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3 Dermatologists Weigh in on Using Retinol Body Lotion for Body Acne, Bumpy Skin and Uneven Texture
By Jenny Jin,
3 hours ago
According to ze French , skincare doesn’t stop at the face. (How American!) For a more comprehensive approach, we should be applying products onto our necks and chests as well. But what about the rest of our body? Well, if the growing popularity of retinol body creams and lotions are any indicator, our limbs and backs need love, too.
As a refresher on the beloved ingredient, “[When retinol converts] in the skin to retinoic acid, [it] stimulates skin cell receptors to act in a more youthful, healthier way,” explains dermatologist Dr. James Kilgour . “Thus, the same benefits of retinol for the face apply to the body, and include stimulating collagen production to increase firmness, reduce any roughness in texture and improve the appearance of age or sunspots.” Here’s how to choose the right retinol body lotion for you.
The Best Retinol Body Lotions at a Glance
Meet the Experts
How I Chose the Best Retinol Body Lotion
To get started, I went straight to our panel of board-certified dermatologists for their product recommendations. Next, I researched top retailers, including Amazon, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Dermstore, to further round out our list. Once I had our top selections, I looked through the ingredients panel for each product and factored in customer reviews to bring you this comprehensive list of the ten best retinol body lotions, so you can find one that suits your specific preferences and budget.
“Formulated with retinol, as well as moisturizing ingredients like grape seed oil, evening primrose oil, and shea butter and antioxidants like vitamin C, this lightweight body lotion helps reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone and improve the texture and firmness of skin while hydrating it,” says Dr. Camp.
Another pick from Dr. Camp is this retinol body cream from Kopari, which stands out for its formulation. He explains, “The retinol in this product is encapsulated, meaning that it is gradually released for improved tolerability and stability.” Translation: Its potency lasts longer in the bottle and is less likely to cause irritation.
This potent lotion features a combo of retinol and a peptide complex that exfoliates dead skin cells and supports your skin’s natural renewal process. At clinical testing, 93 percent of users noticed visibly smoother skin after just three days. In addition to being budget friendly, the formula is gentle for daily use on your body and face. As is good practice when using any retinol product, make sure to apply sunscreen while using it.
Thanks to the addition of allantoin and shea butter, this retinol body lotion is praised by reviewers for being very moisturizing. Also of note: the lotion’s lightweight texture and fast absorption. “This lotion goes on quick and smooth and truly leaves your skin feeling soft and silky,” says one happy Amazon reviewer. “This is my everyday lotion. It really does help with resurfacing the skin with the bit of the retinol but not too much that there is any irritation.”
Both Dr. Greenfield and Dr. Camp recommended this 0.1 percent body retinol by Nécessaire. A closer look at the ingredient panel reveals that it has alpha-hydroxy acids (specifically mandelic and glycolic acid) and peptides that work in tandem to target crepiness, spots, scars and bumps. Personally, I’m a fan of the pump top applicator, which makes it easier to dispense just enough product every time.
We’re officially in the thick of sandal season, which means scratchy heels abound. To help smooth things over, try swapping in a richer moisturizer like this one from Versed, which has retinol to help with skin cell turnover, but also squalane, cocoa butter and vitamin E to lock in moisture. Though this lotion can be used everywhere on the body, I find it to be thicker than some of the others on the list, which is why I’m recommending it for the heels (and other heartier spots like your elbows or knees).
At $75 a pop, this pick is certainly a splurge. However, if you’re consistently dealing with breakouts on your back and chest, this moisturizer comes highly recommended by reviewers on Dermstore. As one shares, “[It’s] non-greasy, easily absorbed and has a nice light clean scent. I have been on the hunt for a moisturizer I could use on my shoulders and back that wasn’t greasy since I tend to have breakouts. This moisturizer did the trick. I thought it was a litter pricey for a body moisturizer but well worth it and I will definitely be buying this again.” Another chimes in, “I first purchased this product last year to help with the acne I get on my shoulders and back, particularly in the summer months when I quickly start sweating outside. I saw a very immediate result.”
For extra rough skin that’s prone to bumps (i.e. keratosis pilaris), you might want to try a combo product that also includes extra exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acids and urea. This popular serum has it all and has thus become a go-to for targeting dry, uneven skin. As one Sephora reviewer shares, “I’ve been using this product for a week now, and I am able to notice and feel the results. It’s has completely erased and smoothed out the small bumps on my arms and legs and made my skin super smooth.”
Leave it to Olay to whip up a moisturizer that is well-priced, well-packaged and well-formulated. Containing two types of retinol (retinol and retinyl propionate) and their signature Vitamin B3 complex, the lotion leaves your skin feeling soft and very lightly fragranced. Plus, it comes in a generously sized bottle with a pump applicator that makes application a downright breeze.
Those with sensitive skin might be wary of trying a retinol body lotion, but this one from Cocokind could change your mind. Clinically tested, non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, it’s even been accepted by the National Eczema Association. It has 0.05 percent retinol that’s buffered by squalane and ceramides to keep skin comfortable and cushioned, while still addressing uneven tone and texture.
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