When you have sensitive skin it can feel like all of the best skin care ingredients are off limits; from retinol to vitamin C, the products in skin care that promise better skin by the bottle also come with warnings of irritation and patch tests.
But just because you have sensitive skin doesn’t mean you have to swear off retinol altogether, in fact there are plenty of formulations made with sensitive skin types in mind.
Yes, we’d still recommend patch-testing — everyone’s skin reacts differently to skin care after all — but if you stick to low concentrations of retinol (think: under one per cent), look for ‘no side effect’ promises and even dabble in vitamin A derivatives and alternatives (read: bakuchiol), there’s hope for you yet.
Rather than letting you wander off into your local beauty retailer with nothing but a hope and retinol on the brain, however, we’ve curated a list of recommendations in the ‘best retinol for sensitive skin’ category — with a few editor and expert picks thrown in for good measure.
2025’s top retinol for sensitive skin
- COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream, $28.80, Lila Beauty
- Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum, $200, ASOS
- SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3, $132, MYER
The best retinol for sensitive skin 2025
01
COSRX The Retinol 0.1 Cream
from $28.80 at Lila Beauty
Best for: Retinol newbies
Formulated for folks new to the world of retinol, this face cream sandwiches a gentle, yet effective concentration of 0.1 per cent retinol in between nourishing vitamin E and hydrating panthenol. All you need is a pea-sized amount for your whole face, and for the record, we’d recommend adapting the frequency of application over time once your skin has had the opportunity to get used to the potent ingredient.
Review: “It’s gentle and beginner-friendly, perfect for anyone new to retinol. I’ve found it smooths texture and softens fine lines nicely.” — April Brodie, Integrated Facialist
Sizes: 20ml
Key features:
- Contains 0.1 per cent retinol
- Vitamin E nourishes and moisturises
- Panthenol binds moisture to the skin and hydrates
- Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
- Lifts and firms sagging skin
- Shrinks pores
- Non-comedogenic
Available at:
- $28.80 from Lila Beauty
- $28.81 from Stylevana
- $45.60 from Chemist Warehouse
02
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum
from $200 at ASOS
Best for: Low risk high dosage
Sunday Riley haven’t compromised on potency with this high dose serum. It uses an innovative blend of retinoid esters, liposomal-encapsulated retinol, and blue-green algae (a natural, retinoid alternative) to treat fine lines, wrinkles and congestion.
Sizes: 15ml / 30ml / 50ml
Key features:
- Retinoid esters (five per cent), liposomal-encapsulated retinol (one per cent) and blue-green algae (natural, retinoid alternative)
- Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
- Clears a congested complexion
- Encapsulated CoQ10 improves the appearance of impaired skin
- Hawaiian white honey, bisabolol, cactus extract, and ginger work to balance, calm and soothe
Available at:
03
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.3
from $132 at MYER
Best for: Retinol veterans
Although this may not be the most potent concentration of retinol, if you’ve already got your skin used to the ingredient, then this face cream is gentle enough to use every evening without causing irritation. Formulated with 0.3 per cent retinol, soothing bisabolol (to minimise irritation), and specially packaged to preserve its potency, this night cream targets the first signs of ageing, as well as breakouts.
Sizes: 30ml
Key features:
- Gentle enough to use nightly
- Contains 0.3 per cent retinol
- Bisabolol soothes and minimises irritation
- Specially packaged to ensure potency
- Targets the first signs of ageing and breakouts
- Non-comedogenic and fragrance-free
Available at:
- $132 from MYER
- $132 from Adore Beauty
- $132 from SkinCeuticals
04
Viviology Retinol Serum 0.3%
from $69 at Adore Beauty
Best for: Oily skin
To minimise the risk of irritation, a lot of retinol formulas tend to be heavy handed with emollients, but this pick from Viviology uses lightweight hydrators that simultaneously reinforce the skin’s natural moisture barrier to do the job instead. The result is a low concentration retinol formula that’s hydrating, but never greasy — a necessity for oily, but sensitive, skin.
Review: “This is our hero for a reason. It’s formulated with 0.3 per cent encapsulated retinol, which allows for slow, steady delivery into the skin, making it suitable even for more sensitive types. It’s also boosted with ceramides and peptides to support hydration and barrier strength, so it’s active, but not aggressive.” — James Vivian, Viviology founder and Dermal Therapist
Sizes: 30ml
Key features:
- Formulated with 0.3 per cent encapsulated retinol
- Enriched with ceramides, peptides and squalane
- Hydrating, but not oily
- Reinforces the skin’s natural moisture barrier
- Improves the appearance of uneven texture, dullness and fine lines and wrinkles
Available at:
- $69 from Adore Beauty
05
Medik8 Retinol 3TR
from $63.20 at The Iconic
Best for: Improving texture and tone
Get brighter, smoother skin with this 0.3 per cent retinol serum that utilises time-release technology to minimise the risk of irritation, as well as a nourishing infusion of moisturising emollients (jojoba oil and vitamin E).
Sizes: 15ml
Key features:
- Contains 0.3 per cent retinol
- Time-release retinol minimises the risk of irritation
- Infused with nourishing and moisturising emollients (jojoba oil and vitamin E)
- Brightens skin and smooths texture
- Minimises the first signs of ageing
Available at:
- $63.20 from The Iconic
- $63.20 from Look Fantastic
- $79 from Oz Hair & Beauty
06
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream
from $133 at MECCA
Best for: A streamlined skin care routine
Streamline your skin care routine with this retinol infused face cream from Drunk Elephant, so when you do use the potent ingredient in the evening, you don’t have to worry about accidentally mixing it with an active ingredient in your night cream. It combines one per cent vegan retinol with anti-inflammatory and barrier-reinforcing vitamin F, as well as three kinds of peptides to plump and firm skin.
Review: “As someone with sensitive skin, I’m tentative to say the least about using high doses of retinol. However, I’m a big believer in the sandwich method (read: applying retinol between layers of moisturiser), and retinol-infused moisturisers in general, as larger molecules in thicker formulas help to slow down the potent ingredient’s absorption rate. This pick from Drunk Elephant also happens to be the only retinol product I’ve ever used that doesn’t make my skin freak out, and subsequently break out. Instead it leaves me with glassy, smooth, plump skin.” — Briar Clark, Beauty Editor
Sizes: 30ml
Key features:
- Gentle enough to be used two to three times a week
- One per cent vegain retinol (Photo-Protective Xanthophylls) improves tone, texture, and the appearance of fine lines and pores
- Enriched with anti-inflammatory vitamin F, which helps to reinforce the skin’s protective barrier
- Contains three kinds of plumping and firming peptides
Available at:
- $133 from MECCA
07
Emma Lewisham Supernatural Face Oil
from $147 at MECCA
Best for: A retinol alternative
If you have sensitive skin, then sometimes using retinol just isn’t for you — it’s important to understand your skin’s limitations. But that doesn’t mean your routine can’t benefit from another form of vitamin A. Take this Bakuchiol and chloropast-enriched facial oil from Emma Lewisham for example, it uses retinol alternatives — as well as an antioxidant rich shisandra chinensis extract, a marine algae peptide complex, and jojoba oil — and promises to perform all the same tasks as it’s more potent, albeit irritating, counterpart.
Review: “If I’m travelling, I need to streamline my routine and nourish my skin more than usual. It’s for these very reasons that I like to pack this gentle retinol alternative in my toiletries bag. If I’m in a drier climate I like to layer it one top of a hydrating serum and moisturiser, but on humid summer evenings I simply wash my face and slather a healthy dose of this oil all over my face, neck and decolletage. The morning after I always wake up looking glowy, plump, and refreshed, regardless of how strenuous the previous day’s activities have been.” — Briar Clark, Beauty Editor
Sizes: 30ml
Key features:
- Uses Bakuchiol and chloropast as an alternative to retinol
- Enriched with antioxidant rich shisandra chinensis extract, marine algae peptide complex, and jojoba oil
- Promises to firm, smooth and plump
- Enhances radiance and improves the appearance of uneven skin tone
Available at:
- $147 from MECCA
Can I use retinol if I have sensitive skin?
Yes, you can use retinol if you have sensitive skin; you just have to be a bit more careful than other skin types when it comes to selecting a product that doesn’t irritate your skin. There are plenty of retinol products that offer low concentrations of retinol for this exact reason, but there are also vitamin A derivatives, which are less likely to have side effects than traditional formats of the ingredient. Alternatives to retinol such as bakuchiol are also sensitive skin-friendly, promising a lack of side effects and irritation.
Which retinol is best for sensitive skin?
The best retinol for sensitive skin is a retinol product that you have safely patch tested on your sensitive skin. Unfortunately, given the temperamental nature of sensitive skin, it’s hard to give a blanket answer in terms of product recommendations. However, you can look for low concentrations of retinol, stable vitamin A derivatives and bakuchiol in your skincare products to start with, in order to find what works best for your skin.
Looking to save money on retinol for sensitive skin? Check out our coupon codes for MECCA, Oz Hair & Beauty and more.
Related article:
- New To Vitamin A? These Are The Best Retinols For Beginners
- 6 Glow-Boosting Serums For Radiant Skin
- 6 Peptide Serums For Plump, Youthful-Looking Skin
Main image credit: @jastookes
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