Which Retinol Creams of 2017 is Look Younger Fast?

When I was in my 40s, I was struggling with adult acne and a few of those sneaky little fine forehead lines, despite my somewhat oily skin. Naturally, when my peroxide cream didn't do the trick, I headed straight for the dermatologist in search of a good solution. She sent me packing with a prescription for Retin A. Wow – that stuff was harsh on my skin at first, but it did have a dramatic impact, clearing up my little pimple issue in short order. Plus, I got tons of compliments on my skin, which really did look years younger. Always a bonus.

Fast forward a decade, plus a few years. My skin isn't quite as oily, and I do still suffer from the occasional breakout. Worse yet, I can see the evidence from decades of playing outdoors, often without adequate sunscreen. The result? I've got a lot more fine lines, some honest, well-earned wrinkles and a bit of uneven pigmentation. Knowing I need to use moisturizer, I've tried lots of products. But I've really started to research more about those that are effective at defending my skin from more environmental assaults, and also repairing the damage I've got.

I've learned there are three key ingredients to keeping your skin looking young and healthy, and reversing that ticking time clock; retinol, niacinamide and reservatrol. While there are lots of pretenders out there claiming to be the fountain of youth, from stem cells and collagen to exotic botanicals, the big three actually have the science behind the beauty claims. Retinol, a vitamin A derivative, is really the power hitter when it comes to anti-aging benefits. When the collagen in your skin begins to break down, you'll notice more sagging and lack of elasticity. Retinol actually helps to stimulate collagen production, which makes your skin smoother and firmer, while at the same time, diminishing the appearance fine lines. We all want that, right?

A few of the retinol creams reviewed in this post, like those by StriVectin and PCA SKIN, have formulations that also include the second heavy hitter, niacinamide. A form of vitamin B3, this key ingredient is a powerful way to tackle excess pigmentation and brown spots. In fact, it even helps to block the production of melanin so those spots become less likely to happen. None of the creams reviewed list reservatrol, a powerful antioxidant, in their ingredient lists, but for the most part, all of them do include some antioxidants.

I was in for a little shell shock when I first started shopping. Many retinol creams cost a whole lot of money for the tiniest of tubes. When you're talking about a product that's going to be a part of your daily beauty regimen, that seems hard to wrap your head around. Of course, if you're not spending hundreds on botox treatments every few months, or thousands on a face lift, the price seems pretty worth it for great looking skin. And not all retinol creams are budget busters. We've included many highly rated, well-priced options on this list.

Retinol, similar to that prescription I once used, can be drying, especially at first. While most formulations include hydrating hyaluronic acid, shea butter and jojoba oil to combat that effect, lots of people choose to use their retinol cream on alternating days, or just a couple of times per week. For acne prone skin it's an especially effective tool that may initially cause you to break out, but then clear up in rather amazing fashion. Retinol creams are a terrific weapon to add to your skin care arsenal, no matter your age or gender. Along with a commitment to impeccable daily cleansing, moisturizing and sunscreen, they can take years off your face and leave your skin looking gorgeous for the long haul.