When it comes to retinol, the gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging, Hollywood’s A-list swears by it. These are the star products that live up to the hype.
Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Retinol Serum ($95)
Fun Friends’ fact: Courteney Cox discovered the beloved Dermalogica brand on the set of the iconic series, asits products were often featured in Monica and Rachel’s bathroom. (The Cleansing Gel even makes a cameo in the episode where Monica is getting married.) Cox has shared she specifically likes this serum because it “smooths skin texture and evens my skin tone without irritation.”
Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum ($65)
“At night, before I go to sleep, it’s retinol,” Paulina Porizkova previously shared of this potent serum. “This one is really good—it goes on like water.” Sephora shoppers agree, saying it makes “a massive difference” in their skin.
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol PRO 0.5% ($50)
Kerry Washington’s testimonial for this “gentle” product is pretty persuasive: “I’m somebody who’s had eczema my whole life, so I have to be really careful—my skin is volatile and sensitive—and this serum is really effective for dark spots and fine lines, but also gentle. If you’ve heard about retinol and you want to try it, this is the perfect product to try. Or, if you already love retinol, this is great for you, too. It’s really lightweight, but it has a real power punch. I think it’s important to use products at night that don’t weigh your skin down.” Fellow spokesperson Jennifer Garner likes it, too, telling us previously: "This is like something that you would have to buy somewhere in a prestigious kind of place for a—I was about to say bad words—a lot of money. And you don’t have to do that anymore. Thank goodness. I love that Neutrogena is all about just making sure women have access to the good stuff in a really healthy, great way. So this bad boy is no joke—this will change your skin. It will reduce fine lines, believe me. And this is formulated for you to be able to use every night. Personally, I like it every night, but sometimes I do it every other night.”
Goop 3x Regenerative Retinol Serum ($150)
When goop head Gwyneth Paltrow introduced this serum to the world, she said it with a sentence: “The results you see on your skin are insane.” The stats don't lie: 100 percent of testers in a clinical study showed improvement in the look of even deep wrinkles.
Crepe Erase The Neck Repair Treatment ($79)
Jane Seymour is a "huge fan" of this neck product, which features encapsulated retinol. It is the brand's best-seller and the first and only neck treatment to contain its proprietary TruFirm Technology, encapsulated retinol and a patented peptide that work together to visibly smooth deep creases and crépiness.
Saint Jane Beauty Sacred Sleep Overnight Repair With Retinol ($70)
Queen of beauty reviews Bethenny Frankel said it best when she first tried this lavender-hued cream: “I want to put it back together and give this as a gift, but I put my paws in it—and now it’s mine. But I actually don’t; I want to own it! It’s rich, it’s nice. It says it has a little retinol in it and a fine-line complex…I just want to say ‘thumbs-up on this brand.’ It feels legitimately phenomenal.”
Shani Darden Retinol Reform Treatment Serum ($89)
This always-popular, sometimes sold-out Sephora SKU has a lengthy list of individuals who love it. According to the brand, the product has a very long list of fans, including Emmy Rossum, Rosie Huntington Whitely, Ali Webb, Michelle Monaghan, Tia Mowry, January Jones, Hillary Kerr, Jen Atkin, Kelly Rowland and Shay Mitchell.
Auteur Retinol Serum ($340)
As model Valentina Ferrer told us, this high-active brightening serum is "a favorite" and "definitely a must-try.”
RoC Derm Correxion Advanced Retinol Firming Serum Stick ($30)
Sarah Jessica Parker is a fan, and it's under $30 on Amazon. Enough said.
Aramore Retinol Peptide Booster ($110)
“I will not use retinol products that make my skin itchy or burn,” Julie Bowen told New York’s The Strategist, sharing that one of her go-to products is this retinol-peptide booster. “I use this in conjunction with the nighttime lotion. And, it tingles but not uncomfortably. I started with three times a week, but now I’ve worked up to where I’m applying it every night.”
