The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, High-Strength Retinol Serum for Anti-Aging and Skin Smoothing

It's less than $10, after 5½ weeks, I have 70% of the bottle left and it’s WORKING. Keep reading for my experience❣️ •photo is my "after" 5 full weeks• I couldn't find any "before" pics without makeup or sunglasses, and doesn't that just say it all ♡ I have sensitive skin, combination skin. Like many, I've tried so many products being in my late 30s. I struggle with hormonal acne, which makes skin care hard. Plus, forehead & neck wrinkles, etc. This product has clearly listed ingredients, vegan, no animal testing. Note: This particular product is 1% retinol squalane & is not necessarily for beginners. If you burn or get dry skin easily, maybe start with a lower concentration, but me being me, I wanted results and went all in. I was not disappointed! And I didn’t notice any particular smell, which I appreciate. Pro Tip: Keep in the fridge! Feels amazing and recommended on the box to extend potency. My Trial and Error! •Week 1: I skipped the recommended test patch & I started at 4 nights a week. Maybe a little ambitious😅 My skin broke out with whitehead acne in not my typical zones, a bit oily, not looking like my typical zits. Ifykyk. Week 2: Did a little research, the retinol strength and quality literally pushed all dead skin, imperfections, embedded dirt/environmental junk to the surface as my skin regrowth sped up. This was causing those whiteheads as impurities purged. This is normal for retinol products (according to multiple sources.) So I slowed down a bit to twice weekly. I still lightly broke out with a few pimples, but it was gone in a day or 2. Meanwhile, I’m already noticing fine lines improving, a better glow and overall my skin doesn’t look so flat/dull. Hydration— I’d say A for combo skin. Maybe use a little less for oily skin or check out The Ordinary website for routine-building options. Week 3: I’m in the zone integrating into my skin care routine. Personally, I use this product at night after cleanser and alcohol-free toner (not The Ordinary brand, but products that work for me and I trust). I use less than one dropper for my whole face and neck. The serum needs to be totally dry and absorbed. then finish with moisturizer. Halfway through Week 3 I add an extra night. Week 4: I’m at 3 nights a week. Occasional whiteheads. *To be clear! my hormonal acne didn’t change at all, there’s a difference. Retinol doesn't target acne so i didn't expect any change there* Noticeably reduced fine wrinkles on my forehead, my skin tone seems more even, my face looks less flat and more healthy. Some of my self-loathed deep lines look better. Best of all, I FEEL better. Up to 4 nights a week. Week 5: Personal life was rough, routine not as consistent but skin still looks good. Not like one of those creams where you miss a day and you’re back to ground zero. I did 2 days that week. Week 6: I’m actively building a better skin care nightly routine using The Ordinary, but still keeping a few other brand products I love. My 17-year-old son actaully NOTICED, and my favorite barista told me I had a “glow.” 🫶🏽 I can’t wait to try the Niacinamide serum next! **hit the thumbs up if this review helped you please!**

I'm in my late 20s and noticed I needed to update my face routine for my maturing skin. I read that retinol increases cell turnover and vitamin A is overall good for fine lines and collagen production. I love the toner I use from The Ordinary so decided to start here (another customer's review sold me because her skin in her photo looked AMAZING). I started with just a few drops each night before bed. It is very greasy feeling but I honestly liked that about it because it was easy to distribute around my face. I follow that with a good moisturizer (I started using Aquaphor at night.. I think 22 year-old me would cringe at how absolutely slathered I get). My face IMMEDIATELY looked bright and healthy, like I swear I felt and saw results immediately. The next day, it was still tight and bright looking, clear and SOOO soft. I got this about three months ago and I'm just over halfway through the bottle, using it every night. I just feel cleaner and prettier and more confident when my skin appears to be GLOWING like this! There is a slight fragrance that I only notice sometimes. It's not particularly pleasant but also not really bothersome, hard to describe, but always fades once it's absorbed into your skin. Everyone's skin is different but I have quite sensitive skin and luckily experienced ZERO irritation, ZERO breakouts. The results were right away and lasting. I am so happy with this product and it has definitely earned a permanent spot in my face care routine.

I’ve been using this retinol a few evenings a week, and it’s one of the stronger over-the-counter retinol products I’ve tried. The 1% concentration is no joke, so I started slowly and always followed with a good moisturizer. The squalane base makes it feel silky and helps reduce some of the dryness, although I still noticed a little peeling during the first couple of weeks. The glass bottle and dropper feel sturdy, and everything arrived well packaged and sealed, just as shown in the photos. The serum itself is a lightweight oil that spreads easily—a few drops cover my entire face. After several days of consistent use, my skin already felt smoother, and my overall texture looked more refined. The only downside is the oily finish, which takes a little time to absorb, and beginners may find the strength too much if they don’t ease into it. Overall, I think it’s an excellent value for an effective high-strength retinol

I’ve been really happy with The Ordinary retinoid! I like that it’s a simple addition to my skincare routine and doesn’t require a bunch of complicated steps. The product goes on smoothly and is easy to incorporate into my nighttime routine. After using it consistently, my skin feels smoother and looks more refreshed. I especially like how my skin texture has improved and looks more even overall. It’s a nice product to have when you’re trying to maintain a simple skincare routine while adding a retinoid-based product. The packaging is also simple and practical, which is something I appreciate about The Ordinary products. A little product goes a long way, so the bottle lasts a while when used as directed. Overall, I’m pleased with this retinoid and feel like it’s a great option for someone looking for an affordable skincare product to add to their routine. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in trying a retinoid, especially if they want something simple and reasonably priced.

I feel like this retinol really works and has made my pores smaller and wrinkles less defined. This is the first retinol I have ever tried so I don’t have much to compare it to. My skin was never red or irritated from this product and I never had any rash or peeling. I used this retinol about twice a week in the evening. Also the price is much cheaper than other brands. Although I am happy with the results, I dislike the nutty smell that it has and would probably not buy again solely because of that. It was an oily texture but did not make me break out and still felt lightweight.

What a surprise! I have strawberry skin on my arms around shoulders and any creams made looks better before but this one. It's like a first time in my life that my both arms feel so smooth and nice. No irritation at all and I put sunscreen so the new sensitive skin won't be damaged. I also use it on my face but I got a small reaction around my eyes which I avoid now. Of course it's got better in few days and my skin feels better. I only put around my forehead, nose and cheeks and never forget to put sunscreen next day. this one is strong so if you have a sensitive skin then you should get 0.5% first. My face feels much smoother and brighter with this price?! I can't live with this one now lol

I've always heard of "anti-aging" skincare. After buying some budget friendly products with this claim, I believed only the crazy expensive stuff would actually work as advertised. Then I bought this. The Ordinary retinol 1% in squalane has been an absolute game changer for my oily, acne prone skin. It's always rough and dull, and the pores around my T-zone are always huge. This product has made my skin very smooth and I notice my pores are a little smaller. WARNING: Do NOT use on skin around the eyes. No matter how I tried to ease my way to applying in that area, the skin always ended up very dry and even burned. It took a whole week for the burn to go away, and applying anything on that area stung like crazy. You would be better off buying a retinol product specifically for the eye area. Also, remember to store in the fridge. As long as I waited for the product to absorb before applying moisturizer, my skin did not get greasy. I also do not notice any fragrance. I 100% recommend this product, but PLEASE do your research on retinol before using it, or you will do more harm than good to your skin. I definitely learned the hard way.

Retinol is very important for skin routine and recommended by my dermatologist. However some products cost so much and this works and price is affordable and effective. I use it everyday. Definitely recommend this product as part of your skin care routine. It is does not have a fragrance or residue.

Un poco grasoso, pero aun así un producto muy bueno. Mi piel luce increíble cuando me despierto por la mañana.

Efficace. Ma ride du lion est moin prononcé. Attention ça peut irriter la peau. Ce renseigner sur l'utilisation

Good quality

The oil does the job. My skin looks more radiant when I apply the oil every evening.

Really good. It improves the skin by a lot, it even helped make my skin less dry. I stopped now in the summer cause going out more i needed to be more careful of wearing sunscreen, but during the winter its a no brainer. Super value for the price, just look at some tutorials for how to apply. I did have a small breakout period, but nothing crazy