14 Best Retinol Body Lotions for Radiant Skin

A GH Beauty Award winner, Bio-Oil is a classic skin healer and editor favorite. This iteration of the formula, a featherweight liquid body lotion, contains extra skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin E plus botanicals like rose and jojoba oil to cushion the retinol. One tester noted how quickly it soaks into skin (it takes just "seconds"). There's "no waiting time for the lotion to dry or sticky, greasy film, and it feels incredibly silky on," the tester marveled. Some online reviewers do find it to be extremely watery.

The lowest-priced option in our roundup, Olay's powerful body lotion contains not just one, but two types of retinol. The pump bottle "makes application a breeze," Wnek shares. "I like that I don't have to open any lids." It has a soft floral scent. The occlusive formula "absorbs well, not too fast or slow," she adds. "It feels like a traditional body lotion without feeling too heavy or light on skin."

It does leave a slight residue on skin, "but since it is a nighttime formula, that is what I usually prefer," Wnek says. The retinol made our skin tingle a bit when applying, so this may not be the best pick for those with sensitive skin; regardless, start slowly (every other night) to avoid irritation.

A Beauty Award winner, this cream treatment contains retinal, a more powerful form of the smoothing ingredient retinol and 100% of Beauty Lab testers found that it made their skin feel soft, look moisturized and wasn’t tacky or greasy, though one tester noted that it did not apply easily.

"I love the luxurious feel, and I felt pampered for sure," Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann said. "I also have dry and eczema-prone patches on my legs that were pretty irritated during winter and cold days, and though hesitant to apply this cream on as it contains retinal, it has transformed my irritated skin by plumping and smoothing it."

While many body retinols are offered in lotion form, this GH editor fave from Versed is instead a body butter. It has a "rich, nourishing texture," says GH Beauty Director April Franzino, and she especially likes that it "feels moisturizing instead of just like a treatment product." The luxe, hydrating formula doesn't leave a greasy feel, and there are noticeable improvements: Another GH staffer uses it "on my arms and legs, and after a few weeks, I've noticed that my dark spots seem to be fading and my skin is smoother and softer." Though some like the subtle cocoa butter scent, others find it to be off-putting.

Beauty Pie's body concentrate includes both retinol and glycolic acid to really clear up skin. GH Beauty Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler says she can feel noticeably softer skin after just a couple of nights using this formula. "It can cause some peeling, so alternate with a moisturizing lotion a few nights a week," she recommends. She loves how lightweight it is upon application and that it doesn't leave skin feeling damp or slick.

Coming in at a great price, Gold Bond's retinol lotion can be used on both face and body, according to its packaging. In our evaluations, the thick lotion had no noticeable fragrance. Online reviewers and Wnek agree that it is a thicker formulation. Wnek noted that it also "absorbs right into skin and doesn't require much rubbing in," so move quickly as it doesn't have much play time on skin. This lotion is recommended by Dr. Ahram as well.

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Formulated with encapsulated retinol, allantoin and shea butter, this body lotion from Naturium is a derm-approved buy. Dr. Ahram recommends the fragrance-free option, noting that it is "very hydrating while still providing the benefits that retinols have," she says. Thanks to its encapsulated retinol, it is designed to be less irritating to the skin as well. Some online reviewers say that they haven't seen a noticeable improvement in their skin since beginning use.

Offered in a serum rather than a typical lotion, Nécessaire's lightweight body retinol is another derm favorite. Dr. Ahram likes that it "also has glycolic and mandelic acid to help exfoliate the skin," she says. Additionally, ingredients like peptides and niacinamide help balance skin. In a third-party verified clinical study by the brand, 85% of testers had less crepiness and 82% had fewer lines and wrinkles after four weeks of use. Note that some online reviewers do not like the strong scent of the product, saying it smells "like cheese" or "rotten," though others say the scent goes away quickly and the results are worth it.

If you want to try a luxurious body cream with added anti-aging benefits, this is the one to buy. It rubs in easily to skin, absorbs quickly and feels very hydrating, delivering a truly luxe experience (at a luxe price). "I feel like you can apply this and get dressed right afterwards," says Wnek. "I would call this a lightweight texture." A clinical trial published by the brand showed that after four weeks, 94% of users agreed skin looked more toned. Wnek and our former Beauty Assistant both love the fresh rose scent; however, if you are sensitive to fragrance, it may not be the best pick for you.

Another product recommended by Dr. Ahram, Paula's Choice retinol body lotion contains both retinol and antioxidants. The moisturizer is "hydrating," Dr. Ahram notes; many online reviewers rave about its ability to treat the look of stretch marks as well, with one calling it their "favorite body product for stretch marks." The reviewer goes on to note that "nothing has worked besides this." They "apply it every night and have seen such a huge difference, and it also leaves my skin so smooth." Though some users don't notice a smell, others say it smells like garlic.

A skincare line designed with sensitive skin in mind, Cocokind's body retinol has a tall task of both being effective and not irritating the skin. Alongside retinol, cushioning squalane and ceramides keep irritation at bay. In the brand's own consumer studies, 100% of testers said the cream worked well for sensitive skin after one week and 94% said their skin felt smoother after four weeks. It's also formulated without fragrance; in our own Lab evaluations, Wnek said it didn't have a strong scent and that a little goes a long way. However, the packaging's "cap takes some getting used to initially," Wnek adds. "I appreciate the reduced plastic, but it is hard to open."

RELATED: The Best Retinols for Sensitive Skin

Apply Kopari's retinol cream all over from the neck down. The encapsulated retinol proved to perform in the brand's independent consumer study, with 98% of users saying it renewed dull skin and 87% seeing an increase in skin's elasticity, which can help eliminate crepiness. An online reviewer who says the skin on their chest was like leather used this daily and after a week found skin to be "smooth, moisturized and beautiful."

The bottle's push pump top is a popular skincare design, though for body care products, Wnek notes that it can be a little arduous to only get a little dollop out of the bottle at a time. Note that this body cream can be used day and night. It "feels nice on skin and feels very hydrating," Wnek adds.

Retinol body serum lovers, this one's for you. Soft Services' formula is noticeably thin, so it's lightweight, online reviewers and Wnek agree. Wnek adds that it "absorbs relatively quickly and feels hydrating on skin." There was no noticeable scent to this product upon application, either. Online reviewers say it has made their skin's tone and texture even and smooth. It won't last you long, though, since it's available in a 2.5 fl. oz. package (also making it on the pricier side for its small size).

Is your skin too sensitive to tolerate retinol? Fear not, you can still find products that will give you similar effects without this active ingredient. Weleda's body butter contains antioxidants such as pomegranate seed oil "to help regenerate the skin," says Dr. Ahram. "It also has centella asiatica which helps with collagen synthesis." In the brand's own four week study, after applying twice a week, 73% of testers reported an increase in the appearance of skin elasticity. Online reviewers say the product is very moisturizing without feeling greasy. Take note that this product won't perform as well as a retinol, but it is a great alternative.

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