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Geek & Gorgeous

A-Game 20.

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20

About this product

A high-strength retinol serum designed to deliver anti-aging benefits with minimal irritation through advanced stabilization technology.

Best for

Mature skin

The Guru Index verdict

77%

Approved

Approved · 77%
3Reviewers
2Approved
1Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

Creators overwhelmingly praise this as a powerhouse retinol that punches above its price point, delivering visible line-minimizing results while remaining well-tolerated. The consensus is that it matches prescription-strength efficacy at a fraction of the cost and outperforms comparable products like The Ordinary's retinol emulsion. One reviewer flagged a regulatory concern about retinol concentration, but this dissent did not shift the broader enthusiasm.
Synthesized from 3 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

RetinoidVitamin EFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Erucate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Panthenol, Ectoin, Cellulose, Allantoin, Retinal, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/​Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"This is the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 20. This is a super high potency retinol available over the counter that really fills in those gaps when I'm not using my prescription strength option. This means I'm using a retinoid every day. I'm just alternating the one that I use in order to deliver the best results. And I think this retinoid cycling, which is what I'm going to call this, I think is the way forward, which could benefit a lot of people."
All 19 takes from Mad About Skin
THE PERFECT RETINOID - 2X Better Than Tretinoin
"This is the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 20. This is a super high potency retinol available over the counter that really fills in those gaps when I'm not using my prescription strength option. This means I'm using a retinoid every day. I'm just alternating the one that I use in order to deliver the best results. And I think this retinoid cycling, which is what I'm going to call this, I think is the way forward, which could benefit a lot of people."
THE END FOR RETINOL - Anti Aging Just Levelled Up (Best Retinoid Serums)
"Retinol using all that technology to show retinol being the best in terms of deliverables, but also one of the most easily tolerated to minimize side effects and irritation. This was my go-to for years. And whilst I might have stepped it up recently to the super high strength options, if you want to keep it affordable, you're not worried about pushing that strength up and up, then this is still a market leader for a reason. I just think the Geek and Gorgeous gives a better value for money."
I STOPPED USING RETINOL - Heres Why (And What I Discovered)
"I'll use the A-Game 20 by Geek and Gorgeous which is a high strength retinol. I'll then use this as part of my routine, a couple of drops into my favorite body moisturizer head to foot on an evening and that for me just gives the very best coverage. I've noticed such a great difference by taking my retinoid all the way down. I've definitely noticed my body is smoother. I've got some firmness and elasticity back which is great, and some of the discoloration that I got particularly around like the elbows and stuff is so much better than it was."
RETINOL GETS BANNED - 5 Better Retinol Alternatives
"This is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20, which is the step up from the 10. It's the same strength as The Ordinary Retinal Emulsion 0.2%, so both of these offer sky-high anti-aging. The two of them are fantastic. If you're shopping within the European Union where a lot of these restrictions are happening, go for Geek & Gorgeous because it ships from within the EU, so it'll be a lot cheaper for you and easier to get your hands on."
Exclusive: NEW HIGH STRENGTH RETINAL - Up To 11x More Anti Aging
"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 was slightly less sensitizing and drying than the Ordinary. I think Geek & Gorgeous has a winner on their hands with this A-Game 20. I loved both and honestly both would make a wonderful addition to an advanced anti-aging skincare routine, but I think Geek & Gorgeous has pipped the Ordinary to the post with a slightly better formulation with the use of retinol. I love the fact that it's more cost effective with double the amount of product without having to pay a whole lot more, definitely easier on mileage in terms of shipping miles and better for the environment. This is the one I'm going to be taking forward into my skincare routine, pairing it with the Madout Skin One for the neck and eye area and this one for the rest of the face to get the maximum anti-aging available over the counter. That's key for me: easy to access and yet super high potency results."
IS IT OVER FOR TRETINOIN - Why Everyone Is Stopping Tretinoin
"This is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20, an absolute Holy Grail. I use this five times a week and my tretinoin two times a week, and that for me is perfection. A lot of people are switching from prescription strength tretinoin to something that still packs a punch but is available over the counter. One reason people are moving away from tretinoin is its incompatibility with other skincare ingredients. When it comes to getting the best outcomes from your skincare routine, you need multiple different active ingredients. If you use tretinoin because it's so high potency, you can't use a lot of things alongside it, such as vitamin C, exfoliating acids, or retinoids, which really does limit what else you can use alongside it. Some people feel restricted and say yes, I might be getting gold standard anti-aging, but I'm missing out on my vitamin C, which can help increase luminosity and fade hyperpigmentation, and I can't use some of the other ingredients I'm really keen to try."
RETINAL - What The New Retinal Ban Means ( The Future Of Anti Aging )
"This is the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 20. This is actually four times the now legal allowed limit of retinol in one product. So, expect to see things like the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 20 and the super popular The Ordinary retinol emulsion phased from sale over the next couple of months and years in the Canadian market."
Move Over Retinol - TOP 5 ANTI AGING SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
"This is the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 20. This is a retinol in the highest strength that you can get over the counter. So I would say this is the closest you're going to get to a prescription strength retinoid without needing the prescription. When it comes to increasing collagen and elastin production, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, and just smoothing everything out, a retinoid is an absolute must. This Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 20 is absolutely phenomenal."
SKINCARE AWARDS - Worlds Best Serums 2025
"I absolutely adore this product. It's a super high strength retinol, one of the absolute strongest you can get over the counter and it's stunning, beautifully affordable. Geek and Gorgeous every time. The reason for that is you get more product. This is 30 ml as opposed to The Ordinary, which is 15 ml. So it's more cost effective. It's got a formulation which just soaks the skin in hydration. So you won't get any dryness, any irritation from this, even though it is a super high potency retinoid that I love. This is 10 out of 10, which is why Geek and Gorgeous are the retinoid of choice in my view in 2025."
Best CASTOR OIL SKINCARE ROUTINE - Perfect Anti Aging Routine 2025
"This is the A-Game 20, their highest strength, and that works so well for me because I'm used to retinoids. If you're new, start lower, work your way up. But again, you can use this with the vitamin C derivative in that serum. You can use this with copper peptides because they're encapsulated. It's just wonderful. My skin doesn't look heavy. It doesn't look greasy, and it doesn't feel sticky or tacky. It just feels slightly plump, bit hydrated. I know that I'm going to be able to sleep on this, and I wake up with like a guaranteed good skin day, which is what really matters."
REDUCE WRINKLES FAST - Ultimate Evening Skincare Routine 2024
"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 is a super high potency retinoid, not for beginners, for advanced retinoid users that gives you the best over-the-counter anti-aging ever. The pump on this is gorgeous and dispenses just the right amount, so none of that wondering what a pea size amount is. One pump is all you need and you can apply this around the face or just spread it. This is really spreadable and lovely on the skin, and if you're an established retinoid user like I am, you shouldn't get too much sensitivity."
THE ORDINARY ARE IN CRISIS - What You Need To Know (And Best Dupes)
"It's their A-Game 20 which is the same strength as the ordinary retinol emulsion. So if you're looking for a like for like alternative to that then go for the A-Game 20."
Ultimate ANTI AGING SERUMS 2025 - Firmer Skin / Fewer Wrinkles FAST
"This is the highest potency retinol you can get over the counter. It delivers so many amazing line minimizing results, but it really doesn't sensitize the skin too much. I think that's because of the quality formulation. It's got a lot of hydrators and humectants in here. It really nourishes the skin at the same time as delivering that potent dose of retinol. It comes in three different strengths. The 20 is the highest strength, which I think is where we should all aim to get to if our skin permits. That's where you get the best results. But they also have a 10 and then a 5. If you're a regular retinoid user, it's probably fine to go straight in with the 20 because your skin will be accustomed to retinoids. If you're new, start with one of the lower doses and work your way up. I love the fact there's three different strengths, something for everyone, and the price point is divine. This little gem beats all of those bougie retinols down. My absolute favorite, and it's the one that I use every single evening in my skincare routine."
Ultimate ANTI AGING SERUMS 2025 - Firmer Skin / Fewer Wrinkles FAST
"My first recommendation in this top 10 serums goes to the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20. This is a relative newcomer to the skincare world. I think it launched about 12 months ago and it's already sold out multiple times. It's that good. And this is the highest potency retinol you can get over the counter. It delivers so many amazing line minimizing results, but it really doesn't sensitize the skin too much. I think that's because of the quality formulation. It's got a lot of hydrators and humectants in here. It really nourishes the skin at the same time as delivering that potent dose of retinol. It comes in three different strengths. The 20 is the highest strength, which I think is where we should all aim to get to if our skin permits. That's where you get the best results. But they also have a 10 and then a 5. If you're a regular retinoid user, it's probably fine to go straight in with the 20 because your skin will be accustomed to retinoids. If you're new, start with one of the lower doses and work your way up. I love the fact there's three different strengths, something for everyone, and the price point is divine. This little gem beats all of those bougie retinols down. My absolute favorite, and it's the one that I use every single evening in my skincare routine."
Ultimate ANTI AGING SERUMS 2025 - Firmer Skin / Fewer Wrinkles FAST
"I love the fact there's three different strengths, something for everyone, and the price point is divine. This little gem beats all of those bougie retinoids hands down. My absolute favorite and it's the one that I use every single evening in my skincare routine. Personally, I prefer Geek and Gorgeous because you get double the amount of product, so it's a much more cost effective option. Both are phenomenal and I think the best over-the-counter retinoids you're going to find."
WORLDS STRONGEST RETINAL - This Really Is The End Of Retinol
"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 is still super potent, but at a fraction of the cost. It's something in the region of £14. So really inexpensive, budget friendly. If you use these in the long term, you're going to get similar outcomes. I also found with this one, I couldn't use it under the eye and I couldn't use it on my neck. These are my two most sensitive areas. It was just a no-go. You could use a lower strength like go for one of the lower strength Geek & Gorgeous options on those areas where you are more sensitive. That's also a cost effective way of doing it."
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"Start with the lowest strength, work your way up. For me, I would use the highest strength on my face. I then use the lowest strength on my neck, which is more sensitive. That way, I can get the best outcomes all over. Geek & Gorgeous really know how to do formulating, and they created one of the best retinoid products available over the counter. I absolutely love it."
5* ADVANCED ANTI AGING - Best Growth Factor Pairings (Better Than Botox)
"This is the one by Geek & Gorgeous, A-Game 20, which is one of the most potent you can get over the counter. You can use this with your growth factors and I think it kind of makes sense to do so because retinoids boost collagen and elastin, so do growth factors. Using them together you're just doubling down on the benefits that you're going to see. Also, retinoids can be a little harsh on the skin, they can be sensitizing, they can disrupt the barrier function. So if you're using a growth factor which boosts the barrier function of the skin, it can offset some of the side effects that you might get from your retinoid. For me that's win-win."
Strongest Anti Aging Serum - 2025 RETINOL SHOWDOWN ( Best Retinal Serum )
"Geek and Gorgeous do their A-Game 20, which is a sky high concentration of retinol at a super affordable price point. Not for beginners, but for people that are established retinol users, this is a really inexpensive way to get that high dose."
Approved
"I still love it. It's still really affordable and what I like is there's three versions. This is the A-Game 20 and it goes all the way down to the A-Game 5 which would be the weakest and the 20 would be the strongest. This is a serum that contains retinol ester, which is a little bit stronger than retinol, and it's got 2% retinol ester. It's also got ectoine, which is another one you're going to see in a lot of these products. Ectoine has become very popular especially in the last year or so. It's a great ingredient. It works great with other actives. It plays well with all these other ingredients. Ectoine plays well with vitamin C, retinols, exfoliants, everything. And it's a great protecting and antioxidant and soothing ingredient. This has also got allantoin for soothing, panthenol, and vitamin E. If you're newer to retinoids, the 5 is the weakest. That's what I would start with if you're new to retinoids or have sensitive skin. And if you are experienced with retinol, the A-Game 20 is where I would recommend. Really nice texture to it. It's a really nice serum. No fragrance in it. Really nice soothing supporting ingredients."
All 12 takes from No BS Beauty
Evening Anti-Aging Skincare Routine - Dry, Sensitive Skin with Hyperpigmentation - Fragrance Free
"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 is my retinoid product. It's fluorescent yellow. I typically like to go through actives, so one night I'll use my retinol, one night I'll use my exfoliant, and one night I'll use my salicylic acid. I kind of rotate them through."
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"Very affordable, fragrance-free winner. We love Geek and Gorgeous, as you can tell. They've got a great brand."
The Best Retinol Products This Year So Far - My Favorite Retinoids for Anti-Aging & Acne
"I still love it. It's still really affordable and what I like is there's three versions. This is the A-Game 20 and it goes all the way down to the A-Game 5 which would be the weakest and the 20 would be the strongest. This is a serum that contains retinol ester, which is a little bit stronger than retinol, and it's got 2% retinol ester. It's also got ectoine, which is another one you're going to see in a lot of these products. Ectoine has become very popular especially in the last year or so. It's a great ingredient. It works great with other actives. It plays well with all these other ingredients. Ectoine plays well with vitamin C, retinols, exfoliants, everything. And it's a great protecting and antioxidant and soothing ingredient. This has also got allantoin for soothing, panthenol, and vitamin E. If you're newer to retinoids, the 5 is the weakest. That's what I would start with if you're new to retinoids or have sensitive skin. And if you are experienced with retinol, the A-Game 20 is where I would recommend. Really nice texture to it. It's a really nice serum. No fragrance in it. Really nice soothing supporting ingredients."
Best Anti-Aging Products For Everyone Over 30 🙌 What You Should Be Using to Stay Youthful
"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 is the strongest version of their A-Game line and uses 20% retinal. Retinal is stronger than retinol, right up there underneath tretinoin. It's stronger than retinol and much stronger than all of those retinol derivatives like HPR."
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"I like the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 and I partial that the Ordinary Retinol Emulsion that's great too. If you have to pick one, the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game. If you're new to retinoids, start with the five and work your way up, but they're all great, you can't go wrong with them."
Skincare News, Sunscreen News, Retinal Discussion - Livestream 2-1-25
"This one contains 2% retinal. It also contains ectoin, alantin, and paniol for soothing your skin. It's cruelty-free and vegan. This stuff is really wonderful and pretty affordable."
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"Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 has a little bit higher amount of retinal in it, which is really nice."
Strongest Retinal Serums - The Best Retinoids & Retinols For Anti-Aging, Wrinkles, & Flawless Skin
"This one contains 2% retinaldehyde, it also contains ectoin, alantin, and panthenol for soothing your skin. It's cruelty-free and vegan. This stuff is really wonderful and pretty affordable."
Geek & Gorgeous Top Picks 🙌🤗😍 Effective, Affordable, Science Based Skincare Favorites
"A-Game 20 is their holy grail. I absolutely love this stuff. It's got 0.5% retinol. No scent or anything like that. It's pretty affordable. If you compare it with The Ordinary retinol, it actually becomes a little bit more affordable because The Ordinary comes in half the size. It's also got ectoine in there for soothing. Their retinoids are outstanding, so they're active and wonderful from them."
Retinoid Versus 🆚 Geek & Gorgeous A Game 20 VS The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
"After using this the next morning my skin looks amazing. It feels clear, plump, feels nice and smooth. After a couple months of use, nightly wrinkles and fine lines appear less noticeable. Tone, skin tone is improved. No issues with dryness or flakiness. Very clear benefits after using it for a couple months. I do really notice them. I do prefer the Geek and Gorgeous in terms of the performance. I just noticed a little bit more benefits with the Geek and Gorgeous."
Retinoid Versus 🆚 Geek & Gorgeous A Game 20 VS The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
"I noticed more benefits with the Geek and Gorgeous in terms of fine lines and wrinkles. The morning after I apply this one, my skin looks smooth, a little bit smoother, and skin tones improved. I didn't have issues with dryness or flakiness, which was nice. I wonder if the squalane in here is such a powerhouse additional beneficial ingredient that it really helps with the extra fine lines and wrinkles. In terms of performance, I was just a little bit more impressed with it. I gave Geek and Gorgeous nine points out of 10."
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"The Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 20 is their strongest retinoid product on the market. It contains retinol, ectoine, retinol, firm, and even vitamin E and panthenol for soothing. It's really nice."
~Mixed
"It's a stronger formulation that they've just launched. It has encapsulated retinal, which is retinaldehyde, which is the strongest you can get without prescription. It has 11 antioxidants and brighteners, ceramide and Omega complexes, and so much more. I love it. It costs about €48. And on the affordable side is what looks to be another home run by Geek & Gorgeous, it's called A-Game 20. Now they have a few different strengths, they have A-Game 5 and A-Game 10, I think, and this is their Mac Daddy. It is a 2% retinol which also includes ectoin and it costs less than €25. Very interesting. Now I haven't tried it myself."
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