RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
America's most popular drugstore retinol, from a brand that calls its own concentration "proprietary information."
Reviewed by Dr. Schwarz, MD · Dermatologist
A dermatologist’s take
Eh.
RoC uses real retinol and will not tell you how much, calling the number proprietary while competitors print theirs. Retinol sits below the fragrance on the list, which usually means very little. It also adds glycolic acid, so expect more irritation early. Buy a retinol that states its strength.
Pros
- Uses retinol rather than a retinyl ester
Cons
- Retinol concentration is not disclosed
- Can cause dryness or irritation
Skin fit
Who is it best for?
Sun Damage
Okay fitUltraviolet exposure breaks collagen down faster than skin rebuilds it, and lines set into the loosened surface.
Retinol pushes cells to build collagen again — the only over-the-counter class with strong evidence for that. Real retinol at a drugstore price matters, because the retinoid you keep buying beats the better one you quit.
Comedonal Acne
Okay fitRetinol loosens the plug of dead cells that forms a blackhead, so bumpy texture smooths over a couple of months. The glycolic acid in here makes it a heavier hit than a plain retinol serum.
Hyperpigmentation
Okay fitFaster turnover moves pigmented cells off the surface sooner, so dark marks fade quicker. Expect little without daily sunscreen; sun puts the pigment straight back.
Rosacea
Poor fitRetinol and glycolic acid both irritate, and rosacea flushes at less than this. Expect more redness before any change in texture.
Melasma
Poor fitTurnover alone does not switch off the pigment cells driving melasma, and deeper patches often come back darker after an irritating cream. Wrong tool.
Sensitive Skin
Poor fitRetinol and glycolic acid together are a heavier hit than either alone. If your skin stings easily, start with a plain retinol and nothing else in it.
Feel & smell
What does it feel like?
Cream
A rich, thick night cream, heavier than most retinol serums and closer to a face moisturizer. It sinks in slowly and leaves a soft cushion, comfortable on dry skin and too much on oily skin.
It is scented, and the glycolic acid in the base means stinging on application is common. It ships in a screw-top jar, which exposes a light- and air-sensitive active every time you open it.
Inside the formula
What do the main ingredients do?
More ingredient roles
How this formula works.
Skin cells act on only one form of vitamin A, retinoic acid. It binds receptors in the cell nucleus and changes what the cell builds — faster turnover, less clumping of dead cells in pores, more collagen from the fibroblasts below. Retinol is one conversion step away, which is why it beats the esters further back on the ladder.
Full clinical explanation
Skin cells act on only one form of vitamin A, retinoic acid. It binds receptors in the cell nucleus and changes what the cell builds — faster turnover, less clumping of dead cells in pores, more collagen from the fibroblasts below. Retinol is one conversion step away, which is why it beats the esters further back on the ladder.
This cream uses real retinol, and that is the strongest thing in its favor. It will not tell you how much. RoC calls the concentration proprietary information, while The Ordinary, SkinCeuticals, Medik8 and others publish theirs, and retinol sits below the fragrance and the parabens here, which usually means a small amount.
The other problem is glycolic acid in the same jar. An acid and a retinoid both irritate, and combining them means you cannot space them out.
Full ingredient list · 35 ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Isodecyl Neopentanoate, Tetrahydroxypropyl Ethylenediamine, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth-20, Steareth-10, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Glycolic Acid, Squalane, Parfum, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Methylparaben, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Propylparaben, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, BHT, Disodium EDTA, Polysorbate 60, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Copper Gluconate
All ingredient roles
Dimethicone
A silicone that smooths the surface and adds to the protective film.
Glycerin
A small humectant. It moves into the outer layer of skin and holds water there.
Cetearyl Alcohol
A fatty alcohol that softens skin and thickens the product. Despite the name, it is not drying.
Water
The base the other ingredients are dissolved in. Most of it evaporates soon after the product goes on.
Ceteareth-20
An emulsifier. It keeps the oil and water parts from separating.
Phenoxyethanol
The preservative. It stops bacteria and mold from growing in the product.
Xanthan Gum
A thickener that keeps the texture even.
Disodium EDTA
Binds minerals in the water so the preservative works better and the formula stays stable.
Use & results
How to use it.
How much
A pea-sized amount for the whole face. It is rich enough to be your night moisturizer, so nothing goes over it.
Careful
There is glycolic acid in here as well as retinol, so no other acid or scrub the same night. Start two nights a week, adding a night every two weeks. Sunscreen every morning, and keep the cream off the eyelids.
Watch out
Close the jar and keep it out of the light. Air and daylight break retinol down.
What to expect
Dryness, tightness and light peeling for two to four weeks, then it settles. Texture and tone improve at eight to twelve weeks; deeper lines take six months or more. Still red and stinging after a month means you are using it too often.
Price spectrum
Where does the price fall?
Paying more doesn’t guarantee better results. A good buy is a formula with the right ingredients, strength and texture for your skin. Use price per ounce to compare cost, then weigh it against the pros and cons above.
The product line
Which RoC product should you choose?
RoC’s range includes retinol creams, eye products and vitamin C formulas. These are different approaches, not a simple ladder from weak to strong. Check the active ingredient, whether its strength is disclosed, and whether the texture suits where you plan to use it.
Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream
RoC's biggest seller. A rich night cream for the whole face.
Retinol Max Hydration Cream
The same idea with more moisturizer built in, for skin that finds the original drying.
Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
The eye version, in a small tube, for thinner and more reactive skin.
10% Vitamin C Face Serum
No retinol. A morning product to sit alongside the night cream, not replace it.
More about the lineup
RoC's line is built around retinol, plus one morning product without it. What separates them is texture and where each one goes.
Alternatives
If it didn’t work for you
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream
Discloses retinol 0.11% and bakuchiol 0.30%, fragrance-free, about $10. No second exfoliating acid on top.
Read the review →
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Regenerating Cream
Real retinol at an undisclosed strength and a similar price, but a fragrance-free version exists and there is no glycolic acid.
Read the review →RoC Retinol Max Hydration Cream
The same undisclosed retinol from the same line, in a richer base with no glycolic acid. Also a screw-top jar.
Read the review →Questions
Before you buy
How strong is RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream?
RoC does not disclose it.
Is RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream fragrance-free?
No.
Does RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream contain acids?
Yes. Glycolic acid, which adds irritation alongside retinol.
Is the jar a downside for RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream?
Yes. Air and light degrade retinol, and a jar exposes it every use.
Why is RoC Retinol Correxion Deep Wrinkle Night Cream so popular?
Cheap, widely available, and real retinol.
Sources
Sources and further reading
- Spectral and mass characterization of kinetic conversion from retinoids to retinoic acid in an in vitro 3-D human skin equivalent model
- Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing
- One-year Topical Stabilized Retinol Treatment Improves Photodamaged Skin in a Double-blind, Vehicle-controlled Trial
- Cosmeceuticals: the Evidence Behind the Retinoids
Keep exploring
Keep exploring.
RoC Retinol Max Hydration Cream
Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Retinol Regenerating Cream
Melasma
Rosacea
Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream
Acne
Vitamin C
Bakuchiol
Retinol
Glycerin
Glycolic Acid
