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If you’re navigating the early stages of a mature skin-care routine, finding the best moisturizers to use with tretinoin can make all the difference between glowing skin and frustrating irritation. For the unfamiliar, tretinoin is a type of retinoid (a class of vitamin A-derived ingredients) that’s more powerful than retinol. Only available by prescription, it’s one of the most effective skincare ingredients for stimulating collagen production and speeding up skin cell turnover, which in turn gives it the ability to treat acne, soften fine lines, and improve lax texture—but it’s also known for its side effects, especially dryness and sensitivity. (You might recognize it as Retin-A, which is one of the brand names.)
That’s where a good face moisturizer comes in. While it’s helpful no matter what your routine looks like, the right formula can help you make the most of a topical tretinoin cream. “Especially for patients with sensitive or dry skin, buffering tretinoin with a moisturizer can make the active ingredient more tolerable while still delivering long-term benefits,” says Sarah Sung, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Seattle. Your moisturizer should hydrate, soothe, and strengthen your skin barrier, helping you get all the perks of tretinoin with fewer downsides.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, $24
- Best for Dry Skin: SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream, $134
- Best for Mature Skin: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, $155
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion, $38
- Best for Sandwiching: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream, $38
- Best for Redness and Flaking: Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream, $54
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, $23
- Best Day Cream: No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multiaction Day Cream SPF 30, $33
- Best Night Cream: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, $20
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should you look for in a moisturizer to pair with tretinoin?
- What's the sandwich method?
- Is there anything to avoid in moisturizer when you're using tretinoin?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
Why we love it: If Dr. Sung had to pick just one moisturizer for most tretinoin users, her top choice would be the La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer, which she calls an “all-around fantastic” option. “It contains ceramides and niacinamide to support the skin barrier, plus glycerin for hydration,” she says. “The lightweight texture absorbs quickly but provides lasting moisture, so it works well for both morning and night.”
The oil-free, fragrance-free formula is also infused with prebiotics to help strengthen and balance the skin’s moisture barrier. It’s non-comedogenic and budget-friendly, yet has a performance that rivals pricier formulas.
Editor’s tip: “If you have oily skin, you can get the same non-comedogenic benefits in a shine-controlling formula with La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Double Repair Matte Moisturizer,” says Martha Viera, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Coral Gables, FL. “I have sensitive skin myself, and this is the one I personally use—it keeps my skin balanced without feeling heavy or greasy.”
Key ingredients: prebiotic thermal water, ceramides, glycerin, niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: all skin types
Best for Dry Skin: SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream
Why we love it: While tretinoin is highly effective, it often comes with a side of dryness—especially as your skin initially adjusts. That’s where a hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer like SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream shines—a personal favorite of Alexandra Bowles, a board-certified dermatologist in Cincinnati, OH. “It’s perfect for counteracting the dryness and irritation that tretinoin can cause,” she says. “Packed with antioxidant vitamins C and E to help protect and repair, it also features sodium hyaluronate—a powerful hydrator that naturally occurs in the skin.” The nourishing formula also includes algae extract derived from freshwater and seawater plants to help you maintain hydrated skin.
Editor’s tip: “I love the subtle scent it has, but if you’re sensitive to fragrance, patch-test it first,” says Dr. Bowles.
Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, algae extract, vitamin C, vitamin E | Fragrance-free: no | Who it’s for: people with dry skin
Best for Mature Skin: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
SkinCeuticals
SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2
Why we love it: SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 isn’t your average moisturizer—it was one of the first formulas to mimic your skin’s natural lipid barrier using a precise ratio of 2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol, and 2% fatty acids. While most creams simply hydrate, this one goes above and beyond, helping rebuild what your skin loses over time, improving texture, boosting tolerance to actives like tretinoin, and visibly reducing signs of aging. “I love this product—it’s not only rich and elegant in texture, but it helps keep the skin barrier healthy while delivering serious hydration,” says Dr. Viera.
Tester feedback: “This moisturizer feels like a cushiony cloud on my skin and leaves my complexion looking dewier than ever,” says Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “Its dense texture makes my skin feel soft and plump, like how I imagine Moo Deng’s cheeks feel. If I could drench my whole body in this rich, hydrating cream, I absolutely would.”
Key ingredients: ceramides, fatty acids, cholesterol | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: people with age-related dryness or dehydration
Best for Sensitive Skin: Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion
Why we love it: An Allure Best of Beauty Award Winner, Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion is a lightweight, calming moisturizer that helps bring sensitive or stressed-out skin back to life—so much so that our own editors prefer to pair this with tretinoin. Like all Avène’s skin-care products, its main ingredient is the brand’s iconic Thermal Spring Water, sourced from the Sainte-Odile spring in southern France.
It’s not just about sounding French and fancy: This particular thermal spring water is known for its ability to soothe irritation and calm inflammation. “This moisturizer is an excellent choice for acne-prone or sensitive skin—especially for those using tretinoin—thanks to its gentle, hydrating formula with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane to replenish moisture and support the skin barrier without clogging pores,” says Dr. Viera. Free of fragrance, it’s a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturizer that derms consistently love.
Tester Feedback: Even if you’ve used tretinoin in the past, we’ve found that this is ideal for helping acclimate to a higher concentration. "This soothed my irritated, sensitive skin as I began using a higher dose of tretinoin," says senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor. "Its lightweight texture felt extra hydrating and worked wonders to bring down redness."
Key ingredients: thermal spring water, shea butter, glycerin, niacinamide, squalane | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: people with sensitive skin
Best for Sandwiching: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream
Why we love it: First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream has a rich, almost whipped texture that’s made to smooth and soften dry patches, minimize skin sensitivity, and dial down irritation related to eczema, rosacea, and in-office procedures. “This rich cream is loaded with colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and allantoin, making it ideal for calming irritation and redness,” says Dr. Sung. “It’s fragrance-free, so it’s great for sensitive skin, and it works well as part of the ‘sandwich method’ to buffer tretinoin’s effects.” (For the uninitiated: The sandwich method involves applying a thin layer of moisturizer, following with a pea-sized amount of tretinoin, and finishing with a final layer of moisturizer.) An Allure Best of Beauty Award winner, it’s beloved for how universal it is, no matter your skin type or concern.
Editor’s tip: This formula’s 0.5% colloidal oatmeal—a proven skin soother that helps calm inflammation, itching, and redness, which makes it perfect for easing the irritation tretinoin can bring on.
Key ingredients: colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, allantoin | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: people with eczema, keratosis pilaris, or rough skin
Best for Flaking and Redness: Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream
Why we love it: Long before “barrier repair” became a skincare buzzword, the Allure Best of Beauty-winning Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream was leading the charge—and winning over dermatologists like Dr. Sung, who calls it “excellent for replenishing the skin’s barrier while deeply hydrating” the skin. It features three essential lipids—ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol—to help strengthen and restore the skin, plus peptides to support firmness and hyaluronic acid to boost moisture. “It’s fragrance-free, making it an ideal choice for sensitive skin or anyone experiencing irritation from tretinoin," she says. “The rich, non-greasy texture absorbs beautifully and works well day and night.”
Tester feedback: Allure commerce editor Sarah Han loves both the original and gel-cream variations of this barrier-supporting cream. “The original SkinFix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream is fabulous for when my skin needs extra love and hydration but my combo skin adores a gel cream, and its sister product, the Barrier+ Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream is truly one of the best—it's soothing, gentle, absorbs like a dream, and doesn't make my sunscreen pill,” she says. “It cuts all the bells and whistles that some moisturizers offer (not always necessary!) and plumps my skin with squalane, niacinamide, saccharide isomerate to bolster my barrier and help refine pores (a constant struggle of mine).”
Key ingredients: niacinamide, shea butter, peptides, ceramides, glycerin | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: people with compromised skin
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel
Why we love it: A budget-friendly favorite among tretinoin users, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel was one of the first gel-cream hybrid textures to hit the drugstore aisle—and it’s still a go-to for derms. “I like this one for more oily skin since it’s water-based and very light, but at the same time moisturizes since it contains hyaluronic acid attracting more water to the skin,” says Dr. Viera. The oil-free, non-comedogenic formula absorbs quickly and delivers hydration without any greasiness, so it’s also great if you’re using tretinoin to treat acne. It layers seamlessly with actives like tretinoin, helping to combat dryness and flaking and keeping skin calm, comfortable, and balanced.
Tester feedback: Associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen found that this took care of her lingering dryness—and had the bonus of a cooling sensation upon application. Plus, “the moisturizer has virtually no scent, so it's completely safe for my sometimes-sensitive skin,” she says. "It just feels so good on my skin. And I guess my skin enjoys it, too, because I haven't seen a dry patch in days."
Key ingredient: hyaluronic acid | Fragrance-free: No | Who it’s for: people with normal to oily skin
Best Day Cream: No7 Restore & Renew Face & Neck Multiaction Day Cream SPF 30
Why we love it: The No7 Restore & Renew Multi Action Face & Neck SPF 30 Day Cream is a great daytime pick for tretinoin users, especially those with sensitive or mature skin. “It’s full of adaptogens and barrier-supporting ingredients that target signs of aging without irritating,” says Dr. Viera. It features skin-repairing ingredients like ceramides, shea butter, and glycerin to help relieve dryness and calm irritation. Peptides and niacinamide help firm, calm, and even out hyperpigmentation, while hibiscus peptides and hyaluronic acid provide lasting hydration. Plus, SPF 30 protects skin that’s more sun-sensitive from tret use.
Editor’s tip: Since tretinoin speeds up cell turnover, it leaves your skin more delicate and sensitive to UV rays—making daily SPF an absolute must to protect against sun damage.
Key ingredients: avobenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, ceramides, glycerin, shea butter Fragrance-free: no | Who it’s for: people with mature skin
Best Night Cream: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion
Why we love it: Even before TikTok and Reddit skincare threads made it a viral favorite, CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion was a go-to recommendation from dermatologists, especially for patients starting on tretinoin. Its barrier-repairing, non-irritating formula makes it ideal for soothing and hydrating skin adjusting to actives like tretinoin or adapalene. “It’s packed with ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid to help nourish and hydrate the skin, especially after using tretinoin,” says Dr. Bowles, who says that her patients love it. “It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and has a lightweight texture that absorbs well without feeling greasy.”
Editor’s tip: Although labeled “PM,” its gentle, oil-free formula has also made it popular for daytime use—especially as a lightweight base under sunscreen.
Key ingredients: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide | Fragrance-free: yes | Who it’s for: people with dry skin
Frequently Asked Questions
What should you look for in a moisturizer to pair with tretinoin?
When using tretinoin, it’s important to pair it with a moisturizer that hydrates, soothes, and supports your skin barrier. “The ideal moisturizer should replenish hydration, support the skin barrier, and minimize irritation,” says Dr. Sung, who recommends looking for ingredients like hyaluronic acid to attract moisture, ceramides and glycerin to lock it in, and niacinamide to help reduce redness and inflammation. “Squalane is another great option for lightweight moisture that won’t clog pores,” she says. For especially dry or compromised skin, fatty acids and cholesterol can also help keep the barrier strong and balanced.
What's the sandwich method?
The “sandwich method” in skincare involves applying a layer of moisturizer before and after an active ingredient like tretinoin to help minimize irritation. “The first layer of moisturizer buffers tretinoin’s potency, reducing irritation, while the second seals in hydration,” says Dr. Sung.
This technique is especially helpful for those with dry or sensitive skin who need a gentler way to incorporate tretinoin into their routine, allowing the active to work effectively while protecting the skin barrier.
Is there anything to avoid in moisturizer when you're using tretinoin?
When using tretinoin, it’s ideal to avoid moisturizers with potential irritants like fragrances, alcohols, and essential oils, since tretinoin can make skin more sensitive. “AHAs (like glycolic or lactic acid), BHAs (like salicylic acid), and vitamin C can increase irritation when used in the same routine as tretinoin,” says Dr. Sung. “If a patient wants to incorporate these, I recommend waiting a few weeks after starting tretinoin to ensure it’s well tolerated.”
She also suggests introducing exfoliants only once a week at first to avoid over-exfoliating. Occlusives like petrolatum and lanolin are great for dry skin but can be too heavy for acne-prone individuals and may trigger breakouts.
Meet the experts
- Martha Viera, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Coral Gables, FL
- Alexandra Bowles, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati, OH
- Sarah Sung, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist of The Perq based in Seattle
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best moisturizers to use with tretinoin, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Read more about wrinkle-reducing skin care:
- 13 “Botox in a Bottle” Skin-Care Products Derms Swear By For Fine Lines
- 14 Best Retinol Creams That Smooth Fine Lines Without Sensitivity
- 12 Best Peptide Serums for Impossibly Plump Skin
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