The 12 Best Retinol Body Lotions for Tight, Smooth Skin Below the Neck

Best Overall

Paula's Choice Retinol Body Treatment

$29 at Amazon $29 at Dermstore $29 at paulaschoice.com

Key Ingredients: Retinol, primrose oil, grape oil, glycerin | Size: 4 ounces

The ingredient list in this body product is almost identical to what you’d see in a face product—think pure retinol (in a mid-strength, 0.1% concentration), protective antioxidants, plus moisture-replenishing glycerin and lots of hydrating butters and plant oils. The result is a lotion that’s both beautifully hydrating, smoothing, and firming that leaves skin with a gorgeous glow. Byrdie beauty editor Olivia Hancock explains that her skin feels "as soft as a baby's" after using this product. For a full breakdown of our experience with this body lotion, check out our full review here.

Best Budget

Gold Bond Age Renew Overnight Lotion

$13 at Target $12 at Walmart $13 at CVS

Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptide complex, cocoa butter | Size: 7 or 13 ounces

Super affordable, this is another pick that combines retinol with a nourishing butter to achieve a litany of skincare benefits. Further giving you more bang for your buck, you can also apply this on your face if you want. (Though FYI, because it does contain some thicker moisturizing ingredients, we’d suggest only doing so if your skin is dry and not oily or acne-prone.) And if you are going to use it on your face, just a pea-size amount is all you need. It's available in two sizes—the smaller 7-ounce is good for taking on the go, while the bigger 13-ounce value size has a pump for easy application.

Best for Skin Texture

Naturium Skin-Renewing Retinol Body Lotion

$25 at Amazon $26 at Target View on Naturium.com

Key Ingredients: Encapsulated retinol, allantoin, shea butter | Size: 8 or 14 ounces

With the help of retinol, allantoin (a soothing hydrator), and shea butter, this rich formula nourishes the skin, offering immediate results when it comes to skin texture like bumps and dry patches. It's unclear what exactly the retinol concentration is, however, one thing we do know is that this stuff works. Plus, it's fragrance-free, so it's ideal for folks who have super-sensitive skin or conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

Best for Hands

Nécessaire The Hand Retinol

$35 at Amazon $35 at Sephora View on Necessaire.com

Key Ingredients: Retinol, peptides, glycolic acid, glycerin | Size: 2.2 ounces

True story, your hands can often give away your age even more so than your face. (After all, they’re often very neglected, both when it comes to sun protection and any type of anti-aging products.) That’s where this souped-up, multi-tasking hand cream comes in: Glycolic acid preps the skin for retinol (which then performs youth-boosting duties alongside several peptides) all while glycerin hydrates. Just keep in mind that you'll need to be extra diligent about applying SPF to your hands, as the retinol will make them even more sensitive to the sun.

Best Natural

Oui The People All In All Melting Body Balm

$75 at Sephora View on Ouithepeople.com

Key Ingredients: Sea fennel extract, northern truffle mushroom, shea nilotica | Size: 3.4 ounces

For those who favor natural formulas, allow us to introduce you to the Oui the People All in All Body Balm. It's a balm, so it has a rich consistency that transforms into an emollient body oil during application, offering nourishment and hydration on contact. It contains ingredients like sea fennel extract (a retinol alternative), northern truffle mushroom (an adaptogenic mushroom that soothes irritation), and shea nilotica (a top-tier moisturizer that helps with chronic dryness) for a full-body experience that improves skin elasticity, firmness, and hydration.

Best for Sensitive Skin

iS Clinical Body Complex

$75 at Amazon $75 at Dermstore $75 at skinstore.com

Key Ingredients: Retinol, aloe hyaluronic acid | Size: 6 ounces

‘Retinol’ and ‘sensitive skin’ don’t always go hand-in-hand, but this is one exception to the rule. The gentle formula relies on retinyl palmitate, a gentler type of retinoid, and doesn’t contain a ton of it. What it does have is hyaluronic acid and aloe to leave the skin feeling soothed and hydrated, says Icecreamwala. As an added benefit, it also gives you some gentle exfoliation, thanks to white willow bark extract.

Best for Dry Skin

Josie Maran Whipped Argan Pro-Retinol Body Butter

$46 at josiemaran.com

Key Ingredients: Pro-retinol, argan oil, vitamin E | Size: 8 ounces

When your skin is super dry, a lotion isn’t going to cut it—you want to reach for a nice thick cream or, even better, a rich butter such as this one. Rather than using straight-up retinol, it uses a gentler derivative, pro-retinol. Argan oil and vitamin E make it plenty hydrating and also offer antioxidant protection, notes Icecreamwala.

Best Full Body

Versed Retinol Body Lotion

View On Versed Skin $18 at Target View on Walmart

Key Ingredients: Retinol, cocoa butter, squalane, vitamin E | Size: 6 ounces

This gentle body lotion is infused with .01% encapsulated retinol which means it passes right through the skin barrier without drying skin or causing inflammation. Squalane, cocoa butter, and vitamin E lock in moisture and play a role in keeping skin soft and nourished. While the formula is nice and moisturizing, it is very rich and can take a beat to rub it in all the way.

Best for Sagging Skin

Medix 5.5 Retinol Anti-Sagging Treatment

View on Walmart View on Medix55.com

Key Ingredients: Retinol, ferulic acid | Size: 15 ounces

A fan favorite on Amazon, many happy reviewers repeatedly point out how well Medix 5.5’s Retinol + Ferulic Acid Anti-Sagging Treatment helps improve the look of sagging, crepey skin all over their body. It’s also nice and hydrating and has the added benefit of containing ferulic acid, one of the most potent antioxidants out there, for an extra dose of protection against free radical damage that can contribute to signs of aging.

Best Multi-Tasking

Replenix Retinol Smooth + Tighten Body Lotion

$94 at Amazon View on Replenix.com View on Lovelyskin.com

Key Ingredients: Retinol, antioxidants, ceramides, hyaluronic acid | Size: 6.7 ounces

Dr. Icecreamwala recommends this formula, which really can do it all. “This product contains not only retinol but also antioxidants, ceramides, green tea, and hyaluronic acid," she explains. "The antioxidants fight off free radicals, the ceramides improve the skin barrier, the green tea polyphenols prevent irritation to the skin, and the hyaluronic acid deeply hydrates." In short, it leaves skin smoother, softer, more even, firmer, more hydrated... need we continue?

Best for Acne and Hyperpigmentation

Topicals Slather Exfoliating Body Serum

$30 at Amazon $30 at Sephora View on Mytopicals.com

Key Ingredients: Retinol, squalane, lactic and glycolic acids | Size: 5 ounces

When it comes to retinol serums, Topicals takes it a step beyond. The combination of exfoliating ingredients delivers smoothing and clearing results for acne, hyperpigmentation, and keratosis pilaris. This body serum is formulated with retinol and two types of acids (lactic and glycolic) to dissolve dead skin cells, and squalane to balance the skin barrier and retain moisture. It also has urea, which is naturally secreted in our sweat, and as a topical can hydrate and reduce the buildup of dead skin cells. Gentle enough for daily use, apply this serum to bumps and rough skin to improve texture with a non-greasy finish. We are huge fans of a flip-top lid, however, be careful with the amount of pressure you apply: This is a serum consistency as a hulk-like squeeze will cause way too much product to exit.

Best Splurge

Chantecaille Retinol Body Treatment

$110 at Nordstrom View on Bergdorfgoodman.com View on Harpersbazaar.com

Key Ingredients: Retinol, rose, edelweiss | Size: 6.8 ounces

If you have been hearing about edelweiss more lately, it’s for good reason—the dainty flower is packed with antioxidants that encourage skin health with anti-aging benefits. This body lotion leans on the ingredient for its soothing properties with retinol tapped to stimulate collagen and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This smoothing body lotion is also made with shea butter and sunflower oil, which moisturizes, absorbs easily, and makes it suitable for all skin types. While not a synthetic addition, this lotion does smell like rose and if that is not your preferred scent, you may want to pick a different option.