr. Garshick. “Be cautious about applying a large amount near folds of the body or the neck, as these areas are prone to increased sensitivity and irritation from retinol,” adds Dr. Palm.
After
The absorption of body lotion with retinol, you may want to use your usual moisturizer, or use the “retinol sandwich” application method – especially if your skin is dry. “I think any benefits you get from body lotion with retinol in terms of hydration are essentially additional.”
Source: https://www.aol.com/12-best-retinol-body-lotions-171221881.html
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