14 Best Retinol Body Lotions 2023 for Firmer, Smoother Skin

Few ingredients are as powerful or beloved as retinol for smoothing skin texture and evening out tone — which is why finding the best retinol body lotion is inevitable. While you may be used to seeing retinol (which falls under the family of retinoids, a catch-all term that includes all vitamin A derivatives) in a slew of facial formulations including moisturizers, serums, and cleansers, it can deliver similar benefits to the rest of your body, too. In fact, “retinol works exactly the same on all skin, whether it’s on the face or body,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada. Here, a closer look at the skin-boosting benefits of retinol body lotions — as well as our picks for the retinol body lotions worth adding to your skin-care routine.

Our Top Picks

1. Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Retinol, $55
2. Best for Sensitive Skin: Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion, $25
3. Best for Dry Skin: Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion, $18
4. Best for Sun-Damaged Skin: Beauty Pie Youthbomb Body 360° Repair Concentrate, $125
5. Best Lightweight: Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment, $29
6. Best Luxury: Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment, $108
7. Best Prescription-Strength Retinoid: Musely The Body Cream, $88

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why should you look for retinol in body lotions?
• How should you incorporate retinol into your body-care routine?
• What other ingredients should you look out for in a retinol body lotion?

Best Overall: Nécessaire The Body Retinol

Why It’s Worth It: Not only is body and hair care brand Nécessaire aesthetically pleasing — upgrading any bathroom situation — but the editor-approved The Body Retinol has the chops to earn its place in your routine. The formula has one main mission, and that’s to reduce signs of aging on the body including the appearance of fine lines, crepiness, uneven texture, and hyperpigmentation. You have 0.1% pure encapsulated retinol to thank for that, which sits alongside other heavy hitters like mandelic and glycolic acid (gentle chemical exfoliators) and vitamin C (a skin-brightening antioxidant) for undeniably smoother skin.

Editor Tip: The scent can be polarizing due to the ingredients, so don’t expect this to double as fragrance.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, vitamin C | Who It’s For: People targeting scars, dark spots, and other concerns below the neck

Best for Sensitive Skin: Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion

Why It’s Worth It: Itching to reap the benefits of retinol products but afraid your sensitive skin may react? Not an issue with the Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion, which is free of potentially aggravating ingredients like fragrance, AHAs, and BHAs. Instead, it features sensitive-skin-friendly ingredients like moisturizing glycerin, calming allantoin, and conditioning shea butter. On top of that, it’s made with encapsulated retinol, which slows down absorption and is, therefore, less likely to irritate skin.

Editor Tip: The texture is lightweight and quick to absorb, making it a good summertime option (beneath SPF, of course).

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, allantoin, retinol | Who It’s For: People who can’t typically tolerate too much exfoliation

Best Scent: Josie Maran Whipped Argan Pro-Retinol Body Butter

Why It’s Worth It: Sure, the Josie Maran Whipped Argan Pro-Retinol Body Butter comes in an unscented version, but the vanilla scent offers a welcome bit of sweetness. A milder form of retinol (retinyl palmitate) in the formula does its job without contributing to irritation while the brand’s signature use of argan oil provides skin with a noticeable dew. The deliciously buttery formula is perfect for quenching your skin’s thirst during the fall and winter, or all year round for drier skin types. And don’t fret: The non-greasy after-feel won’t delay your getting-dressed process.

Editor Tip: For those who slather on product, you can get the formula in a jumbo size of 13.5 fl. oz. (versus the 8 fl. oz. in the original tub).

Key Ingredients: Retinyl palmitate, argan oil, pink algae | Who It’s For: People who prefer a fragranced option

Best Lightweight: Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment

Why It’s Worth It: If you’re looking for a dose of lightweight moisture, Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment won’t disappoint. Yes, the star of the show here is 0.1% retinol which improves the skin’s firmness, but we couldn’t gloss over the fact that it manages to make rich emollients like shea butter and grapeseed oil feel virtually weightless on the skin.

Editor Tip: The 0.1% concentration of retinol is best for those who’ve used retinol before, or are comfortable with a longer acclimation period.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, shea butter, grapeseed oil | Who It’s For: People who are familiar with retinol

Best for Dry Skin: Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion

Why It’s Worth It: Dry skin, you’ve met your match with the Versed Press Restart Gentle Retinol Body Lotion. The formula is packed with cocoa butter, squalane, and vitamin E for the neck-to-toe moisture your body craves. Plus, 0.1% encapsulated retinol helps rebuild and boost collagen and leaves skin feeling smooth and supple.

Editor Tip: The encapsulation gives the retinol a sort of time-released effect, allowing for a gradual action and therefore minimal irritation.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, squalane, vitamin E | Who It’s For: People with rough or crepey skin

Best for Bumps and Body Acne: Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum

Why It’s Worth It: If your skin can handle it, Dr. Yadav recommends an exfoliating body lotion like the Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum, which contains a winning combination of retinol and glycolic and lactic acids, which are alpha-hydroxy acids that help to “reduce fine lines and discoloration as well as remove dead skin cells on the surface,” says Dr. Yadav. This allows the retinol to better penetrate the skin for deeper treatment — especially helpful if you’re trying to combat rough texture or a skin condition like keratosis pilaris.

Editor Tip: The brand’s other products, Faded and Like Butter, are Allure editor favorites.

Key Ingredients: Glycolic acid, lactic acid, retinol | Who It’s For: People with body breakouts, strawberry skin, or keratosis pilaris

Best Prescription-Strength: Musely The Body Cream

Why It’s Worth It: One of the star ingredients in Musely’s The Body Cream is tretinoin, also known as retinoid acid — or, in other words, the fastest-acting vitamin A derivative, as it doesn’t need to go through any conversions. This potent ingredient speeds up cell turnover to address wrinkles, breakouts, and more. Familiar ingredients you’ll spot are vitamin C to brighten sun spots and even out skin tone, as well as hyaluronic acid for hydration and moisture retention.

Editor Tip: Because this cream contains hydroquinone, you’ll want to consult your board-certified dermatologist before slathering it on, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Key Ingredients: Retinoic acid, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid | Who It’s For: People targeting signs of aging below the neck

Best Luxury: Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment

Why It’s Worth It: It only takes one application to see that the Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment is well worth the price tag. This gloriously lightweight formula offers the same skin-softening benefits of a traditional body lotion, but also acts as a true reparative cream, boasting encapsulated retinol to refine skin’s texture as well as elastin-boosting edelweiss extract and sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid) to promote hydration.

Editor Tip: Massage onto areas prone to crepiness like elbows, knees, and décolletage to level up your body-care routine.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, edelweiss extract, sodium hyaluronate | Who It’s For: Those seeking the efficacy of retinol with the luxurious feel of a traditional body cream

Best for Face and Body: Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion

Why It’s Worth It: It’s rare to find a lotion that works on the face and body, but the Gold Bond Age Renew Retinol Overnight Body & Face Lotion proves it’s absolutely doable. This easily spreadable formula is non-comedogenic (so it won’t clog your pores) and is formulated with several hydrating ingredients that will combat the potentially drying effects of retinol: macadamia seed oil, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, and peptides. It’s designed for overnight use, so work the fragrance-free lotion onto any rough areas of your body at night for renewed skin come morning.

Editor Tip: Even if you don’t use it all over the body, it’s still a worthwhile option for the neck and chest.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, macadamia seed oil, peptides | Who It’s For: Those who want a multi-tasking product

Best for Sun-Damaged Skin: Beauty Pie Youthbomb Body 360° Repair Concentrate

Why It’s Worth It: If you’ve spent a little too much time outdoors and your skin is paying for it in the form of sun spots, try the Beauty Pie Youthbomb Body 360° Repair Concentrate. The retinol-laced lotion works hard to brighten the discoloration, courtesy of niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3) and glycolic acid, and it never feels tacky or greasy.

Editor Tip: It has a proprietary retinol complex that’s bioavailable, meaning skin readily absorbs it.

Key Ingredients: Granactive retinoid, niacinamide, glycolic acid | Who It’s For: People with dark spots or discoloration

Best for Daytime: Sol de Janeiro Flor Collagen-Boosting Elasti-Cream

Why It’s Worth It: The Sol de Janeiro Flor Collagen-Boosting Elasti-Cream boosts collagen in the skin not with retinol, but with a gentle retinol alternative called cacay oil, which mimics its action in skin without side effects or sensitivity to sunlight. Alongside that is vegan collagen, which helps maintain skin’s natural collagen content, as well as squalane, which smooths skin and serves as an emollient. Together, they keep skin smooth, firm, and velvety-soft.

Editor Tip: The brand is known for the fragrances in its skin-care products; this formula has an uplifting fruity-floral scent with notes of dragonfruit, lychee, and hibiscus.

Key Ingredients: Cacay oil, plant collagen, squalane | Who It’s For: People who spend a lot of time outdoors

Best Exfoliating: iS Clinical Body Complex

Why It’s Worth It: While all retinol exfoliates to some extent — in enhancing skin cell turnover, it keeps dead cells from piling up on the skin’s surface — the iS Clinical Body Complex amplifies that effect with fruit-derived acids and plant-based beta hydroxy acid, which gently resurface the skin and leave it glowing. To offset any potential for dryness, it also has a combination of aloe and hyaluronic acid. The payoff? Skin that’s ready to show off.

Editor Tip: Despite its results-driven lineup of ingredients, it’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive or compromised skin.

Key Ingredients: Aloe, glycerin, willow bark extract | Who It’s For: People who want extra smoothing without risking redness

Best for Mature Skin: Kopari Beauty Ultra Renewal Retinol Body Cream

Why It’s Worth It: Although it’s gentle enough to be used twice a day — a rarity among retinol body creams — the Kopari Ultra Renewal Retinol Body Cream still packs a respectable punch. What makes it so gentle is the encapsulated retinol, which allows for a prolonged release of retinol, as well as aminobutyric acid, a unique ingredient that encourages skin to create its own hyaluronic acid and collagen.

Editor Tip: Alternate it with Kopari’s Coconut Melt, which is what helped put the brand on the map.

Key Ingredients: Retinol, aminobutyric acid, pomegranate | Who It’s For: People seeking firming or tightening benefits

Best Retinol Alternative: Oui the People All in All Melting Body Balm

Why It’s Worth It: Instead of retinol, sea fennel extract delivers the brightening, and tightening benefits of retinol in the Oui the People All in All Melting Body Balm. It similarly enhances collagen production and triggers skin cell turnover, while the base of shea butter — along with nourishing oils, like olive, sunflower, carrot seed, castor seed, and clove — delivers deep moisture. Just make sure you apply it to damp skin to lock in as much moisture as possible.

Editor Tip: It has a balm-to-oil formula, which leaves skin glistening (but not at all greasy).

Key Ingredients: Olive oil, sunflower seed oil, sea fennel extract | Who It’s For: People who can’t or don’t want to use retinol

Why should you look for retinol in body lotions?

Retinol body lotions can help address a variety of skin-care concerns, the most common one being signs of aging. “As we age, our collagen production naturally deteriorates, which leads to skin laxity, fine lines, and wrinkles,” says Dr. Yadav. “Retinol stimulates skin’s fibroblasts, the cells that create collagen, to help create firmer, tauter skin.” This can aid in tackling neck and chest creases, which Dr. Yadav says can be notoriously challenging to treat, as well as sagging, crepey skin on areas like the thighs and arms.

In addition to doing away with wrinkles, retinol can also help keep body acne and breakouts at bay by balancing sebum production and promoting faster cell turnover. “Excess oil and dead skin cells can contribute to the formation of acne, but with retinol’s ability to slough away dead skin cells and regulate oil production, pores are less likely to become congested,” explains Dr. Yadav.

Finally, if you’re dealing with discoloration or dark spots, you guessed it — retinol can help. “Retinol is what’s known as a tyrosinase inhibitor, tyrosinase being the enzyme in the body that triggers the production of melanin, the pigment that gives our skin color,” says Dr. Yadav. “Sun exposure, age, and skin injury (such as a blemish or scar) can cause hyperpigmentation.” Retinol can help combat this process by helping to fade existing discoloration, whether that’s sun spots on the shoulders or darker patches of skin on areas like the armpits or elbows.

How should you incorporate retinol into your body-care routine?

While most retinol body lotions tend to be milder than face treatments (with lower concentrations of retinol), Dr. Yadav still recommends starting slowly, especially if you have sensitive skin. “Retinol can be a little irritating, so I’d suggest applying once a week for a few weeks to start,” she says. “Then once you’ve confirmed your skin can tolerate it, increase your application cadence, following the same method until you’ve worked your way up to daily application.”

Like the retinol you use on your face, retinol in a body lotion can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so it’s best to use it at night. (It’s pretty much a given at this point, but it bears repeating that you should also be applying sunscreen on your body during the day to protect your skin against damage — after all, sun damage is what many of us are trying to correct with retinol, says Dr. Yadav.)

The idea of using your retinol-infused facial moisturizer on your body may have crossed your mind, and while we appreciate the desire to be efficient, this may not be the best idea. For one, the retinol moisturizer you use on your face is likely more potent than a retinol lotion formulated for your body, meaning the face product may be irritating on some skin types. Also, facial moisturizers are often housed in smaller packaging, which means you’d go through them too quickly if you were to use them for your entire body. Finally, retinol body lotions are often formulated alongside other more moisturizing ingredients, so you’ll still be getting the smooth, moisturizing benefits of a traditional body lotion (unlike a facial cream that may not provide ample hydration for the body).

What other ingredients should you look out for in a retinol body lotion?

As much as we sing retinol’s praises, the ingredient doesn’t come without its fair share of side effects, one of them being how it can disrupt the skin barrier and strip it of natural lipids like ceramides. “Ceramides act like the ‘grout’ between your skin cells’ ‘bricks’ and help prevent moisture from escaping,” explains Dr. Yadav. “Using a body lotion with ceramides can inhibit transepidermal moisture loss and keep skin comfortable and balanced.” Aside from ceramides, seek out moisturizing plant butters like shea and cocoa, which can help “counteract the dehydrating effects of retinol, helping skin look moisturized, soft, and conditioned,” says Dr. Yadav.

More on retinol:

• The 17 Best Retinol Creams for Clearer, Firmer, and Glowing Skin
• 16 Best Retinol Serums to Treat Fine Lines & Uneven Texture
• 15 Retinol Oils That Won’t Dry Out or Irritate Even the Most Sensitive Skin

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