Retinol serums are considered staple additions to any supercharged anti-ageing routine for addressing dryness, blemishes and fine lines by speeding up cell turnover. But with formulas designed for moisture retention, retinol night creams may be the superior choice for glowing skin.
Vogue’s top retinol night creams at a glance:
Besides starring the buzzy active and other skin heroes like ceramides, the best retinol night creams offer a beginner-friendly route to a rejuvenated visage – and reduce the risk of irritation.
“Cream-based retinol products are generally more hydrating and gentle on the skin,” explains aesthetic doctor Dr Ahmed El Muntasar. “So retinol night creams can be great for people who are a little bit more on the sensitive side, or maybe they’re a bit older with drier skin.” What’s more, as they are made for nighttime use, retinol night creams should give you maximum potency from your vitamin A-based product. ”Retinoids can degrade when exposed to sunlight, reducing their effectiveness,” says surgeon Dr Georgina Williams. “Applying it at night allows it to work uninterrupted while minimising the risk of sun-induced irritation or damage.”
Ahead, all our favourite retinol night creams, including picks the experts recommend.
Best lightweight: Dr David Jack Good Night Retinoid Renewal Night Cream
- Why we love it: We’re big fans of skincare formulated by doctors for their efficacy, and Dr David Jack’s retinol night cream is a fine example. It has an elegant, lightweight texture that quickly absorbs into skin but delivers heavy-hitting results on acne, dark marks and superficial wrinkles. With a retinol concentration of 2 per cent, it’s also one of the stronger options on this list – though it is buffered with vitamins B5 and E to keep it well tolerated.
- Key ingredients: 2% retinol, peptides, panthenol and niacinamide
Best tretinoin cream: Klira The Special
- Why we love it: Made to measure by dermatologists, the beauty of Klira’s night cream lies in its bespoke, freshly blended formulation. Because it’s prescribed by derms, it’s one of the few formulas in the UK that can get you a tailored dose of tretinoin – a supremely potent, gold standard retinoid for skin renewal.
- Key ingredients: These are chosen according to your skin’s specific needs, but can include tretinoin, azelaic acid, ceramides and more
Best for beginners: Medik8 Intelligent Retinol Smoothing Night Cream
- Why we love it: While the Vogue team are huge fans of the Medik8 skincare collection, it is with retinol where the cult cosmeceutical brand shines. The retinal serum is a particular firm favourite on the beauty desk. But the night cream is well worth your attention, serving up slow-release retinol in a soufflé cream full of super antioxidant vitamin E. The texture is indulgent, the glow it imparts is radiant, and the formula is incredibly gentle. Editor’s tip: Massage the excess into your hands after applying for sumptuously soft skin.
- Key ingredients: 0.2 encapsulated retinol, dragonfruit extract, vitamin E, chamomile
The doctor’s choice: SkinCeuticals 0.3
- Why we love it: Dr Ahmed recommends the SkinCeuticals range of retinol night creams for their efficacy and availability in multiple retinol strengths. What we love most about this formula is its ability to smooth texture and give the skin a cushiony bounce, but without triggering that irritated, flaky phase that many others do. Bonus points for the screw cap and pinpoint tip, which keep application precise and preserve the potency of the stabilised retinol inside.
- Key ingredients: 0.3% pure retinol, soothing chamomile and bisabolol complex
Best for the body: Murad Retinal Resculpt Body Treatment
- Why we love it: For lax skin on the body, Murad’s cream is supercharged with retinaldehyde, a form of vitamin A far stronger than its counterparts. The result is a fast-acting formula that we’ve been obsessing over for how well it works on everything from spider veins and strawberry legs to sun spots and loose skin. “I initially incorporated this into my bodycare routine, hoping to firm lax skin following weight loss, beauty writer Tracy Achonwa says. “I was intrigued by – and sceptical of – the ’fat burning’ complex it contains, which claims to mimic exerkines released by the body during a workout for a sculpting effect. Three months in, I am surprised to say I’ve gotten more than I bargained for. It’s helped fade scars, and I could swear it’s smoothed out stretchmarks I’ve had for a while too. It’s the kind of cream that is sufficiently rich to moisturise dry skin, but not one that feels sticky or takes too much elbow grease to sink in. The price may give you pause, but it is the most prized body cream in my arsenal because of the results – I’d say it is worth the spend.“
- Key ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, shea butter, exerkine-inspired complex
Best Korean: K Secret Seoul 1988 Retinal Liposome Cream
- Why we love it: The hype is warranted for this K Beauty retinal cream, which uses clever liposomes to deliver the all-star ingredient, enhancing its effectiveness. In a fashion typical of Korean formulations, it prioritises skin health with fermented extracts – including rice ferment to reinforce the skin barrier and lessen reactivity as the retinol gets to work. This makes it one of our favourites for more sensitive skin. We’re particularly fond of its airy, hydrating texture, which absorbs easily without any greasiness or stick.
- Key ingredients:1% Retinal liposome, Black ginseng, vitamin E and peptides
The French pharmacy find: ROC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream
- Why we love it: If you’re sensitive to added scents, RoC’s fragrance-free retinol night cream is a good place to start. It’s the ideal entry-level pick all around, combining glycerin with hyaluronic acid to draw plumping moisture into the skin and smooth out lines. While lots of night creams will include oils for nourishment, we like that this formula skips it, instead leaning on non-comedogenic plant butters to leave skin sufficiently moisturised. A great find for blemish-prone complexions.
- Key ingredients: Time-released retinol, hydrolysed hyaluronic acid
Best for added peptides: InnBeauty Extreme Cream Refillable Moisturiser
- Why we love it: In our testing, InnBeauty’s cream stood out for its bouncy, glowy finish. Packed with lipids, including ceramides, as well as firming peptides, this is a formula with much to offer for mature skin. “I enlisted my mother as a guinea pig when testing this cream, as I found the formula was too heavy on my oily skin,” says contributor Tracy Achonwa. “She has been concerned with dry, menopausal skin in her 60s, and on the first use, we were struck by the immediate glow it left behind, as well as how much softer her skin was to the touch. One refill later, and there are significant improvements to crepiness and a firmer look to her jowl area. It’s impressive for a product that is relatively affordable when compared with other luxury night creams.” What makes it a winning pick for older skin is the skin-similar lipids it contains, including cholesterol and fatty acids that are lost as skin ages.
- Key ingredients: Bioretinol, ceramides, peptides, vitamin E and zinc
FAQs
What should I look for in a good retinol night cream?
“Think about retinol plus other supportive ingredients,” says Dr Ahmed. “So ingredients like ceramides and peptides and other ingredients to boost hydration.” Additionally, formulas with stabilised retinol are preferable because they preserve the potency of the active while aiding penetration and minimising the risk of irritation. To find these, look for ’encapsulated retinol’ or mentions of liposomal delivery on product labels. Dr Georgina recommends paying attention to the packaging, since retinol is volatile and can degrade when exposed to heat, air and light. “Air-tight, opaque packaging is best to prevent oxidation,” she says.
What concentration of retinol should I use?
According to Dr Ahmed, a retinol concentration between 0.25 and 1 works well for most people. If you’re a beginner, unsure of what your skin can tolerate, it’s a good idea to start low and step up to higher percentages gradually.
“For more experienced users or targeted treatments (e.g. deep wrinkles or stubborn pigmentation), higher concentrations may be effective,” Dr Georgina adds, emphasising that these should be introduced carefully.
Is retinol cream or serum better?
Per Dr Georgina, retinol creams are typically more hydrating due to their emollient base, making them a gentler option for those with dry or sensitive skin. They offer a more gradual release of retinol, which can help minimise irritation during the skin’s adjustment period.
In contrast, retinol serums tend to be more lightweight and concentrated, which can allow for deeper penetration and faster results, but they may also increase the risk of dryness or sensitivity. The choice between the two often depends on skin type and tolerance, creams for comfort and barrier support, and serums for potency and performance.
Meet the experts
- Dr Ahmed El Muntasar is a NHS GP and aesthetic doctor
- Dr Georgina Williams is a plastic surgeon and Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons