This Gentle Retinol Makes Sensitive Skin Smooth and Glowy

Vitamin A, or retinol, truly does it all: decongests, smooths, evens tone and refines. The one caveat is that it can be irritatating on dry or sensitive skin, to retinol beginners or even to retinol regulars who have switched to a new product or strength. Luckily, there’s Obagi Retinol .5 ($79), a medical-grade, dermatologist-created, effective vitamin A formula that delivers all the benefits of retinol without wreaking havoc on skin. How? You can thank ingredients like calendula, chamomile and bisabolol, three known skin-soothers, plus shea butter and glycerin, two aces in barrier protection.

Have we piqued your interest? You’re in luck. We asked over 700 NewBeauty readers to try Obagi Retinol .5 and, as always, they delivered their unfiltered thoughts on how the formula works overall, how it feels on skin, the results they loved, tips for usage and more. Keep reading for users’ honest reviews of Obagi Retinol .5.

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TL;DR

This product is best for those who want a gentle retinol formula to improve the texture of their skin, smooth acne scars, fine lines and wrinkles, as well as diminish hyperpigmentation. Overall, NewBeauty readers found Obagi Retinol .5 super effective, non-irritating and easy to use, with nearly two-thirds of all respondents voting it better than similar retinols on the market and a solid majority rating it a perfect five stars.

Ease Into It

If you find your skin peels or flakes persistently when you use a retinol product, Obagi Retinol .5 might be a gentle-but-still-effective alternative, but starting slow and allowing skin to adjust is always a good idea, for all skin types. Whitney P. suggests starting “maybe every other night” if you consider your skin sensitive, adding “once your skin adjusts…[it] delivers noticeable results, especially when it comes to smoothing skin texture and giving a brighter, more even complexion. Ally H. says, “I use it two to three nights a week and layer a hydrating moisturizer over it, and the glow is real.”

Others report minimal-to-no irritation at all, calling it “great for beginners.” Ashley B. reports their “dry skin adapted really well to it since it was actually fairly hydrating by itself.” Vidhya B. says Obagi Retinol .5 “strikes a great balance—strong enough to target fine lines, uneven tone and texture, but not so harsh that it causes major irritation.”

Plays Nice With Other Skin Care

Obagi Retinol .5 has a light cream texture that our readers agree sits well under serums and moisturizers (read: no pilling). Laura M. says it “spreads very evenly” and is “so wonderfully smooth on [her] skin” with “no cast leftover.” Carol M. loves that it “absorbs quickly” with “no greasy feel” and that only a “pea size amount is needed” for “remarkable results.”

Results Speak for Themselves

Overwhelmingly, the most discussed topic of all the reviews is how Obagi Retinol .5 makes skin look and feel. Ly Pham P. is “genuinely impressed” by Obagi Retinol .5 because they can “already see the difference in [skin] tone and texture” and experienced a “noticeable glow that made [them] feel confident even without makeup.” Michéle D. raves, “I was experiencing adult acne and tried it in the targeted area. It worked so well that I felt safe using it on my entire face!” Michéle adds, “My face feels smooth, the acne is gone and the scarring has begun to diminish after just a week.” Tatyana M. says, “I really like the minimization of pores on my face. Also, the fine lines around my eyes are getting less visible and smoother.” Bekah M. agrees: “It made a major improvement in my fine lines so quickly.” Andrea G. used it on her forehead, aka their “problem area” and noticed a “huge difference” in visible forehead lines. Finally, 50-year-old Sarah Y. says Obagi Retinol .5 keeps their skin “clear and glowing.”