Retinol is an all-star skincare ingredient loved for its ability to smooth texture, fade dark spots and boost collagen — but it’s notorious for causing irritation and sensitivity, especially when paired with summer sun exposure.
“Retinol rapidly accelerates cellular turnover, which causes photosensitivity and makes that renewed skin underneath more sensitive and susceptible to irritation and UV damage,” said dermatologist Geeta Yadav.
While proper sunscreen application can help counteract this risk, there are plenty of gentler, summer-friendly ingredients that deliver similar results if you’d rather skip retinol. Below, we tapped dermatologists on the best retinol alternatives that’ll keep your skin in tip-top shape all season long.
If you’re curious about bakuchiol as retinol alternative, you can see more derm-recommended options option in previous reporting from shopping writer Tessa Flores:
