When you hear the word skincare routine, you might be reminded of a lot of things that can be applied to your face, hands, and feet. Well, that is not sufficient because you will need the best retinol body lotion. Fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and creepy skin can not only affect your face but other parts of your body as well. Retinol is rich in vitamin A, and it is an ingredient that you can use to rejuvenate your skin all over your body, along with improving the texture and giving yourself clean and smooth skin. It is renowned as the gold standard of skin care as it increases the production of collagen and also smoothens your skin. To help you choose the retinol body lotion that best suits your skin, we reviewed the best lotions that help you clear body skin and also smoothen it. So, go ahead and select the one that you like the most.
Benefits Of Using A Retinol Body Lotion
The following are a few reasons you should invest in a retinol body lotion.
Lightens stretch marks: A retinol body lotion can reduce the appearance of stretch marks by making them lighter and less defined in as little as 3 weeks.
Smoothes skin: Retinol helps remove dry patches, especially if they are from eczema. It not only smooths the texture of your skin but also reduces pigmentation.
Removes skin bumps: Keratosis pilaris is a harmless condition that causes raised bumps on the upper arms, and it shows drastic improvement on the application of retinol.
Evens out skin tone: When acne or psoriasis cause discoloration of the skin, retinol helps to neutralize discoloration. It improves cell turnover, where dull and dry skin is exfoliated and is replaced by more even toned skin with more elastin and collagen.
Tightens skin: Retinol body lotions help tighten the skin.
Has anti-aging properties: Retinol targets dry skin, fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and uneven skin texture, so that your skin looks younger.
Reduces acne breakouts: Retinol unclogs pores, clears your skin, and prevents breakouts from happening, thus also preventing scarring. It also enhances the effect of several medicated gels and creams.
15 Best Retinol Body Lotions
1. Best Anti-Aging: Baebody Retinol Moisturizer
This lightweight moisturizer with vitamin A helps to eliminate fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, discoloration, and hyperpigmentation, and adds brightness to your face. It also minimizes breakouts, and leaves your skin both firmer and smoother looking. It is infused with organic aloe vera, sunflower seed oil, jojoba seed oil, shea butter, vitamin E, vitamin B5, botanical hyaluronic acid, green tea leaf extract, horsetail extract, wild geranium extract, and dandelion extract to name a few. Retinol boosts the renewal of skin cells and removes dull, old skin cells, jojoba oil has anti-inflammatory properties and reduces skin redness caused by dryness, and vitamin E protects your skin from damage caused by free radicals. This hypoallergenic moisturizer is dermatologist-tested and does not irritate the skin. Use twice a day for best results and see your skin glow and radiate brightness. Pros
Cruelty-free No parabens No sulfates Non-GMO No gluten No phthalates
Cons
Contains phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin
2. Best Hydrating: Medix Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment
You can now feel your best and look great with this anti-aging retinol and ferulic acid lotion that tightens and hydrates sagging skin. This retinol anti-aging body lotion targets crepey wrinkles, dark spots, and sun damage to your skin, and visibly slows down the aging process by improving elasticity and skin tone. It increases skin hydration by 88% with botanimoist AMS, which is a nourishing plant-derived moisturizer. The ideal pH for our skin to be healthy and beautiful is 5.5, and this hydrating treatment ensures just that. Packed with antioxidants like black tea, aloe vera, and chamomile, it restores radiance to skin that has dulled with age and the ravages of weather. It’s enriched with highly potent ferulic acid, anti-aging vitamins C and E, shea butter, natural extracts such as apple, sunflower, rice bran, and rosemary. These ingredients hydrate and moisturize your skin, leaving it smooth and bringing back your youthful glow. For a more detailed review of this product, here’s a video. Pros
Paraben-free Alcohol-free No PEGs Formaldehyde-free Sulfate-free No dyes Triclosan-free No propylene glycol No mineral oil Talc-free Vegan Cruelty-free
Cons
Contains fragrance
3. Best Gluten-Free: AloeMoist Organics Full Body Cream
This organic retinol cream offers a complete solution for dry, damaged, and aging skin by penetrating into the skin to nourish and rejuvenate it. It’s extremely versatile and can be used as a night cream, hand cream, foot cream, a psoriasis cream, and even a gentle eczema cream for babies. This natural retinol cream hydrates and improves the health of all skin types including the most sensitive skin, and gets fully absorbed with no sticky feeling. It calms dermatitis, fights acne, works wonders as a scar removal cream, removes stretch marks, and provides sunburn relief. Infused with 30 natural organic ingredients, it gives your skin all the vitamins, minerals, natural oils, antioxidants, amino acids, and active botanicals it needs for production of collagen and cellular regeneration. It contains organic aloe vera gel, raw shea butter, moisturizing oils, vitamins C, E, and B5, ocean minerals, green tea, rosehip seed oil, kukui nut oil, and jojoba oil, which all work towards giving you radiant skin. Pros
Paraben-free Cruelty-free Fragrance-free Gluten-free Non-greasy No petrochemicals No dyes Alcohol-free Non-comedogenic No harmful preservatives 100% natural ingredients
Cons
May not completely combat wrinkles
4. Best Fragrance-Free: Body Merry Retinol Surge Moisturizer
Your search for an effective lotion might just come to an end with this lightweight lotion that delivers intensive care to plump and tighten the skin, as it gets quickly absorbed by the skin. This anti-aging retinol lotion is a combination of rich and moisturizing antioxidants, jojoba oil, collagen, botanical hyaluronic acid, organic green tea, organic aloe vera, organic sunflower oil, and organic dandelion extract. It’s ideal for most skin types, doesn’t cause skin irritation, and is a great way to diminish fine lines, wrinkles, acne, age spots, breakouts, and improve overall skin tone and texture. It’s gentle enough to be used at night for soft, healthy, glowing skin. So, go ahead and pamper yourself with this retinol moisturizer which is the ideal daily treatment to keep you looking your best! Here’s a review video summarizing the features of this product. Pros
Cruelty-free Fragrance-free Non-greasy Natural ingredients
Cons
Contains alcohol
5. Best Dye-Free: Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream
This retinol body cream gives a daily dose of nourishing, hydrating, and revitalizing vitamins to your skin with its infusion of apricot, passionfruit, marula, and jojoba oils. While kale, winter cherry, and xanthophylls protect your skin against pollution, harmful UV rays, and environmental stressors, retinol gives your skin an even tone, and vitamin E dramatically improves skin texture and soothes your skin. This cream makes your skin look youthful again as it fights deep wrinkles and fine lines. What’s left is a vibrant and clear complexion. Pros
Cruelty-free Vegan Fragrance-free No silicones Gluten-free No SLS Dye-free Alcohol-free No chemical screens
Cons
May not be suitable for extremely sensitive skin
6. Best For All Skin Types: Alpha Skin Care Enhanced Wrinkle Repair Cream
Considered to be one of the best retinol body creams, it enhances skin texture, tone, and firmness, while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It also boosts collagen production and contains potent antioxidants like vitamin A, C, and E which prevent signs of aging. The specially selected vitamins and nutrients are combined with anti-aging ingredients to moisturize, rejuvenate, and soothe your skin. This innovative wrinkle repair cream is formulated with 0.15% retinol which encourages skin cell renewal, leaving your skin soft and smooth. Using this effective anti-aging skin care routine regularly will help you achieve a balanced, glowing complexion. Pros
Oil-free Fragrance-free Natural ingredients Suitable for all skin types
Cons
Contains parabens
7. Best Mineral Oil-Free: Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion
This retinol body lotion gives oil-free hydration for blemish-prone skin. It has a lightweight formula that delivers hydration to acne-prone skin without that shiny look, and evens and softens skin texture. It also helps to keep pores clear and shrinks them in size for smoother looking skin. In addition, it reduces and soothes skin redness. This lotion is extremely effective as it’s enriched with natural ingredients like panthenol and honey extract which have powerful hydrating properties. It’s also infused with queen of meadow and arnica which refine your skin texture, making it look healthier. It has a pleasant honey fragrance and adds a natural glow to your skin. This video will provide you with added insights about the product. Pros
Cruelty-free Sulfate-free No phthalates No mineral oil No formaldehyde No oxybenzone No petrolatum
Cons
Contains parabens
8. Best Brightening: Paula’s Choice Skin Smoothing Retinol Body Treatment
This effective retinol body lotion specifically targets uneven skin tone, loss of firmness, dryness, dehydration, and dullness of skin— all of which result in aging. This lightweight lotion goes on to make your skin silky smooth and also combats discoloration and ensures that your skin recovers its lost youthfulness. Retinol fights fine lines and wrinkles, and shea butter, grape oil, and evening primrose oil provide rich soothing moisture and strengthen the skin’s barrier. Vitamin C and E, with their powerful antioxidant properties, protect the skin from environmental stressors. Together they nourish your skin and give a soft and supple feel and look to it. Pros
Fragrance-free Cruelty-free Paraben-free No fillers Non-greasy Suitable for all skin types 100% recyclable packaging
Cons
Contains beeswax
9. Best For Firming: Rosen Apothecary Retinol Body Lotion
This anti-aging retinol body lotion is formulated with natural and nourishing plant-based ingredients for younger looking skin. This body lotion has a moisturizing base of argan oil along with retinol and caffeine to add smoothness to your skin and minimize imperfections. Retinol is known for its anti-aging properties, boosts collagen production, firms the skin, and improves skin tone, giving it a youthful glow. Argan oil rejuvenates and hydrates the skin, restoring moisture balance, while caffeine gives your skin a supple and taut look. This combination of firming and hydrating properties gives you a smooth complexion and also brightens the skin. With this retinol body lotion, you’ll be able regain a bright, dewy complexion, and restore your skin’s youthful glow. Pros
Cruelty-free Paraben-free Silicone-free No GMOs Non-toxic ingredients Consciously-sourced materials
Cons
Contains fragrance
10. Best Cruelty-Free: Agranatural Tightening Retinol Body Lotion
If cellulite has been giving the dreaded orange peel effect to your skin, this retinol body lotion might just be the answer to your prayers. Packed with ingredients like retinol, hyaluronic acid, caffeine, and coffee seed extract, this lotion targets problem areas, and noticeably tightens and nourishes aging skin. Retinol reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while hyaluronic acid gives intense hydration to your skin. Caffeine and coffee seed extract together rejuvenate the skin, boosting the production of natural collagen for tightened and firm skin. Its creamy coconut base is rich in fatty acids that soothe inflammation and soften skin. Antioxidants from goji berry and pomegranate extracts remove discoloration and promote new skin cell regeneration, giving your skin a brighter and more youthful look. Pros
Not tested on animals Phthalate-free Formaldehyde-free No added colorants No harsh chemicals Natural ingredients Recyclable packaging
Cons
Contains parabens
11. pH Factor 5.5 Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Wrinkle Cream
Most of us must have faced skin problems like dryness, acne, wrinkles, dullness, but may not have realized it has a lot to do with the pH balance of our skin. This retinol body cream ensures that your skin maintains a pH level of 5.5, which is the ideal level. It builds a strong skin barrier and promotes smooth, firm, and healthy looking skin. This infusion of retinol and ferulic acid improves sagging skin and leaves your skin feeling hydrated and smooth as it specifically targets wrinkles and crepey skin. It combines potent anti-aging ingredients with natural antioxidants. Enriched with black tea, aloe vera, and chamomile, it further improves the overall health and appearance of your skin, while botanimoist AMS instantly increases skin hydration by up to 88%. This retinol cream can be used as a night cream and be applied with any facial serum for that ultimate glow. Pros
Vegan Cruelty-free No parabens No PEGs No formaldehyde Sulfate-free No dyes Triclosan-free No propylene glycol Mineral oil-free Talc-free
Cons
Contains fragrance
12. Replenix All-Trans-Retinol Smoothing Body Lotion
This body lotion features all-trans-retinol at the maximum safety level and creates healthier skin cells. It features the latest stem cell technology, PWR3+ antioxidant complex which rejuvenates skin and addresses sagging skin and cellulite, while also providing protection against environment stressors and free radicals. It strengthens the skin barrier, helping to reduce wrinkles and fine lines, while multiple molecular forms of hyaluronic acid penetrate the skin and offer intense moisturization. Its biomimetic ceramide complex replenishes and nourishes the skin barrier and dramatically enhances skin elasticity. The pharmaceutical grade formula of this lotion combines natural green tea polyphenols with other anti-aging ingredients like peptides and caffeine to rejuvenate your complexion. Suitable for all skin types, it gives new life to your skin. Pros
Hypoallergenic Paraben-free Oil-free Fragrance-free Non-comedogenic
Cons
Contains PEGs
13. Skincare Cosmetics Retinol Anti-Aging Body Lotion
This age-defying retinol body lotion leaves your skin feeling and looking younger, softer, and smoother. So you can say goodbye to dull, dry, and itchy skin. This lotion moisturizes, exfoliates, and nourishes your skin in one go. Infused with vitamins A and E along with revitalizing mango butter, it gives your skin ultimate moisturization. It contains both kale and rosemary which are rich sources of vitamin A, and sunflower seeds which are rich in vitamin E. Do try this luxurious treatment with vitamin A and botanical moisturizers to smoothen dry, flaky skin. Pros
Doctor-recommended Absorbs quickly Very effective Safe to use
Cons
Some may not find the fragrance desirable.
14. Pharm To Table Hemp Oil Retinol Anti-Aging Body Lotion
This retinol body lotion is a powerhouse of botanical ingredients that dramatically improve the quality of your skin. Hemp oil and collagen deeply moisturize your skin, may improve elasticity, and give your skin a firm, ageless look. Retinol reduces fine lines and wrinkles for smooth and flawless skin. Nutrient-rich ingredients from plants keep your skin soft, supple, and moisturized, and protect your skin from environmental oxidants. Coconut oil, argania spinosa kernel oil, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, goji extract, coffee seed extract, acai extract, noni extract, pomegranate extract, green tea extract, mangosteen extract, apple extract, lemon and lime extract, orange and grapefruit extract, and rose extract are just some of the vitamin and mineral-rich plant ingredients to name that lock in your skin’s moisture and improve its health. Pros
Vegan Paraben-free Cruelty-free Botanical ingredients
Cons
Contains fragrance and mineral oil
15. Nuventin Retinol Advanced Anti-Wrinkle Formula
This retinol topical cream instantly hydrates your skin to help fight dry skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while also enhancing skin elasticity. Infused with natural green tea and hyaluronic acid, it can be used under your eyes, face, neck, décolletage, and your entire body for an even skin tone. Aloe vera instantly hydrates and even helps in reducing crepey skin. It can be used daily both as a night and day cream. It’s generally safe for all skin types and helps to improve your skin tone and texture. Pros
Paraben-free Fragrance-free Non-greasy Not tested on animals
Cons
May not be suitable for extremely sensitive skin
Now that you have been through our review of the 15 best retinol body lotions, here are a few things you should keep in mind, while choosing one for yourself so that you can derive maximum benefit out of it.
How To Choose The Right Retinol Body Lotion
Here are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing a retinol body lotion.
Clean ingredients: In general, look for lotions that do not contain dyes, alcohol, fragrances, or any ingredient that can irritate your skin, especially so if you have sensitive skin. Skin concerns: Retinol body lotions are very versatile and you should use one that targets your specific skin concern. If you have dry skin, choose one that contains hyaluronic acid or argan oil, as it will keep your skin hydrated and plump. If it’s sun damage that you need to address, choose one that contains vitamins C or E and ferulic acid. Retinol strength: Retinol usually comes in a strength of 1%, 0.5%, 0.3%, and 0.25%. If the percentage is not specified, it usually means the concentration of retinol is weaker than 0.25%. But do remember to start with the lowest concentration and gradually move up. Also, if your skin is thick or oily, try a higher strength product, and if you have thin or dry skin, start with a lower strength product. Label: The label should mention ‘retinol’ and should not be confused with other types of retinoids. Retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, and retinyl propionate are weaker and less likely to cause skin irritation, but they are slow-acting. Tretinoin or isotretinoin are stronger and faster in their effects but can cause problems like stinging, burning, scaling, and redness. In contrast, retinol is more balanced, and gives you results less aggressively.
Dr. Dimitriy Schwarzburg, a renowned dermatologist and owner of Skinly Aesthetic, has the following recommendations when choosing a retinol body lotion. He says, “If you have sensitive skin, it is always best to do a patch test on the top of your hand or on your arm to make sure that you do not have any sensitivities or allergic reactions to any of the ingredients in your new product. “You might want to ensure the lotion you choose does not contain fragrances. Lotions containing alcohol often dry out the skin.” Dr. Schwarzburg further adds, “Keep in mind that already existing wrinkles, especially if they are deep, can not be eliminated using any cream or lotion as they are essentially engraved into the skin. However, keeping your skin hydrated can reduce their appearance and make it look fresher and more rejuvenated.”
Why Trust MomJunction?
Buying a retinol skin lotion might be a good option if you’re concerned about lines, wrinkles, sagging, and aging skin. However, picking the right lotion may be difficult with so many brand options. Therefore, after conducting extensive research, and comparing and analyzing numerous lotions online, we compiled a list of the top retinol body lotions to address various skin issues. We’ve also shared a shopping guide and listed the many skin advantages of using retinol lotion that may help you pick the right skin product. Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
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