9 Best Retinols for Acne

Retinol is great for any skincare problem, including acne. It can be used to even out any textured skin, hydrate and help with any fine lines, breakouts and dark spots.

Retinols are usually bought in the form of a serum and are powerful products, they work at increasing the renewal of cells and gently exfoliating to leave you with glowing and more youthful-looking skin.

Thanks to retinol products regulating sebum control, it also helps with the control of acne. 

The Best Retinols For Acne Prone Skin

Below we’ve compiled a list of 9 of the best retinols for acne.

CeraVe Retinol Serum for Post-Acne Marks and Skin Texture

Use this serum to help your skin look smoother and more even-toned.

It will minimize pores and refine the skin’s texture so that post-acne marks are considerably reduced. 

Formulated as a gel texture, it has a non-greasy feel which is perfect if you have oily skin. It will be easily absorbed and all you need to do is apply a thin layer morning or night. 

Also infused with three essential ceramides, which are 1,3 and 6-ii, these ceramides help to protect and maintain the skin’s natural barrier.

Free from parabens and fragrances and non-comedogenic you can also use this retinol serum on sensitive skin. 

Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum

Formulated with a strong solution of 1.5% retinol, this product will release the retinol slowly to deliver a non-irritating product that will take effect throughout the entirety of the night. 

It will help to reduce the signs of ageing by improving the appearance of any fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone, which is perfect if you want to reduce the appearance of any post-acne marks.

It will also add a layer of radiance to the skin to leave it looking glowing and youthful. 

To use, you should shake the bottle well and then apply. You can apply it day or night and it’s recommended to use an SPF along with the serum during the day.  

iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+ Antioxidant Rich Vitamin C Serum

Created with vitamin C, olive leaf extract and vitamins E and A.

This serum has been specially designed to fight any acne while also reducing any signs of ageing.

You can say goodbye to any redness or inflammation and hello to smooth and glowing skin. 

Apply three to four drops of this serum into your palm and then massage onto the skin using your fingertips.

You should apply it to both the face and neck and can use it in the morning and at night. 

Dr Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum

This is a fast-absorbing serum infused with retinol to reduce the look of ageing eyes.

It will firm the skin, add hydration, and reduce the appearance of any wrinkles.

This serum has been specifically designed for the eye area and if you’re planning to use the retinol serum during the day then you can even incorporate it into your makeup routine as a primer.

You only need to apply a small amount of this product to the eyes, no more than ½ pump will provide you with effective results. You can gently pat it around the entire eye area including the lids, crow’s feet and brow bone. 

Great for acne-prone skin, this serum has been developed for oily skin and also has no parabens which can cause even more irritation and redness. 

Drunk Elephant A-Passoni Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Cream

Use this serum to restore your skin and to leave it looking healthy and youthful again.

It nourishes the skin while also fighting against fine lines and wrinkles. Formulated with both vitamin F and retinol, vitamin F will help to calm the skin, also helping to reduce the appearance of acne and retinol will reduce any signs of ageing. 

Drunk Elephant’s A-Passoni cream will improve your skin’s texture and calm any signs of sensitivity, while the retinol will improve your uneven skin tone. 

Due to the high percentage of retinol in this product, it should only be used at night and should only be used a couple of times a week.

You can gradually increase use once the skin has become used to the retinol. 

RoC Retinol Correxion Anti-Ageing Night Serum

Coming in the form of small capsules, each one has been filled with collagen and retinol to help improve skin elasticity and make it appear more youthful by reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

The capsules ensure your serum remains fresh when applied to the face for optimum results. 

This serum has proven results with 97% of customers confirming they had smoother skin after just one night. A huge 63% said their skin felt more hydrated after a week and 30% said their skin was visibly firmer. 

The retinol in this product will work at reducing any fine lines and wrinkles and fade the appearance of dark spots and even your skin tone.

Formulated with nourishing antioxidants, it will also help keep acne-prone skin healthy and reduce redness. 

La Roche-Posay Pure Retinol Face Serum with Vitamin B3

This powerful retinol serum will help to reduce the look of wrinkles and any damage caused by UV rays. 

This retinol serum also has raving customer reviews with 90% stating that their skin felt refined, 82% said their skin looked younger, 86% saying it looked firmer and 88% said it had a healthy glow. With stats like that, it’s hard not to believe that this product will work wonders on your skin.  

Key ingredients include pure retinol which helps to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

Niacinamide has been infused to soothe and restore, making it perfect for acne-prone skin. Hyaluronic acid has also been infused to ensure long-lasting hydration of the skin. 

The Inkey List Retinol Serum

Perfect for any acne-prone skin, you can use this serum to reduce the look of ageing without any irritation.

Formulated with vitamin A and retinol, these should be your go-to products when it comes to anti-ageing. They’ll help to deliver a brighter and more youthful appearance. 

Key ingredients include 1% retinol, 0.5% granactive retinoid and squalane. All these ingredients will help to reduce any fine lines and wrinkles and provide your skin with deep hydration. 

You should only use this retinol at night as it’s a strong product. You should apply a small amount to the skin starting off just one or two times per week and then you can gradually start to increase the amount once the skin becomes used to the retinol.  

Ebanel 2.5% Retinol Cream for Face

This face cream is a moisturizer rather than a serum and works at boosting collagen to rejuvenate the skin. Also infused with a large dose of retinol, this magical ingredient helps to fight the signs of ageing by reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. 

Not only does this face cream help with signs of ageing but it’s also a saviour when it comes to acne.

This moisturizer will unclog pores and prevent future breakouts and blackheads to leave you with a smooth skin texture.

You can also use it to remove any dark spots from the skin to leave you with a brighter complexion. 

You should start to see results with this product after one to two months of continued use. You should apply this after cleansing and toning the face and it can be applied morning and night. 

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Retinol serums and moisturizers have a key impact when it comes to fighting the signs of ageing. They significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and also help to brighten the skin by diminishing any dark spots.

If you have acne, then you may also want to take this into consideration when choosing the right retinol serum. For example, you’re going to want to choose one that won’t irritate the skin. 

There’s a large number of retinol serums on the market that will not only help with ageing but can also reduce redness and improve your skin’s texture.

You can look for retinol serums that also include ingredients such as niacinamide, which helps to reduce redness, or, added vitamins such as vitamins E or C to nourish and brighten.

Other serums will also have ingredients infused to soothe the skin which will help with acne concerns. If you do have acne-prone skin, you may also want to limit the amount of retinol you use as it can cause irritation, with the recommended amount being only one or two times per week.

To give your face a real treat, check our reviews for the Best Facial Steamers, they are a vital part of any facial treatment which you can do at home. They are the ultimate skin decongestant tool, allowing any active ingredients you use on your face afterwards to more effectively sink into your skin.

You might also like to try a charcoal mask to aid a clearer complexion. Charcoal is the hottest ingredient in skincare right now, and it’s no coincidence. This magical ingredient acts as a magnet to draw out dirt, build-up, and oil from the surface of your pores. The result? Clean and less oily skin.