WHICH SHOULD I TRY?

Our experts at the GHI put 16 retinol serums through their paces with the help of a panel of 207 testers. These were the top performers.

WINNER

Temple Spa Trufflelixir Super Luxe Luminosity Serum,

£75 (this brand doesn’t publish retinol strength, which means it’ll be effective, but suitable for beginners) 87/100 Our panel found it easy to dispense and apply. It absorbed quickly, leaving skin softer and smoother. After four weeks, 71% said skin looked more evenly toned; 64% said skin felt firmer, reporting visible reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

JOINT RUNNER-UP

Sunday Riley A+ High-dose Retinoid Serum,

£70 (5% retinol ester blend; 1% encapsulated retinol blend) 85/100 Testers liked this serum’s delicate consistency, finding that a little went a long way. It layered well with other products and left skin feeling instantly hydrated. Nearly three quarters said their skin felt firmer after four weeks and 60% reported an improvement in overall appearance.

JOINT RUNNER-UP

Kate Somerville +Retinol Vita C Power Serum,

£84 (this brand doesn’t publish retinol strength, which means it’ll be effective, but suitable for beginners) 85/100

This got rave reviews for the subtle citrus scent and silky consistency, which sank in quickly and left skin feeling instantly hydrated. 90% reported a marked improvement in feel, and most saw a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

✶ HOW WE TESTED We asked 207 beauty testers to use 16 serums. Testing was blind and each tester used one serum over a four-week period following the brand’s instructions. They judged consistency, texture and performance, as well as assessing how easily each was dispensed from its packaging and absorbed into the skin.