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For skin care enthusiasts, retinol is the holy grail ingredient for rejuvenating skin. As Dr. Y. Claire Chang, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology, once told HuffPost: “Retinol creams can help increase epidermal thickening, promote collagen synthesis and decrease collagen breakdown in photo-aged skin. By doing so, retinol can help prevent and soften wrinkles, smooth uneven skin texture and improve skin complexion.”
That powerful ingredient can often signify expensive, but lucky for you, we actually found an ultra-popular retinol moisturizer that several reviewers say works wonders and won’t break the bank. One reviewer actually calls it “magical” and describes its “transformative powers” as “nothing short of fabulous!”(Note: Of course, we know it’s not really magic at work here. It’s the skin-rejuvenating retinol. Skin care performs best with consistency over time.) Beloved by users who swear it helps decrease the appearance of wrinkles and evens out complexion, it’s nearly a whopping 40% off right now at Amazon. That makes it just $18.16, down from its usual $29.99 price tag. But you’ll have to hurry — this discount is an Amazon lightning deal, but we’ve got intel that the deal will last through 8 p.m. EST today so nab it while you can!
Retinol aside, this moisturizer also contains several other hydrating ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea, shea butter and jojoba oil, all which can help reduce the appearance of blemishes, redness and acne scars. It’s designed to use twice a day (morning and night), but, like any good retinol, it’s best in conjunction with some SPF. It goes on clear without leaving residue, and several users say it absorbs well without feeling greasy.
“It makes my skin feel great, and it even looks great!” says reviewer Shannon Edwards. “It’s not greasy, but it moisturizes. The texture feels like whipped velvet!! It is so luxurious and feels amazing on my skin. […] I feel like shouting from the rooftops how amazing this stuff is! This product is superior!”
If you’re looking to relieve your face, neck and shoulders from some of the effects of aging and sun damage, consider grabbing this excellent retinol moisturizer. Keep reading for promising reviews from several happy users.
Read on for more promising reviews of the beloved Retinol Cream:
“LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream is like a magical potion for your face – a dazzling concoction of anti-aging wonders! Picture this: your skin, bathed in the glory of advanced anti-aging effects, lifted, brightened, and rejuvenated, all without a hint of dryness. It’s like a symphony of moisture orchestrated by aloe, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, green tea, shea butter, and jojoba oil.This high-potency elixir is a wrinkle-fighting maestro, performing a daily duet to unveil your complexion’s radiant, natural beauty. It’s not just a cream; it’s a triple-duty virtuoso, with a lightweight texture that vanishes without a trace, leaving your skin hydrated and refreshed. It’s the disappearing act you didn’t know your wrinkles needed!But wait, there’s more – it’s a blemish-banishing virtuoso! Say goodbye to acne redness and scars as LilyAna’s powerful Vitamin A formula swoops in to smooth and soften rough or uneven skin. It’s the superhero your skin deserves, non-comedogenic and ready to rescue you from acne blemishes. What’s even more enchanting is the potion’s commitment to purity. Clean, vegan, and non-toxic, it’s a potion with a heart of gold. No artificial fragrances or colors, and it waltzes away from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, petroleum, synthetic fragrances,artificial coloring, and formaldehyde. It’s cruelty-free, because in the magical world of LilyAna, animals are friends, not test subjects.In the realm of skincare, LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream isn’t just a product – it’s a spellbinding journey to a more youthful, radiant you. Prepare to be bewitched by its transformative powers, as it delivers results that are nothing short of fabulous!” — CatawbaGirl
“My first time using a retinol cream and I really like it. I’m a hesitant adopter of additional products. This feels great, and my skin has improved significantly. Age spots diminished and skin texture better in just a couple weeks. And it could be the power of suggestion, but wrinkles are better already. I feel like I look 5 years younger – in just a couple weeks. I’m 50.” — Jen Nadeau
“[…] I read outstanding reviews of this stuff, and figured I’d give it a shot. I got the serum, and the retinol moisturizer, and got the regular face cream and eye cream in case my skin got dry. I just read a bunch of people talking about how the first week or two you use it, it can cause dryness and some peeling, so I figured I should have some of the basic stuff, too. I don’t know if it’s just that my skin was used to the harshness of benzoyl peroxide on the regular, or that I’m SO greasy, but I didn’t experience any of the dryness, redness, or irritation that a lot of people report the first couple weeks. […] But no joke, just using the serum and the retinol moisturizer every day, within a few days my skin calmed down a massive amount. The moisturizer is a little on the heavy side (although I used it pretty liberally) and is a little heavy for use under makeup if you’re heavy handed like me, but I’d still put some on, let it soak in awhile, and just wipe my face down real quick with a cleansing cloth, and it was all good. By the end of the first week, I’d had no new pimples, and noticed dramatic lightening in the marks from old pimples, along with a generally more even skin tone, and my face felt smoother, softer, calmer, and looked it, too. I have not turned back. The best part is that my skin is also not as greasy as it was before, and I have FINALLY found a moisturizer that doesn’t make me break out worse. And my skin just soaks up that serum, and that stuff is AMAZING.” — nessa
“[…] I’ve been using it for a week now, and I’m really pleased with it. I just jumped right in and started using it morning and night because my skin is NOT sensitive and I already use salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide regularly, so I knew this stuff probably wasn’t going to “burn” my skin. It didn’t even tingle. I wash my face like normal (sometimes I still exfoliate with apricot scrub if my skin feels grimy with lots of oil and makeup), then I use the retinol cream all over my face (including eyelids and lips), neck, and chest. After it dries for a few minutes, in the morning I use Neutrogena Naturals Brightening Daily Moisturizer SPF 25 1.7 oz . By the second day the skin on my neck and chest was amazingly smooth and silky – I hadn’t even realized that I needed help in those areas. I think my skin in general just has particularly slow skin-cell turnover because I tend to have thick dry skin and could exfoliate with the harshest apricot scrub and never have any problems from it. By day 2 or 3 I noticed the skin around my eyes was smoother and not as dry looking and my whole face looked shinier and smoother like I had exfoliated and used salicylic acid. By the way, at first I stopped using my acne creams/gels because I wanted to see how the retinol cream worked on its own. It did improve the jawline acne marks/pigmentation. […]” — Erin (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review here.)
“I’ve been looking for a better replacement for a daily cream than the grocery store CeraVe. Wanted some retinol too. I don’t know if this truly has retinol or enough to make an anti-aging difference but I will say it’s lightweight, doesn’t smell bad, and didn’t make me break out or dry out my skin. I think this was a great value for the price. Definitely will buy again.” — Cait
Looking for retinal products for your skin care routine? Check out these top picks below.
Retinal
I’ve long heard people rave about this highly-rated serum from Medik8, and I can’t say I’m surprised. Everything I’ve tried from the brand thus far has been effective and left my skin looking and feeling great. This serum can help to address typical signs of aging like wrinkles, texture and tone quickly and efficiently. It’s balanced with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help keep skin supple, soft, smooth and hydrated. It’s a great mid-price jumping-off point for anyone curious about trying a retinal.
I’m a big fan of Avène products; this French pharmacy staple always knows how to strike the perfect balance between using tried and true potent ingredients and nourishing goodness to help keep skin looking and feeling youthful, soft and plump. This cream is no exception and can help to leave your complexion looking and feeling smooth, radiant, hydrated and fresh.
This highly-rated and oft-reviewed serum utilizes retinal, niacinamide and ceramides to not only improve the look and feel of skin texture 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.
Retinol
According to Mraz, you can’t go wrong with Skinceuticals Retinol, which comes in three strengths (.3%, .5% and 1% concentrations). “This is 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],” she recommended. It’s a great way for first-time users of retinol to enjoy the benefits while still protecting the skin from potentially irritating side effects.
This popular Sunday Riley retinoid serum is beloved by HuffPost shopping writer Tessa Flores. She shared that it’s “composed of a retinoid ester, encapsulated retinol and retinol-alternative extracts derived from blue-green algae, all of which can impart the texture-improving wonders that retinol is known for without overwhelming the skin and causing irritation.”
She went on to explain that the formulation includes COQ10, an antioxidant that “targets the appearance of sun damage while two different humectants soothe redness and draw moisture into the skin. After using this product consistently for two months, I’m noticing a significant reduction of my keratosis pilaris in that the texture is smoother, less red and with fewer clogged hair follicles. I’ve also noticed less congestion in my T-zone, fewer sun freckles, and an overall increase in skin plumpness — all without those telltale signs of retinol-induced irritation.”
