Skin care devotees like myself are always looking for ways to up our beauty game — whether it be by investing in pricey devices, treating ourselves to luxurious treatments or scouring the internet for the latest and greatest skin care products. And luckily for us, we are living in a golden age of skin care. There is a lot of research going into finding out which active ingredients are most effective, from antioxidants to vitamin C to AHAs like mandelic acid and, of course, to the power and efficacy of retinol.
This holy grail ingredient is one of the most potent anti-aging ingredients available over the counter. In previous HuffPost reporting, Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology explained that “Retinol creams can help increase epidermal thickening, promote collagen synthesis and decrease collagen breakdown in photo-aged skin. … By doing so, retinols can help prevent and soften wrinkles, smooth uneven skin texture and improve skin complexion.”
For those of us who want the best, strongest and most effective ingredients, retinol is an absolute must. And while you can go to a dermatologist and get a prescription-strength retinol like tretinoin, it’s not for everyone. It may be too strong for sensitive skin types or simply cost-prohibitive.
Getting a handle on the different kinds of retinoids and the percentage strengths can be a bit confusing. In general, the maximum percentage you can get of an over-the-counter retinal (the fastest-acting retinoid) is .1%, with very few exceptions that claim to offer .2% retinol, like Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 (which used to be available for purchase at dermatologists’ offices but can now be purchased over the counter). The minimum strength you can get from a dermatologist is usually .025% tretinoin, which is a significantly stronger version of retinol than what is available OTC.
Whatever you choose, just make sure you slowly work your way up to higher strengths to avoid irritating your skin and don’t forget to load up on moisturizer and sunscreen.
So if you want the strongest, most effective retinol for your skin just shy of a prescription, then you’ve come to the right place. Below, we’ve rounded up the 10 strongest over-the-counter retinoids you can get without a prescription, including retinol, retinal, retinaldehyde and adapalene. They’re the best of the best, vetted by HuffPost editors, reviewers and dermatologists.
Dermstore
Medik8 Crystal Retinal 20 (0.2% retinal)
This cream is the highest run on Medik8’s Crystal Retinal ladder, boasting 0.2% retinal (if you’re wondering about the difference between retinol and retinal, read this). It’s for the most advanced skin care lovers and has double the concentration of the previous highest strength. It’s as good as it gets.
Dermstore
SkinCeuticals Retinol 1.0 maximum strength refining night cream (1.0% retinol)
In previous HuffPost reporting, Dr. Deanne Mraz, a board-certified dermatologist at Modern Dermatology in Connecticut and an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine, thinks the varying retinol strengths available make this cream a great option for “anyone who needs to downshift to a gentler strength in the cold, dry winter months and turn up the volume [spring through fall].”
Skin Better Science
SkinBetter Science AlphaRet overnight cream (1.0% retinol)
Sephora
Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum (0.15% retinal)
This highly-rated and oft-reviewed serum utilizes retinal, niacinamide and ceramides to not only improve the look and feel of skin texture and and common signs of aging, but also reinforce the skin’s barrier, smooth skin, even tone and moisturize. It’s a powerhouse combo in the form of a lightweight serum that won’t feel heavy. It contains .15% retinal, significantly more than most traditional retinol-based products on the market.
Amazon
A313 cream (0.12% retinol)
Amazon reviewer Jessica said she “ordered this after hearing about it from an aesthetician. It has a vaseline-type texture when it goes on. So a little goes a long way. You can definitely feel it tingling after you put it on. It works, but I personally cannot use it more than 2-3 times per week or my skin gets irritated. When I use it regularly, my hyperpigmentation is much better and so are my fine lines and wrinkles. It is definitely worth a try, but if you have sensitive skin, I recommend you start with a small amount and only once or twice a week at most!”
Dermstore
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1% Retinoid Acne Treatment (0.1% retinol)
This popular and affordable La Roche-Posay treatment is made with adapalene, a prescription-strength retinoid that is primarily used to treat acne, but also has all the other benefits of a traditional retinol. It’s incredibly effective and one of only two FDA-approved prescription-strength retinoid acne treatments, along with Differin, that can be purchased over the counter. I used adapalene for years before switching to retinol and tretinoin and found it to be incredibly effective.
Dermstore
Avène Retrinal 0.1 Intensive cream (0.1% retinaldehyde)
Target
Differin adapalene gel 0.1% acne treatment (0.1% adapalene)
Amazon
Naturium Retinaldehyde cream serum (0.1% retinal)
Dermstore
Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair night cream (.05% retinaldehyde)
This cream harnesses the power of retinal in combination with peptides, antioxidants and botanicals to nourish the skin while deeply infusing it with all the benefits of powerful, high-quality retinal. It’s uniquely balanced to be as effective as possible while also being gentle on the skin, making it a great option for those with sensitive skin who want to dip their toes into the strong retinol waters.
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