12 Celebrities Reveal Their Favourite Retinol Product

It’s an anti-ageing, acne-combatting ingredient which really needs no introduction. But, we’re going to give it a quick one anyway. For quite some time now, retinol has been topping the recommendation lists of dermatologists, beauty editors, beautyheaven members and almost too many A-list celebs to mention. Almost.

As we know, celebrity skin care routines come through thick, fast and full of different recommendations. One constant, however, is the showering of praise vitamin A continues to receive from our favourite famous faces.

So, what exactly is retinol responsible for? Just about everything. To name a few: regulating oil production, minimising wrinkles and evening out texture. 

Now that we’re equipped with what retinol does, it’s time to find out the exact products celebrities are seeking out and sticking by.

Nicole Kidman – Neutrogena

Speaking to Hello Giggles, Nicole Kidman confirms that she is no retinol skeptic. “I believe in retinol, I do think it works,” she said. Her pick? “I love the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair ($37.49, Chemist Warehouse) because it’s so easy for me. It has retinol, but I don’t break out from it. I have naturally dry skin and it doesn’t let my skin dry. I can put it on at night and know that it’s evening my skin tone.”

Jessica Alba – Sharni Darden

The majority of Jessica’s beauty routine is tailored to her sensitive skin using products from her own line, The Honest Company. However, when it comes to anti-ageing, the actress revealed that she uses a product formulated by her esthetician, Sharni Darden.  “I use Retinol Reform ($139, Vimandco) serum every night and I think it makes my pores and dark spots look smaller while also making my skin all smooth and soft,” she shared with The Skincare Edit. “It’s the best because it doesn’t overly-dry your skin, which is usually the case with retinol.”

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that I don’t have as many fine lines and wrinkles as someone my age might, she added. “And I definitely credit this to my consistent use of retinol over time.” 

Kelly Rowland – Sharni Darden

Like Jessica Alba, Kelly also swears by Shani Darden’s Retinol Reform, which she told Glamour “changed the game on my skin and changed my life.” That’s a woman who’s passionate about her vitamin A…

Lily Alridge – Shishedo

According to Vogue France, Lily Alridge concentrates her vitamin A around her eyes to reduce crow’s feet. Labelled a “must-have for traveling”, Lily’s retinol of choice is the Shishedo Express Smoothing Eye Mask Pure Retinol ($99, David Jones).

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley – Medik8

“I’ve been using retinol going on eight years now,” Rosie told The Skincare Edit. “For me, it really helps with any kind of acne marks or old scars that I have left over, fine lines that are beginning to show, and just general evenness and tone across my skin.”  

Her retinol of choice? Rosie’s been known to love Medik8’s r-Retinoate Day & Night Eye Serum ($188, Cult Beauty). Having said that, we hope Rose Inc, the models’ own beauty line, will release its own retinol in the future.

Gemma Chan – L’Oréal Paris

Here, Gemma combines two of our favourite collabs of all time: retinol with hyaluronic acid and celebs recommending drugstore products. Speaking to Fashionist, the Marvel actress revealed her go-tos. “The serums that I swear by [are] the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Night Serum ($30.99, Chemist Warehouse) that I use at night and then during the day, the L’Oréal Paris Hyaluronic Acid Serum ($26.99, Chemist Warehouse), which moisturises and plumps my skin and preps it for anything to come. So those two together are a great combo.”

Busy Phillips – Olay

Similarly to us, Busy Phillips has felt the financial sting of buying expensive skin care. “I will say, even with my skin care journey, I definitely thought for a long time that I needed to spend a ton of money and buy the newest, $400 miracle thing that was going to change my skin in my 20s and early 30s.”

However, after much trial and error, the actress admitted that it was all a bit unnecessary. “I returned to Olay, and then ended up working with them and I was like, ‘Oh, right. I can use the Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Face Serum ($42, Woolworths) and my skin loves it, and also I can afford to go out to dinner,” she told Refinery29. 

After all, what’s the point in having clear skin when you can’t show it off?

Meghan Markle – Kate Somerville

Before she became a Duchess, Meghan Markle told BeautyBanter that her go-to vitamin A was the Kate Somerville Quench ($165, MECCA). 

“I’ve been going to Kate’s clinic in Los Angeles for facials for years, and now that I live in Toronto for work, I still use the products to maintain that glow,” she said. 

Considering Meghan’s enthusiasm for the product then and her amazing skin now, we still suspect it to be a key part of her routine.  

Kerry Washington – Neutrogena

As an ambassador for Neutrogena, Kerry Washington is undoubtedly familiar with the best that this drugstore brand has to offer. Along with revealing her family’s obsession with their moisturiser, Kerry also praises the Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Pro+ .0% Power Serum ($50.99, Chemist Warehouse).

“This new serum is so fantastic because it’s [Neutrogena’s] highest concentration of retinol but it’s crazy gentle on the skin,” she told InStyle. “I don’t have to put a barrier between the retinol and my skin; I can really just let it do what it does, which is so fantastic.” 

Martha Kalifatidis – Dermalogica

If there’s something we can rely on Martha for, it’s an honest and informed beauty recommendation. According to a recent Instagram story, we learned that Dermalogica’s Retinol Clearing Oil ($129, Adore Beauty) was a favourite. “This will literally get rid of texture, congestion, blemishes and scarring like a retinol,” Martha said of the oil. “Except it’s so super gentle and won’t dry or irritate your skin.” Sold, to us.

Melanie Grant – Medik8

“Medik8 is my go-to brand for retinol,” the celebrity facialist revealed in an interview with Net-A-Porter. But which one exactly? We suspect the Medik8 Retinol 3TR Advanced 0.3% Vitamin A Serum ($75, Adore Beauty) to be a favourite.

Victoria Beckham – Cosmedix

Outside of the Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader range, VB has always loved the cosmeceutical brand, Cosmedix. Which is why it came as little surprise that her retinol of choice is the Elite Serum 24 Rapid Renewal ($124, The Beauty Club). 

Main image credit: Getty

Do you have a favourite retinol?