13 Best Retinol Body Lotions of 2024 for Firmer, Baby-Soft Skin

Editor’s Tip: Hussain loves to follow this intensive formula with a cushioning, hydrating body lotion. Her current favorite is: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Body LotionIt’s a thick cream with colloidal oatmeal that soothes the retinol-related irritation she sometimes experiences.

Main Ingredients: 0.25% Pure Retinol, 5% Niacinamide, 3% Glycerin | Target Audience: Looking for a treatment that’s lightweight and easy to build up? | Fragrance Free: yes

Best Exfoliant: iS Clinical Body Complex

Why it’s worth it: While all retinols have some degree of exfoliation, promoting skin cell turnover and preventing dead cells from building up on the skin’s surface, iS Clinical Body Complex boosts that effect with fruit-derived acids and plant-derived beta-hydroxy acids to gently resurface skin for a radiant complexion. It also contains aloe and hyaluronic acid to combat dryness. The result? Skin you’ll be proud of.

Editor’s Tip: Despite being formulated with results-driven ingredients, the product is also gentle on sensitive and damaged skin. Retinyl PalmitateRetinol, also known as pro-retinol, is gentler than other retinols because it has to go through multiple transformations before it becomes retinoic acid, the active form of retinol, so it takes longer to see results than if you were to use pure retinol, but it will still be effective.

Main Ingredients: Aloe, Glycerin, Willow Bark Extract, Retinyl Palmitate | Target Audience: Those who want even smoother results without risking redness | Fragrance Free: yes

Best Smelling Retinol Body Lotion: Sol de Janeiro Flor Collagen Boosting Elasti-Cream

Why it’s worth it: Sol de Janeiro’s Flor Collagen Boosting Elasti-Cream boosts collagen with a gentle retinol alternative called cakai oil, which mimics the action of retinol but without the side effects and sun sensitivity. It also contains vegan collagen, which helps maintain skin’s natural collagen content, and squalane, an emollient that smoothes skin.

Editor’s Tip: The brand is known for the scent of their skincare products, and this product has an uplifting fruity-floral scent with notes of dragon fruit, lychee, and hibiscus.

Main Ingredients: Cacay Oil, Vegetable Collagen, Squalane | Target Audience: People who spend a lot of time outdoors | Fragrance Free: no

Best Fragrance Free Retinol Body Lotion: Naturium Skin Renewing Retinol Body Lotion

Why it’s worth it: Are you looking to reap the benefits of a retinol product but worried your sensitive skin will react? Naturium Skin Renewing Retinol Body Lotion has you covered! It’s free of potentially irritating ingredients like fragrances, AHAs, and BHAs. Instead, it’s packed with gentle ingredients for sensitive skin, like hydrating glycerin, soothing allantoin, and conditioning shea butter. Plus, it uses encapsulated retinol, which means it absorbs slower and causes less irritation to your skin.