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- Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer is the best overall retinol cream: fragrance-free, with niacinamide and peptides, $29.99 at Target.
- Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream is the best budget and beginner pick at $7.99, and the only one here that states its strength (0.1%).
- RoC Max Hydration suits dry skin, Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair is labeled for day and night, and Olay Retinol24 MAX is the step up.
- Creams combine retinol and moisturizer in one step; start every other night, use a pea-sized amount, wear sunscreen and skip retinoids in pregnancy.
The best retinol cream for most people is Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer, a fragrance-free night cream that combines retinol, niacinamide and peptides for $29.99. Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream is the best budget and beginner pick because it states 0.1% retinol, RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Cream suits dry skin, Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair is the one labeled for day and night, and Olay Retinol24 MAX is the step up once the original feels easy.
Before you buy, you can scan a cream's barcode or photograph its label with the ingredient scanner in Pori to check it against your skin type. Pori reads the label for you; it does not diagnose skin conditions.
Quick picks
- Best overall: Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer, Fragrance Free ($29.99 for 1.7 oz, Target): retinol, niacinamide and peptides in one night cream.
- Best budget and for beginners: Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream ($7.99 for 30 ml, Target): a stated 0.1% retinol with bakuchiol, fragrance-free.
- Best for dry skin: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream ($28.49 for 1.7 oz, Target): retinol with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, no added fragrance.
- Best for day and night: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Face Moisturizer, Fragrance Free ($29.49 for 1.7 oz, Target): labeled for twice-daily use with sunscreen.
- Best step up: Olay Regenerist Retinol24 MAX Night Moisturizer ($34.99 for 1.7 oz, Target): 20% more of Olay's retinol complex than the original.
We compared published ingredient lists, brand claims and listed prices; we did not test these products on skin. Prices are US list prices as of November 2026, with the retailer named, and they change often.
How is a retinol cream different from a retinol serum?
A retinol cream is retinol and moisturizer in one jar. A serum is a separate, lighter step that goes under your moisturizer. Cleveland Clinic lists creams, serums, gels and lotions as retinol formats without saying one works better, so the choice is about your routine:
- Choose a cream if you want fewer steps, have normal to dry skin, or already struggle to fit in a separate moisturizer at night.
- Choose a serum if you want to keep your own moisturizer, have oily skin, or want a product that states its strength more often. Our best retinol serum for beginners roundup covers that route.
One trade-off: most creams here do not publish their retinol percentage. Cleveland Clinic notes that over-the-counter products often include other ingredients, so the amount of active retinol can be hard to judge. If you are brand new to vitamin A, our retinol for beginners guide explains strengths and a starting schedule, and retinal vs. retinol covers the stronger next step.
How do the best retinol creams compare?
| Cream | Key ingredients | Stated retinol strength | Skin type | Price (November 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer | Retinol complex, niacinamide, peptides, glycerin, panthenol | Not disclosed | Normal, dry, combination | $29.99 for 1.7 oz (Target) |
| Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream | Retinol, bakuchiol, glycerin, allantoin | 0.1% | Most types, including acne-prone | $7.99 for 30 ml (Target) |
| RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Cream | Retinol, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, dimethicone | Not disclosed | Dry, normal | $28.49 for 1.7 oz (Target) |
| Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair, Fragrance Free | Retinol, sodium hyaluronate, ascorbic acid | Not disclosed | Dry, normal | $29.49 for 1.7 oz (Target) |
| Olay Regenerist Retinol24 MAX | Retinol complex (20% more), niacinamide, peptides | Not disclosed | Retinol users stepping up | $34.99 for 1.7 oz (Target) |
Which retinol creams are best?
Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer: best overall
Olay's best-known retinol cream is a fragrance-free night moisturizer built around its proprietary retinol complex, with niacinamide, a peptide blend, glycerin and panthenol. Target lists the 1.7 oz jar at $29.99, labeled fragrance-free and dye-free. Olay says to apply it in the evening to face and neck and to use SPF during the day.
Who it suits: normal, dry or combination skin that wants a retinoid and a moisturizer in one step. Who should skip it: very sensitive or rosacea-prone skin, and anyone pregnant or trying to conceive. The catch: Olay keeps the retinol percentage proprietary, and the full ingredient list is on the box or Olay's SmartLabel page, not on Target's listing. Our Olay guide explains the rest of the Retinol24 line.
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream: best budget and for beginners
This is the only cream here that prints its strength: 0.1% retinol, at $7.99 for 30 ml, with bakuchiol, grape seed oil and allantoin in a fragrance-free, vegan base. The directions say to use it three to four nights a week, wear SPF in the day, and avoid using it in the same routine as vitamin C, benzoyl peroxide, AHAs, BHAs or scrubs.
Who it suits: first-time retinol users and acne-prone skin; the brand says it is safe for breakout-prone skin. Who should skip it: very dry skin, which will want a richer moisturizer on top, and anyone pregnant or breastfeeding who has not checked with a doctor, as the label advises. The catch: it is a light cream, and 30 ml is a small amount. Our bakuchiol vs. retinol guide explains the pairing.
RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream: best for dry skin
RoC pairs retinol with sodium hyaluronate, glycerin and silicones. Target's listing shows retinol tenth on the ingredient list, no added fragrance, and a price of $28.49 for 1.7 oz. The label says it can be used morning or night, suggests starting every other night, and recommends SPF 30 or higher in the day. RoC lists it as non-comedogenic.
Who it suits: dry or normal skin that feels tight with most retinoids. Who should skip it: oily skin that prefers a gel, and beginners who want to know their dose. The catch: RoC says only that the retinol percentage "varies across our line," and the 97% and 91% results on the listing are the brand's own figures.
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Face Moisturizer, Fragrance Free: best for day and night
Unlike most retinol creams, this one is labeled for twice-daily use. The Target listing shows retinol, sodium hyaluronate and ascorbic acid, says "formulated without fragrance," and lists 1.7 oz at $29.49. Neutrogena advises a pearl-sized amount, a gradual start for beginners, and SPF 30 or higher during the day.
Who it suits: dry or normal skin and people who would rather apply retinol in the morning too. Who should skip it: sensitive or rosacea-prone skin; the brand's own answer on the listing says it may be too strong. The catch: the strength is proprietary, and some reviewers say they can smell it despite the fragrance-free label. Target also sells a Rapid Wrinkle Repair moisturizer without "Fragrance Free" in the name, so check the box. Our Neutrogena guide covers the line.
Olay Regenerist Retinol24 MAX Night Moisturizer: best step up
Olay says MAX has 20% more of its Retinol24 complex than the original and recommends starting with the original if you are new to retinol or have sensitive skin. Target lists it at $34.99 for 1.7 oz, fragrance-free, for night use on face and neck.
Who it suits: people who have used the original Retinol24 for a few months without irritation. Who should skip it: beginners and sensitive skin. The catch: "20% more" of an undisclosed amount is hard to compare with anything else. If you want a clearly stronger step, a stated-strength serum or retinal may be the better move; see retinal vs. retinol.
What about retinol for the eye area?
Face creams are not always meant for the thin skin around the eyes. If crow's feet are the goal, a dedicated eye cream is easier to dose. RoC Retinol Correxion Eye Cream is a long-running drugstore option; our RoC eye cream review covers what it can and cannot do.
Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
Drugstore retinol for crow's feet — start twice a week.
Suits: Normal, Dry, Combination skin
From Pori's catalogue. Amazon links carry our Associates tag: Pori earns from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. No brand pays to be listed. Photos: Open Beauty Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
How do you use a retinol cream without irritation?
Start slowly. The American Academy of Dermatology advises using a retinoid every other night to start, choosing the lowest strength you can find, and using moisturizer to reduce irritation. Cleveland Clinic suggests a pea-sized amount for the whole face, a patch test first, and SPF 30 or higher every day, and says wrinkle improvement usually takes several months.
- Cleanse gently and let your face dry.
- Apply a pea-sized amount of the cream to the whole face, avoiding your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Use it every other night for the first couple of weeks, then add nights if your skin stays comfortable.
- If you get dry or flaky, add a plain moisturizer; the AAD says moisturizer helps reduce irritation.
- Wear broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning.
Some dryness, redness or peeling in the first weeks is common; our guide to peeling from retinol explains what to do. The AAD says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy; our pregnancy-safe routine lists alternatives. If over-the-counter retinol is not enough, a dermatologist can discuss prescription options such as tretinoin.
Prefer a serum after all? These are the stated-strength and drugstore options from our serum roundup.
Starter retinol serum
Evening serum with retinal, hydroxypinacolone retinoate and glycerin. Fragrance-free.
Suits: Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination skin
Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Buffered retinol aimed at post-acne marks and rough texture.
Suits: Oily, Combination, Normal skin
Regenerist Retinol24 Night Serum
Overnight retinol with the moisture cushion built in.
Suits: Normal, Dry, Combination skin
From Pori's catalogue. Amazon links carry our Associates tag: Pori earns from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. No brand pays to be listed. Photos: Open Beauty Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
How we chose
We looked for retinol products sold as creams or moisturizers, not serums, at full size from US retailers, labeled fragrance-free, with retinol on the ingredient list or in the key ingredients. We gave credit for a stated strength, clear directions and a moisturizing base that suits a named skin type. We read each listing's ingredients and claims and checked prices at Target, in November 2026. We did not wear-test any product. Safety guidance comes from the AAD and Cleveland Clinic. For more night options, see our best night cream roundup and our moisturizer catalogue.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best retinol cream?
For most people, Olay Regenerist Retinol24 Night Moisturizer, Fragrance Free. It combines retinol, niacinamide and peptides in a night cream for $29.99 for 1.7 oz at Target. Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream is the best budget pick at $7.99.
Is a retinol cream or a retinol serum better?
Neither format is proven to work better. A cream combines retinol and moisturizer in one step and suits normal to dry skin. A serum lets you keep your own moisturizer and more often states its strength.
What is the best retinol cream for beginners?
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream, because it states a low 0.1% retinol and is fragrance-free. Use it every other night at first and wear sunscreen every morning.
Can I use a retinol cream every night?
Eventually, if your skin tolerates it. The AAD advises starting every other night and building up slowly. Some creams, such as Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair, are labeled for twice-daily use once your skin has adjusted.
Do I still need a moisturizer with a retinol cream?
Often not, since the cream is a moisturizer. If your skin gets dry or flaky, add a plain moisturizer, which the AAD says helps reduce irritation, or use a richer cream on your off nights.
Can I use a retinol cream while pregnant?
No. The American Academy of Dermatology says retinoids should not be used during pregnancy. Ask your doctor about alternatives, and about breastfeeding as well.
Sources
- Target: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer, Fragrance Free
- Target: Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream
- Target: RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Max Hydration Cream
- Target: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Face Moisturizer, Fragrance Free
- Target: Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 MAX Night Moisturizer
- American Academy of Dermatology: Which retinoid or retinol is right for you?
- Cleveland Clinic: Retinol
Pori is a wellness and skincare education app, not a medical device. This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. For anything that worries you, see a dermatologist.
