A-Game 5.

Retinoids

About this product

A fragrance-free retinol serum with 0.5% retinol and moisturizing ingredients, designed as an entry-level retinoid for those new to the active.

Best for

Sensitive skin Mature skin

Type

RetinoidsDrops & dropper

Key actives

RetinoidVitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Oleyl Erucate, Glycerin, Triheptanoin, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cyclodextrin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Allantoin, Retinal, Rubus Chamaemorus (Cloudberry) Seed Oil, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

Guru Score

85%

Approved

4 experts · Moderate agreement

4Gurus

4Approved

0Mixed

0Skip

What the gurus are saying

This serum's 0.5% retinol concentration sits at the gentler end of the range, making it the natural starting point for anyone picking up a retinoid for the first time. What sets it apart is the wraparound formulation: gurus found it packed with hydrating humectants, peptides, and soothing components like ectoine that soften the irritation retinol typically brings, so the active can work without the usual dryness or sensitivity. It is affordable even compared to The Ordinary. Start slowly at night, and the sandwich method works best: apply a thick moisturizer first, then the serum, then another moisturizer or sleeping mask on top to buffer it.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take January 2026

Where to buy

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How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

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.

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Beyond50Skin

31k subs

✓Approved

"Geek and Gorgeous their A-Game 5 has a meaningful amount of retinol retinaldehyde. It also is fragrance-free super popular with educated skincare users."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Approved

"If you are newer to retinoids, their A-Game 5 is the place to start. Then you can go up to 10 and then work your way up to 20. It's a great retinoid serum. It uses retinol which is a little bit stronger and you can certainly ease your way into it starting with A-Game 5. I love them. Fragrance-free, really easy to add into your routine, sandwich it between two moisturizers, you're good to go. And it's wonderful for anti-aging as well as if you get acne or things like that."

All 3 takes from No BS Beauty

Strongest Retinal Serums - The Best Retinoids & Retinols For Anti-Aging, Wrinkles, & Flawless Skin

"Geek & Gorgeous has the A-Game 10 and the A-Game 5 which are both more gentle. It also contains other peptides in there which are nice for anti-aging and I like the packaging, it's a little bit more travel friendly. Always be very cautious starting it, start it slow in your routine, use it with moisturizers. The sandwich method is a great one: in your evening routine you apply a thick moisturizer, then you apply your retinoid, and then apply a thicker sleeping mask or a thicker moisturizer over it to prevent dryness. Start out slow, or if you're newer to retinoids, mixing one of these with a little bit of moisturizer is not a bad way to start."

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"If you're new to retinoids, you can start out with their A-Game 5. It's got 0.5% retinol. This is a great one to start up with. Start using it at night. Use a good moisturizer along with it after it before it. Sandwich it in between two moisturizers. 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."

Mad About Skin

723k subs

✓Approved

"This is the Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5. They do three strengths: the A-Game 5, the A-Game 10, and the A-Game 20. Start with the 5 and work your way up. All of them are packed full of moisturizing ingredients, humectants, and calming and soothing components. You're getting a high dose of retinol, which is one of my personal favorite retinoid forms, but with far less risk of side effects and irritation because of a quality formulation. You don't need to break the bank to get that hydration because in here you've got all that hydration, that beautiful dose of retinol, and these are really, really inexpensive. Geek & Gorgeous is one of my favorite drugstore skincare brands. This is a good example of not just packing a product full of a retinoid, but also thinking about that wraparound formulation and how you can improve user experience. I love this and it's been my go-to for years."

Doctor Anne

55k subs

✓Approved

"They have an A-Game 5, which is a 0.05% retinaldehyde serum. I really enjoy their 0.05% and 0.1% formulas, I often recommend them to friends and family."

Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5?

A fragrance-free retinol serum with 0.5% retinol and moisturizing ingredients, designed as an entry-level retinoid for those new to the active.

Is Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5 worth it?

Yes. All 4 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 85%.

What is Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5's Guru Score?

Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 5 holds a Guru Score of 85%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 independent expert reviewers we have collected.