The Eight Saints Smooth Sailing Retinol Face Cream is $38 at Amazon, where shoppers say it smooths crepey skin, fades fine lines, and improves tone without irritation.

Another saw a more even tone after a week.

Of any skin concern, I dread dryness the most. A few years ago, I recoiled from using retinol after witnessing my sister’s vitamin A journey kick off with severe dryness and visible flaking. Luckily, I’ve since discovered non-drying options, and next on my to-try list? The Smooth Sailing Retinol Face Cream from Eight Saints.

Eight Saints Smooth Sailing Retinol Face Cream

Orig. $44 $38 at Amazon

The Eight Saints Smooth Sailing Retinol Face Cream is a powerful anti-aging moisturizer that stars its titular ingredient: retinol. Arguably the most effective topical solution for diminishing signs of aging, it softens fine lines, tightens lax skin, and reveals brighter, more even-toned skin. 

Collagen—the structural protein responsible for the lifted, plump skin of our youth—dwindles as we age, resulting in a deflated-looking complexion. Luckily, vitamin A proliferates collagen production, in turn, restoring youthful bounce and lift and smoother fine lines. Quickening cellular turnover is also in retinol’s repertoire; vitamin A accelerates the rate at which our skin sheds dull, dead surface cells, ultimately translating to fresher, smoother skin.

Miraculous as the ingredient is, retinol does pose potential side effects such as dryness, irritation, and flaking—particularly for first-time users and people with sensitive skin. Eight Saints’s moisturizer lessens the chances of these effects, in part via hyaluronic acid. A hero hydrator, the humectant floods skin with moisture, minimizing the potential for dryness—retinol-induced or otherwise. Plus, hyaluronic acid plumps the appearance of fine lines and delivers a dewy, youthful glow in minutes.

Finally, vitamin E  (a.k.a. tocopherol) is a skin-softening emollient and antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental aging factors.

One shopper “noticed a more even skin tone” after one week of using the “incredibly hydrating” product. A second reviewer who dubbed it “strong yet gentle,” said the cream “solved” the crepey skin on their neck and softened fine lines around their eyes within “a couple of weeks.” Finally, a nearly 40-year-old fan swears by the cream, noting they “get compliments all the time” from people who think they’re in their 20s. TBH, that alone has me sold.

For a retinol moisturizer that smooths, firms, and brightens skin sans irritation, shop the Eight Saints Smooth Sailing Retinol Face Cream at Amazon and consider similar options, below.

CeraVe Anti-Aging Retinol Serum 

Orig. $25 $23 at Amazon

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3

$64 at Amazon

Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream

$8 at Amazon