I’ve tested dozens of clean retinol serums over the years, and I finally created a guide to the best ones! Retinol can get confusing, so I’ve also broken down the vital, need-to-know information about all the various types of retinol, the gold standard ingredient for anti-aging.

So many clean beauty brands are creating products with retinol, because it’s hands down the most efficacious form of vitamin A proven to reverse signs of aging, get rid of wrinkles and improve skin texture. As I write this, companies are developing new and improved clean retinols, so you don’t have to only use plant alternatives like bakuchiol and rambutan (great natural options but less effective!).

For instance in July 2023, a retinol called Retinol CT50 was released. This retinol ingredient is free of both BHA and BHT, which are usually present in retinol to prevent oxidation. I recommend looking for clean BHT free retinol at a percentage of at least 1% if you want a really effective retinol serum.

Another amazing next-generation retinol used in clean skin care is HPR (also known as Granactive Retinoid). It’s even suggested that HPR is as powerful as prescribed retinoids, without the unwanted side effects like flaking and skin irritation.

A common issue people have with retinol is that it can cause irritation and redness. When skincare products include harsh or toxic ingredients on top of retinol, you could risk damaging your skin barrier.

If this is you, look for a clean retinol serum that uses plant alternatives to retinol. Brands may also describe these ingredients as bio retinol. They can include plants like bakuchiol, moth bean, rambutan, rosehip and carrot seed.

The most popular (and proven) plant alternative to retinol is Bakuchiol, derived from the traditional Indian and Chinese medicinal plant babchi. Bakuchiol is the only plant-based alternative to retinol that’s clinically proven to have similar effects as synthetic retinol like improving skin texture, collagen production, firmness and wrinkles.

 

But, I have to emphasize this – natural plant alternatives to retinol will not be AS effective as retinol. For real anti-aging results, I strongly believe you need retinol, which is why many organic and clean beauty brands will include clean retinol.

Not all retinoids are created equal though. Above, I’ve created a chart to help you understand the different strengths of retinol used in clean beauty, so you can choose the best one for you.

If you’re pregnant, you should avoid products with retinol and choose pregnancy safe retinol serums with natural alternatives instead. Keep reading for the very best clean retinol serums made with natural and organic ingredients.

Ursa Major Lunar Bloom Retinal Serum

Ursa Major’s retinal serum is one of my top picks and recommendations if you’re venturing into clean beauty for the first time (along with 100% Pure and YTTP). I find this serum sooo silky and light. It features retinal, which is 20x more powerful then retinol and the formula is further infused with botanical actives like Four OÇlock Flower Cells (a night blooming flower that helps with radiance), Gardenia Stem Cells (for collagen and elastin production), Rund-headed Buch Clover Extract, Ceramide, and Ginger Root Extract. I use this every other night and it sinks in super well and feels hydrating (there’s no scent).

Price: $66.60 for 1 oz

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Saint Jane Beauty Sacred Sleep Overnight Repair

One of my favorite clean retinol product discoveries has been the Saint Jane overnight treatment. This is a versatile product that works as both a face moisturizer and sleeping mask. I find it to be rich, yet silky and luxurious. It’s gorgeous on the outside and hard-working on the inside. The formula is ideal for aging skin and works throughout the night to fight dry skin, uneven texture and fine lines with Retinol, antioxidant-rich elderberry, and a proprietary Fine Line Complex and active florals. I find that it has a very subtle floral scent that isn’t very noticeable.

Price: $70 for 1.7 oz

Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Oil

Another top clean retinol discovery I made this year was the Mara Beauty Algae Retinol Face Oil. This is a STRONG clean retinol product that actually works to improve my skin without irritating it! I’ve been using this product consistently at night over the last few months and feel like it makes a real difference the next morning. My skin seems to love the combination of powerful clean retinol, superfoods, seaweed and botanical oils and experiences zero irritation! I find the consistency to be medium-weight and deeply moisturizing. This would be suitable for mature skin, especially for combating fine lines and wrinkles. The main downside is that it’s very pricey.

Price: $120 for 1 oz

 

Naturopathica Retinol Skincare

I tried Naturopathica’s Passion Fruit Retinol Eye Cream and Holy Basil Retinol Ageless Night Oil and used up every last drop because they’re that good. This is a holistic skincare brand that’s also used in spas for professional treatments and their retinol products combine both synthetic retinol and natural retinol alternative Bakuchiol. The Holy Basil & Gorgeous Retinol Ageless Night Oil contains a generous 1% retinoid blend and feels like a super light, liquid-like oil. My skin looks so dewy, hydrated and clarified when I use this oil. Their Retinol Eye Serum is also beautifully lightweight and silky, absorbs easily and instantly hydrates and plumps my undereye area.

Price: $134 for 1 oz

Leahlani Aqua A Retinoid Renewing Serum

Leahlani’s Aqua A clean retinol serum has a very lightweight, liquid-like consistency with a pale blue hue and fragrant floral scent. It’s an all natural face oil that absorbs super well and leaves my skin with a glow in the morning. I find the formula to be advanced with an innovative retinoid called HPR retinoids, which are low irritation and gently promote cellular turnover. It also contains apple and argan stem cells, ceramides, spiraling and green caviar oil in a base of Kakadu plum seed oil and orchid flower oil. The blend of ingredients are not only gorgeous but high-performance.

Price: $74 for 1 oz

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Mahalo Hawaiian Nights Phyto Retinoic Restoring Night Serum

Mahalo’s Hawaiian Nights Phyto-Retinoic Restoring Night Serum is formulated to have a similar effect to the OTC retinol effect but without the thinning, peeling or irritation of the skin. The 100% natural formula contains oils and extracts rich in plant-derived Vitamin A and provitamin A that work below the skin with their retinoic effect to reprogram the cells and boost their renewal. I find this product gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types while still being able to improve the look and feel of my skin visibly.

There’s a bevy of powerful ingredients including Hawaiian sea algae extract, white lupine seed extract, mamey sapote oil, turmeric supercritical CO2 extract, carrot supercritical CO2 extract*, calendula flower supercritical CO2 extract* and vitamin C ester. I feel like this oil breathes life back into my skin when it looks dull and tired. I don’t use it every night but save it for when I feel my skin really needs it – otherwise I’d run out of this serum way too fast! This serum can be used both day and night because it will not turn your skin photosensitive.

Price: $120 for 1 oz

 

Bloomeffects Black Tulip Retinoid Serum

The Bloomeffects Black Tulip Retinoid Serum is a vibrant deep purple-hued serum and formulated to target fine lines & wrinkles dryness, dullness, uneven texture, and uneven skin tone. For those who want a clean beauty retinol serum but need something stronger than just natural retinol alternatives, the Bloomeffects Retinoid Serum contains actual Retinoid. So far I’m impressed by the ingredients, which features a next-generation retinoid active called Granactive Retinoid, natural retinol alternative Bakuchiol, and 37 botantical extracts including Centella Asiatica Extract, Bisabolol, Niacinamide, Hemp Seed Oil Complex, Lingonberry and Saponaria Pumila Stem Cells. The Granactive Retinoid helps to promote skin turnover and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, without redness or irritation.

This clean retinol serum has no added fragrance and a barely detectable scent from its natural ingredients. Because of its deep purple shade, it does add hints of purple streaks to skin. Not a concern since this retinoid Serum is meant for night use only. It feels hydrating and I can almost feel it getting to work immediately. It’s hard to explain the sensation as it’s subtle, but it almost feels like a tightening sensation. I love that this Serum is so well-rounded and tackles many skin issues at once.

I would be careful in not using too much of the Bloomeffects serum at a time because it will start pilling.

Price: $119 for 0.88 oz

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Youth To The People Retinal Niacinamide Youth Serum

YTTP makes really good serums and their Retinal Niacinamide Youth Serum is effective at renewing skin overnight. It contains 0.15% Stabilized Retinaldehyde, the most potent retinol next to an prescription and converts the fastest to retinoic acid along with 5% Niacinamide to boost efficacy of retinal. It’s a silky light serum that’s slightly creamy and has a yellow tinge to it. I love that it has so many different actives like Hyaluronic acid, adaptogens (Ashwagandha, Maitake, Shiitake, Reishi) and ceramides (Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP + Ceramide EOP). It’s almost like several serums in one for under $70!

 

Three Ships Dream Bio-Retinol Cream and Serum (beginner friendly!)

This is sooo budget friendly and a great affordable option, in my opinion, for young skin that wants to dip their toes in retinol. Three Ships’ cream uses a natural, plant-based retinol alternative from Picão Preto, a medicinal herb that’s native to Brazil along with 3% Vegan squalane and beautiful seed butters like Shorea and Murumuru. I loooove how creamy and thick (but not heavy) this cream is. It feels super moisturizing and there’s no irritation.

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Luzern Nuit Creme

This is one of THE most luxurious retinol creams I’ve ever tried, and night creams in general. Luzern Labs is impossibly high-tech and luxe, but also suuuuper pricey. Their NUIT cream contains Retinol, Peptides, Bakuchiol, and proprietary MFC proprietary MFC ™ Multi-Fermentation Complex (a powerful blend of oxygen, peptides, enzymes, hyaluronic acid, probiotics, and vitamins). It also has multi-molecular weight hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C, lipids and brightening Swiss Alpine Complex of 7 organic Swiss extracts containing brightening flavonoids, phenolic acids and iridoids. It’s sooo creamy and hydrating with a somewhat whipped texture that makes it very pleasant to use.

Price: $325 (Use OBL to save 15%)

Marie Veronique Gentle Retinol Night Serum

• High tech formula of microencapsulated retinol, Vitamin C and stabilization assist from Vitamin E
• Proprietary microencapsulated resveratrol and superoxide dismutase (SOD) for a powerful antioxidant boost
• Powerful organic skincare with the addition of synthetic retinol
• $110

Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Retinol Overnight Serum

• Contains a combination of 2.5% Bio-Retinol and Retinol
• Evening primrose encapsulated retinol (innovation on the market and exclusive to Juice Beauty)
• Helps smooth skin, reduce the appearance of lines & wrinkles and evens skin tone and texture
• $78

Kypris Moonlight Catalyst

• Natural retinol alternative serum
• Organic and wildcrafted ingredients synthesized with green chemistry in a water-based serum
• Fermented pumpkin enzymes softens and refines skin’s appearance
• $98
• International: Shop Kypris at Space NK

Bluh Alchemy Botanic-Retinol Cell Renewal Concentrate (Luxe!)

• Contains only natural alternative to retinol Bakuchiol
• An organic aloe leaf juice and jasmine hydrosol base with 15 of the world’s most innovative ingredients, including cellular extracted flame tree, emu apple and Tasmanian kelp, cacay oil, watermelon bioferment and vegetable ceramides
• Provides hydration, nutrition and protection
• $140

100% Pure Multivitamin Antioxidants PM Facial Oil

• A lush nighttime facial oil with retinol
• Supercharged with vitamins E, C, D3, and CoQ10
• Medium weight oil in a base of Jojoba and enriched with Rosehip Oil, Sea Buckthorn Oil, Green Tea Seed Oil and Apricot Kernel Oil
• $58 (discount code OBL saves 20%)

Cocokind Resurfacing Sleep Mask (beginner friendly!)

• Contains natural alternative to retinol Bakuchiol
• Bakuchiol at 1% – Helps diminish the appearance of dark spots, uneven tone, and fine lines and wrinkles
• Gently resurfaces skin overnight to smooth texture, even tone, and reduce the appearance of dark spots
• Beta glucan, wild indigo extract and squalane
• $22 (save with code OBL at Cocokind)

 

Indie Lee Retinol Alternative Cream

• Contains natural alternatives to retinol only
• Retinol alternative Rambutan improves appearance of elasticity, firmness fine lines and wrinkles
• Paracress reduces the visible signs of aging
• Squalane boosts moisture retention and plumps skin
• Orange Milk Tree extract soothes, plumps and restores glowy skin
• Cosmos Natural certified
• $72 (Discount code OBL saves 15% at Indie Lee)

Dr Different Vitalift A Forte

• K-beauty retinol brand 
• Contains retinal, which is faster than retinol and provides better and faster results without adverse reactions.
• Liposome technology stabilizes retinal and enhances skin firmness. It prevents possible side effects by ensuring the right elements are delivered at the right place.
• $52

Be sure to pair a retinol serum with a clean hyaluronic serum for added hydration and skin barrier support. Check out my fave natural hyaluronic acid serums!