If you use retinol in your facial products, you’ve probably wondered about whether or not you can use retinol on your body too. *Cue light bulb moment* That’s right, you can! Retinol body lotions are becoming more popular, and for all these reasons, retinol is famous for facial products specifically.

Retinol can help reduce transepidermal water loss, help maintain collagen production and strengthen your skin barrier — all to keep your skin firmer and smoother as you age.

Although retinol can take several weeks to work, it can show a “significant” reduction of fine lines and wrinkles once it shows an effect, which you can maintain by continuing to use retinol.

If these definitely sound like benefits you want for your body as well, let’s talk about what using retinol for your body looks like and what you need to know about it!

Do Retinol Body Lotions Have the Same Benefits?

Before looking at the benefits of retinol for the body, it’s important to know that facial moisturizers and body moisturizers are a bit different.

• Facial creams tend to focus on reducing wrinkles, correcting hyperpigmentation and protecting the skin barrier.

• Body lotions, on the other hand, have a bit heavier lifting to do with keeping skin firm, targeting uneven skin texture, tackling cellulite, and stretch marks.

Either way, moisturizing is vital for reducing wrinkles and protecting the skin barrier. But keeping body and face lotion separate can help you target the concerns of each.

But do retinol body lotions have the same benefits as retinol face creams? The answer is that it really depends on the form of retinol and the concentration of that retinol. Also, it depends on how much of it is in the product.

Most retinol body lotions don’t contain high amounts of retinol, and they don’t include the most potent form of retinol. This one is both good news and bad news. It’s good because you’re much less likely to get a retinol burn. But it’s bad because you won’t see as dramatic effects!

What You Need to Know When Using Retinol on the Body

Before we get into retinol body lotions to try, there are a few essential things you should know when using retinol on the body.

• Only Use At Night

Remember that retinol can make skin more sensitive to sunlight and should generally be avoided during the day. Using sunscreen during the day is essential to protecting your skin anyway. Still, it’s doubly important to use it when using retinol and retinol body lotions, even if you’re exclusively using them at night.

• Try A Test Area

Since people can be sensitive to retinol and there’s an adjustment period when introducing it to the skin, it’s a good idea to try a test area on your skin before using a lotion over your whole body to see how your skin will react to it.

• Know Your Skin Type

Yes, you still need to know your skin type when using retinol body lotions! Knowing your skin type will help you choose the right product with the best ingredients to nourish your skin instead of irritating it.

Retinol body creams and lotions can also be more expensive than retinol face creams because they come in larger sizes. You can also get retinol body creams for specific areas of your body, such as your neck and hands!

Best Retinol Body Lotions to Try

Are you ready to give retinol a try for your body? The following are some of the best retinol body lotions available for you to consider!

Cosmedix A-Lift Overnight Vitamin A Body Treatment

This overnight body cream delivers vitamin A to the skin through encapsulated retinol combined with bakuchiol, a plant-based form of retinol, glycerin, caffeine, and hyaluronic acid. Also featuring niacinamide and spirulina, this lotion is designed to be applied every other night before working up to nightly use if you want.

Paula’s Choice Retinol Skin-Smoothing Body Treatment

This body lotion is lightweight and non-greasy. Alongside retinol, it also features glycerin, shea butter, and vitamins C & E. Also, it contains evening primrose oil to nourish skin and correct signs of aging in the body. You can also mix the formula with other non-retinol lotions to help ease your skin’s adjustment to retinol.

iS Clinical Body Complex

This body lotion is made with aloe, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and extracts of orange, lemon & jasmine. And it delivers retinol to the skin to increase cellular turnover and leave the skin smooth and firm. Designed even for sensitive skin types, this blend of soothing ingredients may be a worthy consideration for those with more reactive skin.

Urban Skin RX Even Tone Smoothing Body Treatment

Designed to correct hyperpigmentation with niacinamide, retinol, and glycolic acid, this body lotion absorbs fast to leave skin feeling smoother and firmer. Squalene and green tea also make an appearance in this formula, which You can apply daily. For sensitive skin types, use every other day or as tolerated.

Chantecallie Retinol Body Treatment

Encapsulated retinol is the star of this body cream. This encapsulated retinol features shea butter, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and macadamia oil to nourish skin and prevent wrinkles. This splurge-worthy body cream is made with rose flower water, glycerin, vitamin C, and mountain botanicals. And it can be applied both morning and night but will need to be layered with SPF during the day.

Replenix Retinol Smooth + Tighten Body Lotion

This body lotion is made with ceramides, green tea, retinol, and hyaluronic acid. It also features humectants such as glycerin and squalene, as well as yucca root and edelweiss flower to help firm skin. You can use it morning and night, but be sure to layer with SPF during the day.

Have You Used Retinol for Your Body?

Retinol body lotions are definitely worth considering if you tolerate retinol well. And if YOU would love to see the same benefits on your body. Are you a fan of retinol, and have you tried using it on your body? Let us know what your favorite retinol products are and your skin type in the comments below!