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8 best retinol products for aging skin

by Aaron|July 31, 2023
8 best retinol products for aging skin

Caring for your skin is important at every age, and as skin becomes more mature, your skin care routine should adapt to its changing needs. Retinol has become known as a gold-standard anti-aging treatment, but when it comes to retinol for older skin, you want to be sure you’re choosing the best formula and concentration to help deliver the most benefits. With the help of board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, we can help you get a handle on what you need to know about using retinol, including:

Is retinol good for wrinkles?

“Retinol is a very effective ingredient when it comes to topical treatments for fine lines and wrinkles,” Dr. Schlessinger says. Retinol works by boosting your skin’s production of new cells, and it also helps increase your skin’s natural production of collagen. “Results are not instant, but rather they come with continued use over several months,” Dr. Schlessinger says. Clinical studies have shown that topical retinol use improved fine wrinkles after twelve weeks of use.

Why else is retinol good for anti-aging?

Besides fine lines and wrinkles, retinol is also an effective treatment for other visible signs of aging such as hyperpigmentation, including melasma and dark spots on your face, neck and hands.

Another way that retinol can benefit older skin is by treating adult acne and acne scarring. It helps treat acne by reducing inflammation, decreasing oil production and increasing cell turnover in your skin, which can help reduce clogged pores that lead to breakouts and lessen the appearance of post-acne marks.

The best retinol products for aging skin

When it comes to using retinol for aging skin, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing an advanced formula that will maximize benefits for this time in your life. Here are seven of our favorite anti-aging products with retinol that are best suited for mature and aging skin.

LovelySkin LUXE Advanced Retinol Serum

LovelySkin LUXE Advanced Retinol Serum

From Dr. Schlessinger’s own LovelySkin LUXE brand, this serum is one of the best retinol products for aging skin thanks to its formula combining 0.5% retinol with glycolipids and phospholipids. “These lipids play an important role in restoring your skin’s barrier to help reduce the redness, dryness and peeling that can often result from using retinol,” Dr. Schlessinger said. The result? You can enjoy the benefits of retinol for aging skin with less irritating side effects.

Obagi360 Retinol 1.0 Cream

Obagi360 Retinol 1.0 Cream

If you’ve used a 0.5% concentration of retinol and it was well-tolerated by your skin, Obagi’s maximum-strength retinol is one of the best retinol creams for aging skin to try next. It combines 1% time-released retinol with soothing ingredients such as glycerin and shea butter to reduce irritation while helping to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and target dark spots and discoloration.

Augustinus Bader The Retinol Serum

Augustinus Bader The Retinol Serum

Formulated to help improve deep wrinkles and adult acne as well as acne scars, this facial serum from British skin care maker Augustinus Bader deserves a spot on our list of the best retinol products for aging skin. This formula combines retinol with TFC8 Complex, the company’s proprietary blend of high-grade vitamins and amino acids that work together to help repair damaged skin. In a twelve-week study, the serum improved the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles by 56% and reduced post-acne marks by 90%.

SkinCeuticals 1.0 Maximum Strength Retinol Night Cream

SkinCeuticals Retinol Refining & Anti-Aging Night Creams

Skin care brand SkinCeuticals has a full range of retinol night creams with three different concentrations. This maximum-strength formula with 1% retinol is the best retinol cream for aging skin thanks to its high concentration of retinol paired with time-release technology to help ensure its evenly and effectively absorbed. Two calming ingredients, bisabolol and Boswellia serrata extract, are included in the formula to help minimize irritation.

Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0

Revision Skincare Retinol Complete 1.0

An expert when it comes to treating aging skin, Revision Skincare’s anti-aging serum with 1% retinol is paired with age-fighting antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and CoQ10. It’s one of the best retinol products for aging skin because of the way these ingredients work together to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and brighten skin tone.

SkinMedica Even & Correct Dark Spot Cream

SkinMedica Even & Correct Dark Spot Cream

If dark spots are your primary concern, this is one of the best retinol creams for aging skin to consider. A part of SkinMedica’s Even & Correct Collection, this spot treatment is formulated to provide fast-acting improvement for stubborn dark spots. It combines 0.25% retinol with 3% glycolic acid and 8% LTN Complex, which is a proprietary complex made from niacinamide, lotus seed extract and tranexamic acid. During clinical testing, users saw improvement in their age spots and hyperpigmentation within two weeks of use with greater results continuing up to twelve weeks of use.

Avene RetrinAL 0.1

Avene RetrinAL 0.1

If you want to try retinol for your aging skin but feel hesitant because of past sensitivities, this anti-aging product with retinol is an option to consider. French skin care brand Avene specializes in formulas for sensitive, reactive skin, and this retinol night cream is formulated to soothe skin and reduce potential irritation while encouraging cell renewal to smooth wrinkles and fine lines.

Are you looking to learn even more about retinol for anti-aging? You can learn about the difference between prescription and over-the-counter retinol and more in our blog post that covers everything you ever wanted to know about retinol.

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About the Author

Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.

Other Posts by Aaron

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