Style Skincare Bath and Body Derms Say Retinol Body Lotions Are the Key To Smoother, Firmer Skin—These Are the 10 Best Don't limit the powerful anti-aging ingredient to your face products. By Daley Quinn Daley Quinn * Former editor at Family Circle magazine. * Covers beauty, lifestyle, and health. * Published in both print magazines and digital outlets including Women's Health, Well + Good, The Cut, and more. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 6, 2023 Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Medically reviewed by Hadley King, MD Hadley King, MD is a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology. She is also a Clinical Instructor of Dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.Dr. King is a highly sought after dermatologist in New York City, where she has been treating patients for almost twenty years. She has won numerous awards including Castle Connolly Regional Top Doctor, Top Doctors New York Metro Area, New Beauty Top Beauty Doctor, and RealSelf Top Doctor. Learn More Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Brizmaker/Getty Images Ask any dermatologist and they'll tell you that retinol is the gold standard in treating many signs of aging. From smoothing fine lines and wrinkles to fading age spots, retinol has been used to treat a wide range of skin issues. Most folks know about the benefits retinol has for the face, but did you know that this all-star ingredient works wonders for your body too? Below, we've covered everything you need to know about retinol body lotions—the benefits, the downsides, what to look for, and much more. Retinol Benefits Retinol is perhaps the most effective ingredient that dermatologists have to treat aging skin. "Retinol helps stimulate collagen to strengthen the foundation of the skin," explains Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, director of clinical and cosmetic research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, and medical advisor for JORI Skincare. "This means improved texture, more even tone, and fewer lines and wrinkles. It is commonly used in face care products, but is more recently being incorporated into body care." When applied on the body, retinol body lotions can even out skin tone, moisturize, and address crepe-iness. The benefits of retinoids have also been noted in studies for lessening the negative impact of photodamage and treating acne, according to Erum Ilyas, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in King of Prussia, Pa. But just as with the face, she notes that some people will be more sensitive to retinoids (which includes retinol) than others. "It may be necessary to decrease the frequency of use or the strength to improve tolerability." Retinol Downsides While effective, retinol can potentially cause skin irritation in the first two to four weeks of use, as your skin acclimates to it. "You may be used to applying body moisturizers daily, but in the case of retinol-containing products, I say start every other day or two," says Dr. Zeichner. "Retinol thickens the lower skin layers, but does thin out the outer skin layer, known as the stratum corneum—this gives the skin a dewy glow, but it also increases the risk of sunburn, so it is even more important to wear sunscreen daily," and be mindful of sun exposure in the summer. What to Look For in a Retinol Body Lotion Because retinol can be drying, it's important to find a retinol body lotion that also adds moisture back into the skin. "When purchasing a retinol body lotion, recognize that dryness or irritation may be a barrier to use," explains Dr. Ilyas. "Seek out products with hydrating ingredients such as coconut oil, argan oil, and/or hyaluronic acid to offset the dryness." When should you start using a retinol body lotion? Dr. Zeichner recommends starting a retinol product after the age of 30, when skin cell turnover starts to slow down. "Don't wait for there to be significant sagging or wrinkles to start addressing aging skin," he says. "It's far better to keep the skin strong and prevent wrinkling than it is to get rid of wrinkles after the fact." Because pure retinol is unstable in UV light, it's recommended to apply a retinol body lotion in the evening. "Don't apply too much, because it can increase the likelihood of irritation," explains Dr. Zeichner. "Rather than a liberal application like you would do for a regular moisturizer, use as little as you can to cover the entire treated area." Best Retinol Body Lotions Our Top Picks Paula's Choice Retinol Body Treatment at Amazon Jump to Review Josie Maran Whipped Argan Pro-Retinol Body Butter at Amazon Jump to Review Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment at Amazon Jump to Review Versed Retinol Body Lotion at Target Jump to Review iS Clinical Body Complex at Amazon Jump to Review Eminence Organics Coconut Firming Body Lotion at Amazon Jump to Review Advanced Clinicals Retinol Cream at Amazon Jump to Review Perricone MD Skin Therapy at Amazon Jump to Review Olay Body Conditioner With Retinol at Amazon Jump to Review Doris Day MD Skincare Retinol Body Serum at Dorisdaymd.com Jump to Review Paula's Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment 4.9 Amazon View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Dermstore Many dermatologists and beauty editors are a big fan of this Paula's Choice pick. "I tend to like Paula's Choice Body Treatment with Retinol given its added hydrating ingredients," says Dr. Ilyas. Not only does this anti-aging formula contain a specialized retinol complex to smooth out skin, it also features antioxidants vitamin C and E to fight signs of aging, as well as shea butter and evening primrose oil for extra hydration. Josie Maran Whipped Argan Pro-Retinol Body Butter Sephora View On Amazon View On Target View On Kohls.com This gorgeous body butter features pro-retinol derived from pink algae to visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles throughout the body, without the dryness that normally comes with a retinol product. With a lovely air-whipped texture, this formula includes the brand's signature skincare product, 100% pure argan oil, to bring hydration back into the skin and protect its moisture barrier. Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment Blue Mercury View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Bergdorfgoodman.com Pricey but just as potent, this retinol body lotion from Chantecaille promises to help moisturize dry patches for younger-looking skin. The pure retinol encapsulated in botanical microspheres helps boost retextured and firmer-looking skin, while the saccharide isomerate draws water back into the dermis, minimizing dryness and flakiness. If you suffer from dry, flaky skin, you may also want to add in other treatments to help with dryness. Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion Target View On Target View On Revolve View On Versedskin.com "Versed Firm Ground Retinol Body Lotion contains a stabilized, encapsulated form of retinol in a formula, along with cocoa butter and vitamin E to hydrate and protect the skin," explains Dr. Zeichner. We love that it's vegan, cruelty-free, climate neutral-certified, and packaged with 75% post-consumer recycled plastic too. iS Clinical Body Complex Amazon View On Amazon View On Dermstore View On Skinstore.com Another fan-favorite among derms, this pick from iS CLINICAL works to hydrate and calm skin using vitamins, botanicals, and antioxidants. The formula is ideal for sensitive skin, as it includes a gentler form of retinol, called retinyl palmitate. It works as a mild exfoliant to reveal more youthful, radiant skin. The 11 Best Body Washes of 2023 for Every Skin Concern Eminence Organics Coconut Firming Body Lotion Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Dermstore If you're super-sensitive to retinol, but still want a smoother, firmer body, consider this pick from Eminence. It features a natural retinol alternative complex (thanks to chicory root oligosaccharides and tara tree) to help boost collagen production and smooth the appearance of skin. It also has some wonderfully hydrating ingredients, including coconut, shea butter, and grapeseed oil. Advanced Clinicals Retinol Cream Walmart View On Amazon View On Walmart A popular Amazon pick, this cream from Advanced Clinicals works to diminish signs of deep wrinkles, fine lines, and sun damage by boosting collagen production. It also boasts a ton of hydrating and calming ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, and chamomile. Perricone MD Cold Plasma Plus+ Fragile Skin Therapy Amazon View On Amazon View On Target View On Perriconemd.com This pick from Perricone MD not only improves the appearance of thin, crepey skin, it also promotes more resilient skin on fragile areas prone to bruising, damage, or tearing, such as the arms or shins. It's formulated with retinol, miro-hyaluronic acid, and growth factor peptides for a boost of youth after every application. Olay Nighttime Rinse-off Body Conditioner With Retinol Walmart View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target Although this Olay product isn't marketed as a retinol body lotion, the results are very similar. A body wash-meets-body lotion (aka a body conditioner), it's formulated with retinol and vitamin B3 complex for hydrated and super-smooth skin. How does it work? After you cleanse your skin, massage this body conditioner onto your body, rinse off, then pat dry once you step out of the shower—it works overnight to hydrate. The 11 Best Night Creams of 2023 for Every Skin Type Doris Day MD Skincare Retinol Body Serum View On Dorisdaymd.com According to Dr. Zeichner, this pick from Doris Day MD Skincare gives your body the same benefits you are looking for on your face. "The body serum combines retinol with potent antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E," he says. "Peptides in the blend further strengthen the skin, while salicylic acid exfoliates and brightens the skin." Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Sitohang IBS, Makes WI, Sandora N, Suryanegara J. Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Int J Womens Dermatol. 2022;8(1):e003. doi:10.1097/JW9.0000000000000003 Acne.org. Do Topical Retinoids Increase Sensitivity to the Sun? Accessed April 5, 2023. Kim KH, Lim DG, Lim JY, et al. Chemical stability and in vitro and clinical efficacy of a novel hybrid retinoid derivative, bis-retinamido methylpentane. Int J Pharm. 2015;495(1):93-105. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2015.08.081