Retinoids (and retinoids in general) may be heralded as a miracle worker, but it's not without complications. You may experience irritation such as redness, dryness, or stinging until your skin adjusts to prescription-only topical medications. Even after that period (called retinization), it's crucial to keep your skin properly moisturized. Therefore, the best serums for use with tretinoin can combat dryness and irritation with concentrated doses of soothing and hydrating ingredients. "Topical retinoids can cause skin dryness and irritation, especially when your skin is first getting used to the retinoid," confirms dermatologist Hadley King. “Serums can provide moisturizers that nourish the skin, emollients that support the skin barrier, and other soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients.” Dr. King’s favorite ingredients for retinoic acid users are “like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or polyglutamic acid Moisturizers, which hydrate the skin, and emollients, like ceramides or jojoba, argan or squalane, which can help support the skin barrier.”
For people with sensitive skin or signs of retinal degeneration, soothing ingredients like allantoin, bisabolol, panthenol, oat extract, and centella asiatica are key. "Nicotinamide is a great ingredient that works well with retinoids to help improve skin tone and texture," adds Dr. King. You also want to be careful to avoid serums that contain too many exfoliating ingredients, which can aggravate or even cause irritation when using tretinoin. "Avoid benzoyl peroxide and avoid acidic formulas that use strong beta or alpha hydroxy acids," warns Dr. King.
expert
Dr. Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Hadley King Dermatology in New York City. She specializes in medical and cosmetic dermatology and serves as a clinical instructor in dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Kim's research has been published in various medical journals and her expertise has been profiled in numerous beauty and health publications.
Derm Approved Skin Care Routine for Retinoic Acid Users
Of course, tretinoin is just one part of your daily skin care routine, and Dr. King shares the morning and night steps you absolutely can't skip. After a gentle cleanser in the morning, Dr. King recommends using a vitamin C serum to provide antioxidant protection and get more skin-brightening, collagen-boosting benefits. Moisturizer and sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 will complete your morning routine. At night, you'll want to cleanse your skin again and use one of the serums on this list, followed by tretinoin and your favorite moisturizer.
Buy the Best Serums to Use with Tretinoin
hurry? Here are the best serums to use with tretinoin:
- Best Niacinamide Serum: Beekman 1802 Oh! Super Milk Fermented Barrier Strengthening Facial Oil
- Best Niacinamide Serum Under $20: Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum
- Best Hydrating Serum: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Best Fragrance-Free Moisturizing Serum: L’Oréal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Best Vitamin C Serum: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum
- Best Polyglutamic Acid Serum: Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Serum
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Aveeno Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum
1. Derm's Pick: The Best Niacinamide Serums to Use with Retinoic Acid
When your skin needs a lot of moisture, Dr. King recommends Beekman 1802! Jumbo Milk Fermented Barrier Strengthening Facial Oil. "This formula is enriched with the emollient properties of sunflower seed oil, triglycerides, jojoba seed oil, and argan to support the skin barrier and help counteract the drying effects of retinoids," explains Dr. King. "It contains niacinamide, which works well with retinoids to help enhance skin tone and texture."
Key Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Argan Oil, Niacinamide, Licorice Root Extract, Vitamin E Size: 1 oz. Cruelty Free: Yes
2. Writer’s Pick: The Best Niacinamide Serums Under $20
I don’t take prescription retinoids, but after using Neutrogena Hydro Boost + Niacinamide Serum, I did use Differin’s over-the-counter retinoid gel and it was a game changer. This fragrance-free serum contains 10% niacinamide, which helps lighten the hyperpigmentation caused by previous breakouts and makes my overall skin tone more even (the same as I use tretinoin every other night and once a week Use in combination with an exfoliating cleanser). It also contains glycerin and hyaluronic acid for even more hydrating benefits.
Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid Size: 1 oz. Cruelty-free: No
3. Best Hydrating Serum
If you're looking for a seriously hydrating serum, try La Roche-Posay's Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. You can use it in the morning and/or night to moisturize and support your skin barrier with glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E. The brand's mineral-rich thermal water is combined with panthenol and madecassoside (a compound derived from Centella asiatica extract) to help soothe skin while providing additional hydration. For those who are sensitive to synthetic fragrances, it's important to note that this serum does contain fragrance, but has been dermatologist tested and deemed suitable for sensitive skin.
Main Ingredients: Glycerin, Panthenol, Madecassoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water Specifications: 1 oz. Cruelty-free: No
4. The Best Fragrance-Free Hydrating Serum
For those who don't want to add fragrance to their skin care products, there's L'Oréal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. The most popular product on Amazon with over 30,000 five-star ratings, this serum contains a 1.5% concentration of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, a combination that provides immediate and long-lasting benefits to skin's hydration levels . This lightweight serum sinks into your skin instantly, so it's great to layer underneath tretinoin cream and all your other skin care products.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid Size: 1 oz. Cruelty-free: No
5. The Best Vitamin C Serum
For a morning routine, Dr. King recommends applying a vitamin C serum before SPF—most people can benefit from this, with or without tretinoin. Naturium's Vitamin C Complex Serum uses vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and fruit extracts such as pineapple, papaya, and kakadu plum to brighten skin, boost collagen production, and provide additional sun protection and Protect. Environmental stressors (when used with daily sunscreen, of course). You'll also get hydrating benefits from ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E.
Main Ingredients: Glycerin, Vitamin C, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E Specifications: 1 oz. Cruelty Free: Yes
6. Best Polyglutamic Acid Serum
When you hear acids mentioned in skin care, you immediately think of exfoliants like glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid. But polyglutamic acid actually acts as a humectant, drawing more moisture into the skin, which is why Dr. King recommends it to people using retinoids like tretinoin. Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Serum is an affordable option that uses a 3% polyglutamic acid complex to lock in moisture without leaving a heavy or greasy film on the skin. This serum is cruelty-free and can be used morning or night when you need some hydration.
Main Ingredients: Glycerin, Polyglutamic acid Specifications: 1 oz. Cruelty Free: Yes
7. Best Serums for Sensitive Skin
If you have sensitive skin or are experiencing some irritation as your skin adjusts to tretinoin, Aveeno's Calm + Restore Triple Oat Serum can help soothe inflammation while supporting the skin barrier, blocking irritants and locking in moisture. Powered by oat kernel extract, flour and oil, this serum also contains centella asiatica and feverfew flower extracts (derived from the wild chamomile plant) to further soothe and hydrate the skin.
Key Ingredients: Glycerin, Oat Kernel Powder, Oat Kernel Extract, Oat Kernel Oil, Feverfew Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract Size: 1 oz. Cruelty-free: No
expert:
Dr. Hadley King, MD , is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Dr. Hadley King Dermatology in New York City.
