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

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

Hard to tell if it's working. I have seen a freshening in my complexion. Some slight sensitivity on areas so it has a kick to it. The oily substance it's paired with just sits on the skin very greesy.

This stuff is great! I have old, sun-abused skin on arms, and some hematoma damage to skin on my lower legs (I had a bad cut, and after getting it stiched up, we didnt apply enough pressure to keep it from bleeding under the skin, so my calves swelled up like Popeye's forearms. That left the skin pretty badly stretched and its still painful when I brush up against something). So arms first: Wow, this is really effective, and quickly. I use 5 drops spread out along each arm, and them quickly rub it over the area I want to cover. Quickly cuz it absorbs and starts to dry pretty quickly, like 30 seconds. I've been using Gold Bond, medicated, for couple years, and that helps some on smoothing out the skin for a while. But this stuff is great. It says to keep it out of daylight (makes skin sun-sensitive), so I put it on at night, and the next morning, nice smooth arms! On the stretched, painful skin on legs, this seems to be helping make them less sensitive, and look better. Retinol is said to repair skin by accelerating cell turnover and boosting collagen, and it seems to be doing that. And bonus, I get weeks of usage from a bottle (only apply drops at a time), and it lasts waaaay longer than other retinol brands and types that dont last very long, and dont apply as evenly and easily as this. I've included a before and after pic for how effective it is. And yes, I would (and do) buy again. Better than anything else I've found.

I feel my skin different using this product, is kind of oily but feels very good in the skin. I don’t see any big change in my skin yet, but I still using. The bottle size is perfect for the price. Help with the fine lines and irritations. And the fragrance is soft. Am enjoying this brand.

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.

Ottimo prodotto , lo uso da mesi e si vede la pelle migliore

Good quality

This is a powerful serum. I always make sure to use a gentle cleanser first to prep my face, then apply this in the evening before bed. Because the consistency is like a bit like oil, it takes a little while to fully absorb into the skin. ​I wake up with noticeably more hydrated and plumper skin in the morning! There is no strong fragrance to worry about either. Just use with caution and remember to work your way up to this percentage if you're new to retinol, as it is a strong formula. Overall, a fantastic product if used correctly.

Thanks to the presence of squalane, one can start using 1% retinol directly on the face at night without experiencing dryness, as the moisturizing properties of squalane help prevent it. However, in my opinion, retinaldehyde—being closer to prescription-strength retinoids—can be more effective. It may cause dryness initially, but over time, the skin builds tolerance, and the results are often better. That said, retinol is still a great option when used consistently over a longer period.

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