9 Best Retinols for Sensitive Skin, Tested and Reviewed for 2023

I legit thought this serum would ruin my skin during testing, but I'm happy to report I experienced zero (!) irritation. Seriously. The retinol serum uses three MVP anti-agers to smooth your skin: (1) microencapsulated retinol (to slow down the absorption so it’s less intense on your skin); (2) bakuchiol (a natural, gentler alternative to retinol), and (3) arophira (sea fennel extract that mimics bakuchiol). Sounds overwhelming, but the combo is surprisingly gentle, even for retinol newbies.

THE REVIEWS: "Very gentle and very effective," writes one tester, adding they've used this serum for two years and think it's "one of the best."

You can't talk sensitive-skin retinols without talking about this award-winning formula from RoC, which I have personally tested myself. This night cream was one of the first gentle breakthroughs in the harsh anti-aging world, thanks to the fact that its formula is filled with soothing, moisturizing emollients that "cushion" the retinol's absorption after you massage it on. Definitely a drugstore skincare staple for anyone with sensitive skin.

THE REVIEWS: "THIS IS NOT A DRIL!! THIS WORKS!" reads one review. "I saw an improvement after three days! Just get it!"

I personally have a love affair with The Inkey List—all of their products are super affordable, and their formulas are simple and effective, without any of the junky irritants (hi, my pet peeve). And this gentle moisturizer is no exception: It's filled with bakuchiol to smooth lines, squalane to moisturize, and sacha inchi oil to lock in hydration. Oh, and it's under $10. Yes, pls.

THE REVIEWS: "I am on my 4th tube of this stuff, and it is great," writes on tester. "I have noticed the deep lines on my forehead and neck reduced using it once a day before bed and before applying moisturizer."

Even though this night cream wasn't specifically made for sensitive skin, it's surprisingly gentle (so gentle that it's the only thing my boyfriend's baby face will tolerate). The fragrance-free formula uses retinol and retinyl propionate—one of the weakest, most-mild form of all retinoids—to smooth, plump, and brighten over time. And remember: If you're still worried about irritation, try alternating with your regular night cream every other night to see how your skin reacts.

THE REVIEWS: "I love this product! The night cream feels great on my face and I can see a difference in my skin. I have very sensitive skin and I have no problems."

If a retinol cream feels too intense or heavy for your sensitive skin, I highly recommend these face serum drops that use bakuchiol, squalane, to smooth and tighten skin over time. Massage a few drops over your clean, dry skin before following with the rest of your skincare routine, or mix a few drops in with your regular moisturizer to dilute the bakuchiol even more (if you're a first-time scaredy cat, like I was).

THE REVIEWS: "Makes my skin feel amazing," reads one review. "Have noticed [a] decreased look of lines in my face, especially [the] jaw area."

This silky-smooth serum contains 0.25 percent retinol, which is on the gentler side of the retinol spectrum (.05 and 1 percent tend to be more common). And if 0.25 percent still sounds scary, I get it, but I promise you that the rest of the formula is a big ol' hug for your sensitive skin, including colloidal oatmeal, allantoin, and aloe vera to soothe irritation, along with hyaluronic acid and ceramides to keep your skin barrier from getting dry or irritated.

THE REVIEWS: "I used this as a starter retinol since most products make my sensitive skin break out into a rash," reads one review, adding "I had no negative reaction to this."

Take a ~stroll~ through the five-star reviews on this plant-based retinol, and you'll see a stream of "OMG" comments from people with hyper-reactive and supremely sensitive skin (whattup, my brethren). And the hype is valid: The first three ingredients alone are water, squalane, and glycerin—a powerful moisturizing trio—followed by brightening niacinamide, plumping hyaluronic acid, and, of course, the MVP bakuchiol. Biossance will forever have my heart <3.

THE REVIEWS: "Y’all I literally NEVER write reviews but in just a week of use I’ve noticed such a difference that I had to share," one tester writes. "My forehead lines are much less prominent and the rest of my face is happier too."

The hero ingredient in this anti-aging cream? 0.05 percent retinal (yup, with an a). When it comes to retinal vs. retinol, retinal requires one less "conversion" before being absorbed by your skin, meaning it's more potent than retinol (which requires two conversions). Thankfully, the dose is low enough to be tolerated by most sensitive skin types, especially when layered on top of your facial moisturizer at night.

THE REVIEWS: "Gentle, worth the money," writes one reviewer. "This isn’t a harsh retinal, and the low dosage makes it easy to use and ease into."

I'ma be honest with you: This fragrance-free cream barely counts as a retinol—and that makes it the perfect pick for anyone who wants a super-gentle night cream with some anti-aging effects. The only retinoid in the formula is retinyl palmitate (the weakest and most meh of retinoids), so all of the softening, smoothing, and brightening effects are really coming from the cream's hefty dose of firming peptides and plumping hyaluronic acid. And yes, the combo really does work (the power of peptides is real, folks).

THE REVIEW: "I immediately noticed my skin looked brighter and healthier. I love the way this product feels on my skin," writes one tester. "It doesn't leave a greasy or oily film."