La Roche-Posay Retinol Face Serum with Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid, 1oz

Why it's worth it

A 0.3% pure retinol buffered with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, from a brand dermatologists reach for by default. It's the formula most often recommended to people who've tried retinol before and had to stop.

If retinol has previously left you red for days, this is where to start. La Roche-Posay pairs a modest 0.3% concentration with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, which support the skin barrier while the retinol works against it. The result is a formula that a lot of people with reactive or rosacea-prone skin can actually stay on. That matters more than raw strength, because retinol only works if you keep using it.

It's fragrance-free, and for sensitive skin that's not a nice-to-have. Fragrance is one of the most common triggers for contact irritation, and adding it to a product that's already thinning your stratum corneum is asking for trouble. Owners with reactive skin repeatedly single this out as the retinol that didn't make their face sting. Several describe it as their first retinol, which tells you something about how it's positioned and how it performs.

From our review of 10 retinol serums, by Sarah Wright, Editorial Associate

What we like

• +If retinol has previously left you red for days, this is where to start
• +It's fragrance-free, and for sensitive skin that's not a nice-to-have
• +The texture is light and slightly hydrating, so it layers well under a night cream without pilling

What to know

• –At 0.3%, results take longer
• –It isn't cheap for its concentration
• –A handful of owners note bottles arriving underfilled