Retinol B3 Serum.

Name: La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum
Brand: La Roche-Posay
Rating: 62.0 (8 reviews)

Retinoids

About this product

A retinol serum combining pure retinol with niacinamide, glycerin, and La Roche-Posay's thermal spring water, designed to reduce fine lines and improve skin texture while minimizing irritation.

Best for

Dry skinSensitive skinMature skin

Retinoids

The Guru Index verdict

62%

Mixed

~Mixed · 62%

8Reviewers

5Approved

1Mixed

2Skip

#9 in Best Retinoids

What the gurus are saying

Dermatologists praise this as a well-formulated, beginner-friendly retinol with soothing niacinamide and barrier support, making it ideal for sensitive skin and rosacea. The split hinges on formulation philosophy: critics fault the serum-cream hybrid texture, low retinol concentration, fragrance, and denatured alcohol as counterproductive and irritating, while supporters value its gentleness and efficacy. Some users report irritation; others use it as a reliable nighttime staple.

Synthesized from 8 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

RetinoidNiacinamideHyaluronic acidVitamin E

Full ingredients

Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Alcohol Denat, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Glycine Soja Oil / Soybean Oil, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Polysilicone-11, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance

Where to buy

Amazon Shop → Google Shopping Shop →

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored

Dr. Daniel Sugai

716k subs · 23k devotees

✓Approved

"La Roche-Posay's Retinol B3 with niacinamide's another great serum to consider. It has its famous thermal spring water, which is full of great anti-inflammatory minerals, very soothing for the skin, and also hydrating. So, great for those with rosacea because it has the niacinamide in it, and it has barrier support from the thermal spring water."

All 2 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai

The Best Retinoids for Beginners (Before You Try Tretinoin)

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"Over the counter retinol, like La Roche-Posay, is one of my favorites for sure."

Dr Dray

2.66M subs · 34k devotees

✓Approved

"If it's from L'Oreal, the retinol has good science behind it. L'Oreal brands like La Roche-Posay, their retinols are going to be well formulated."

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

104k subs · 4k devotees

✓Approved

"This is a slow release retinol serum designed for sensitive and rosacea prone skin combining the retinol with niacinamide and then these hydrating ingredients to strengthen the skin barrier and minimize irritation. The key ingredient here is the pure retinol, it's a vitamin A derivative that promotes surface cell turnover, reduces fine lines, improves the skin texture. This also has the niacinamide which calms down the redness and restores the skin moisture barrier, also helps with discoloration that's caused by inflammation. This also contains glycerin, which is a great humectant that attracts and retains water ensuring optimal hydration, gives you a little bit of plumpness to the skin. And then of course the La Roche-Posay thermal spring water which contains minerals and selenium which provide the antioxidant protection and help soothe irritation."

All 3 takes from Dr. Aleksandra Brown

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Skincare for Your 20s: Top Tips from Dermatologist Dr. Aleksandra Brown

"La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum contains a milder form of retinol along with niacinamide which soothes the skin and minimizes irritation. This retinol serum will combine the concentrated pure retinol and vitamin B3 for optimal effectiveness while also being suitable for sensitive skin. The key ingredients are the pure retinol which is a well researched form of vitamin A that promotes cell turnover improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of fine lines. It also contains vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, which is known for its anti-inflammatory and skin soothing properties. Niacinamide helps strengthen the skin barrier and reduce redness, making retinol more tolerable. It also contains glycerin which is a powerful humectant that attracts moisture, keeping the skin hydrated and plump."

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"There's a variety of retinols. If you start over the counter, there's La Roche-Posay, they have really good retinols. They're going to be the mildest category retinol. Really the brand on the front doesn't matter as much as the active ingredient."

Doctorly

3.55M subs · 99k devotees

✓Approved

"Something like the rock retinol they pioneered retinol so they are the ogs in that category"

Dr. Somji Skin

356k subs

✕Skip

"Low concentration of retinol, not many other peptides in there, which is quite disappointing. I don't like hybrid stuff, you're either a serum or you're a cream, can't be doing a hybrid thing. The ingredients are definitely a step up from the retinol cream and I do like what they've included, including vitamin B3. But it loses a lot of points on the hybrid. It's a hybrid fail."

All 5 takes from Dr. Somji Skin

La Roche-Posay Complete Skincare Product Guide | Dr. Somji & Dr. Solomon Review

"I don't like hybrid stuff, you're either a serum or you're a cream, can't be doing a hybrid thing. The ingredients are definitely a step up and I do like what they've included, including vitamin B3, but it certainly loses a lot of points on the hybrid thing. I'd call it a hybrid fail."

Radiant Skin Unveiled: Dr. Somji & Dr. Solomon Review La Roche-Posay Retinol + B3 Serum Benefits!

"I think this is too creamy and I think it almost cancels out or certainly significantly reduces the benefits of a serum. They've added things like soy oil and soybean oil, silicone, it's retinol palmitate so it's nothing too strong. There was a strong fragrance there, the perfume, and for retinol I'm adding perfumes it's never a good idea in my opinion because it would just be a hot bed of sensitivities. There's also denatured alcohol in there which is a big sensitizer of the skin, it'll make your skin really sensitive and with repeated use, and people love retinol and they use this a lot so it's a little bit disappointing that they decided to do this. Low concentration of retinol, not many other peptides in there which is quite disappointing. I don't like hybrid stuff, you're either serum or you're cream, can't be doing a hybrid."

Radiant Skin Unveiled: Dr. Somji & Dr. Solomon Review La Roche-Posay Retinol + B3 Serum Benefits!

"It's a little bit disappointing that they decided to do this. Low concentration of retinol, not many other peptides in there, which is quite disappointing. I don't like hybrid stuff, you're either a serum or you're a cream, can't be doing a hybrid. The ingredients are a step up from the retinol cream and I do like what they've included, including vitamin B3, but it certainly loses a lot of points on the hybrid and brand identity. I'd call it a hybrid fail. I'd give it a four out of 10."

Radiant Skin Unveiled: Dr. Somji & Dr. Solomon Review La Roche-Posay Retinol + B3 Serum Benefits!

"I think the ingredients are definitely a step up from the retinol cream and I do like what they've included in that. I think including vitamin B3 is good. However, it certainly loses a lot of points on the hybrid aspect. I'd call it a hybrid fail. I would give it a four out of 10 based on that."

No BS Beauty

89k subs · 2k devotees

✕Skip

"Their retinol I found to be super irritating, full of fragrance. La Roche-Posay has a lot of amazing stuff, but they also have a handful of stuff that my skin did not tolerate well, and a lot of people probably will not."