9 Best Retinal Serums for Smoother, Firmer, Brighter Skin

Frequently Asked Questions

Retinal versus retinol: What’s the difference?

“Retinal and retinol are both vitamin A derivatives, but retinal is one step closer to retinoic acid—the active form your skin uses. That means it works faster and is typically more potent than retinol,” says Dr. Levit. While retinol needs two conversions in the skin to become active, retinal only needs one, so you’ll often see quicker results when smoothing fine lines, improving texture, and fading dark spots. That said, “retinal can also be slightly more intense, so it’s usually recommended for those who’ve already built some tolerance to retinoids,” he says.

Is it better to use retinol or retinal?

It depends. “If you have sensitive skin or are brand-new to retinoids, retinol is a great place to start,” says Dr. Berry. “If you’re already tolerating retinol well, or you’re targeting deeper wrinkles, pigmentation, or acne, retinal can offer faster and more noticeable results with less irritation than prescription-strength options.”

Meet the experts

• Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and RealSelf expert based in Danville, CA
• Asmi Berry, DO, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles
• Whitney Hovenic, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Spooge based in Reno, NV
• Cheryl Karcher, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Center Aesthetic & Dermatology based in New York City
• Noah Levit, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut based in Fairfield, Hamden, and Norwalk, CT
• Patricia Oyetakin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist of Epiphany Dermatology based in Newnan and Stockbridge, GA

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of the best retinal serums, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

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