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Retinol body lotions are popping up everywhere to prevent and slow signs of aging on the skin. I’ve been using retinol on my face for what seems like forever, but only recently have I been starting to pay attention to the skin on my body.
Using retinol in a body lotion now seems like a no-brainer to me, considering retinol’s long-proven benefits for skin. Since I can be picky about body lotions in general, their texture and scent mostly, I’ve tried a couple to see if there’s much of a difference. I also wanted to try some at different prices to see if there’s much of a difference.
Recently. I wrote a guide to retinol body lotions including how to use one, so go ahead and check that out here. But if you’re looking into trying a retinol body lotion, or want to know how much you should spend for one to get good quality, check out my below reviews!
Retinol is a form of vitamin A that is popular for its ability to speed up cell turnover, meaning it helps you get rid of dead skin cells which improves the look of your skin in a number of ways. I like using retinol for the following benefits:
Retinol has a lot of anti-aging benefits including the ability to reduce existing fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinol also can help fade dark spots caused by aging or the sun and other forms of hyperpigmentation.
Clearer skin is another benefit of regular retinol use because it helps to unclog pores, reduce inflammation, and regulate oil production which leads to clearer, brighter skin.
Improved collagen production in the skin means smoother, firmer skin.
While I go more in depth on how to use retinol body lotions here, I want to note that it’s important to begin use of retinol gradually, like one a week, before moving up to using retinol multiple times a week. Retinol can be irritating when overused, especially when you’re getting used to it.
Also retinol should be followed with sunscreen as it can make your skin more sensitive to the sun. This is true whether using retinol is part of your morning or night routine. Alright, now let’s get to the reviews!
This is a very soft lotion that goes on semi-transparent and is easily spreadable. This formula includes AHAs to gently exfoliate which helps to ready the skin for retinol. (I wouldn’t exfoliate right before using retinol otherwise though.) Like all of these body retinols, it doesn’t have much of a smell although I know for this one in particular the smell has bothered some customers. This is definitely the softest, most lightweight, and most transparent retinol I tried, but it has the highest price tag.
This is a really soft lotion (not quite as spreadable or transparent as The Necessaire Body Retinol however, but almost!) It has no fragrance like most of Naturium’s products. While I don’t know how much retinol is used in their formulation, they also used allantoin which is an ingredient that is especially good for irritation. If you’re looking for a gentle formula that won’t make your skin act up, this is a good one to start with.
This one is very similar to the Naturium lotion in spreadability. The Versed retinol lotion uses coca butter and squalene to nourish and moisturize the skin. Vitamin E helps reduce inflammation. This is a very nourishing body lotion which is especially great if you have a lot of dryness. It’s good for sensitive skin though, and price-wise it’s close to Naturium which is slightly more expensive but gives you a bit more lotion to make up for it.
The thickest of the three, this lotion from Gold Bond is still spreadable enough to pass my text for a comfortable body retinol. It’s a non-comedogenic formula which can also be used on the face. It has no fragrance but has a number of moisturizing ingredients to make this a good choice for dry skin. It’s the most affordable and while it doesn’t have any specific anti-inflammatory ingredients, it’s a deep moisturizer that is still pleasant enough to wear all night long.
When it comes to my favorite, I would probably choose Necessaire’s The Body Retinol, but since I wanted to be a bit more price conscious with this purchase, I would go with either the Naturium or the Versed. Both are great retinol body lotions that contain anti-inflammatory ingredients and are good for sensitive skin. They’re both very spreadable, but in truth I was surprised by how wearable all four of these lotions are. You can’t really go wrong with any of these, so long as it fits your budget and has ingredients that fit your needs!
