Dr Dray is a dermatologist who has worked her way through more than 30 retinoids on camera. She approves the vast majority of them, with an approval rate of 82%, a handful of mixed takes, and almost nothing she walks away from entirely. When she does skip something, it is for a clear chemical reason.
What does Dr Dray recommend in retinoids?
Dr Dray returns again and again to stabilised retinol with good hydration built in. She praised Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ Regenerating Cream (Fragrance-Free) for its hyaluronic acid, which she said cushions the dryness and irritation retinol can cause. She approved CeraVe Skin Resurfacing Retinol Serum for pairing retinol with niacinamide and ceramides, saying both help with dark spots, redness, and keeping the skin barrier intact. She also rates retinaldehyde, the step just below retinoic acid in potency, saying it converts well on skin. She called Prequel Retinal Renew Retinaldehyde Gel 0.1% one of the best products she had tried that year, and added The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion to her personal recommendation list. Her standout pick, Olay Retinol 24 Peptide Night Moisturizer, she named her category winner.
In her words
"That has to be one of my favorite Prequel products and they have a lot of great gems. Retinaldehyde can be a little irritating in the beginning, although it's generally well tolerated, and [...] I find the base of that retinaldehyde is amazing as a moisturizer, it's beautiful. [...] That has to be one of the best products I have tried out this year, I'm not exaggerating. It's going to make an appearance in my best of series most likely towards the end of the year."
"The Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream, the fragrance-free one, I have been recommending for years and years and years. [...] I swear it has this instant plumping hydrating effect. And it likely has to do with the hyaluronic acid, which helps to improve the dryness, the irritation that one might experience from their very effective stabilized retinol. That's slow release, sustained action. That's a great formula with hyaluronic acid."
"The resurfacing retinol serum is a great retinol that has licorice root and niacinamide. Both of those are going to be good for dark spots and redness. And then the retinol is also going to be helpful for post acne marks like dark marks and red marks. And then it's got ceramides in there which are good for the moisture barrier."
"I have actually really liked this product a lot and I think they did an excellent job with it and I'm now adding it to my list of topical vitamin A products I recommend because it is quite good. $14.90 is very reasonable. [...] I really like the pump package I think that's a convenient way to dispense product as opposed to a tube or a dropper. It does come out yellow which is to be expected from a retinaldehyde and I was able to tolerate this no problem no irritation or anything of the sort."
"Cannot go wrong with RoC retinols and this fragrance-free option. It's really good. It's competitive neck and neck with the Neutrogena rapid wrinkle repair retinol cream."
"I have tried the Number Seven Pure Retinol and it's very good, fragrance free."
How many retinoids has Dr Dray reviewed?
Dr Dray has reviewed 34 retinoids, for an approval rate of 82%. 28 approved, 5 mixed, and 1 skipped.
What has Dr Dray skipped in retinoids?
Dr Dray's clearest skip was A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester), and her reason is worth knowing. It contains retinyl palmitate, a retinol ester, which she says does not stimulate collagen the way retinol, retinaldehyde, or prescription retinoids do. It works as an antioxidant, she explained, not as an active retinoid, so it will not get skin used to a real retinoid and is not a gentler stepping stone to one. Anyone buying it expecting retinol-level results may want to reconsider.
"A313 is a cream that contains retinyl palmitate. [...] Retinyl esters are vitamin A derivatives that don't do what tretinoin, retinol, retinoic acid, retinaldehyde, tazarotene, trifarotene, and adapalene do. It doesn't do the collagen boosting. It just acts as an antioxidant. Using a retinyl topical is not going to prime your skin for getting used to a topical retinoid. It's not a gentler version of that, and it's no different than using any other antioxidant."
What should you take from Dr Dray's picks?
Dr Dray's record on retinoids is practical and consistent. She favours formulas that pair an effective retinoid with ingredients that soften irritation, and she is clear that the retinoid type matters, not just the name on the label. Her advice points people toward proven retinol and retinaldehyde products, and away from retinol esters when real retinoid activity is the goal.
Watch Dr Dray say it
Every verdict here comes from a video. These are the moments themselves, each one jumping straight to the bit about that product.
- Olay Retinol 24 Peptide Night MoisturizerNamed a winnerWatch at 8:15
- A313 Vitamin A Pommade (Retinol Ester)Skipped itWatch at 9:51
- Prequel Retinal Renew Retinaldehyde Gel 0.1%Rated itWatch at 9:56
- Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ Regenerating Cream (Fragrance-Free)Rated itWatch at 6:41
- CeraVe Skin Resurfacing Retinol SerumRated itWatch at 8:04
- The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in SqualaneRated itWatch at 8:25
- RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration CreamRated itWatch at 8:59
- Number Seven Retinol 1%Rated itWatch at 0:15
- Neutrogena Adapalene 0.1% GelRated itWatch at 15:48
- Walgreens Adapalene Gel 0.1%Rated itWatch at 2:09
- RoC Retinol Max Hydration Fragrance-FreeRated itWatch at 13:52
- Vichy Lift Active Retinol 0.2%Rated itWatch at 9:22
- Advanced Clinicals Retinol MoisturizerRated itWatch at 3:45
- Anua Collagen Retinol Refining Gua Sha CreamRated itWatch at 9:18
- CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol SerumRated itWatch at 4:56
- Aveeno Retinol with RetinaldehydeRated itWatch at 9:29
- Geek & Gorgeous A-Game Retinol 5Rated itWatch at 1:05
- Olay Pro Advanced Retinol Complex Night MoisturizerRated itWatch at 7:11
- Geek & Gorgeous A-Game Retinol 10Rated itWatch at 16:50
- Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night MoisturizerRated itWatch at 4:39
- Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer with RetinolRated itWatch at 0:02
- No7 Advanced Retinol 1.5% ComplexRated itWatch at 16:48
- AcneFree Adapalene 0.1% GelRated itWatch at 10:19
- L'Oreal Revitalift Retinol B3Rated itWatch at 13:23
About this expert
See everything Dr Dray has reviewed
Related guides
This guide reflects what Dr Dray said across her videos about 34 products in retinoids, aggregated by The Guru Index. Sponsored takes are excluded. The approval rate is the share of these products she approved. It is general information, not medical advice.