Skin Rocks

Retinoid 2.

Retinoids

About this product

A 0.5% retinoid serum formulated with hydroxypinacolone retinoate and boosting ingredients, designed for experienced retinoid users or those with acne-prone and problem skin.

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water, Eau), Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bakuchiol, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinal, Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysilicone-11, Bidens Pilosa Extract, Hdi/Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Withania Somnifera Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract (Extrait D'Orge), Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Seed Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Polyisobutene, Bisabolol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Xanthan Gum

Guru Score

78%

Yay

3 experts · Moderate agreement

3Gurus

3Yay

0Mixed

0Nay

What they liked

Less irritating than retinol or retinal esters

What they flagged

Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

What the gurus are saying

Hydroxypinacolone retinoate at this strength delivers results closer to prescription retinoids but with less irritation than traditional retinol, making it worth trying for anyone who has struggled with retinoid tolerance before. The gurus who reviewed it recommend it most for experienced users or those managing breakouts and acne, though it may also work for people maintaining clear skin. If you have never tolerated other retinoids well, this one's gentler profile is worth patch-testing first.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take December 2025

Best for

Acne-prone skin

Type

RetinoidsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Vitamin C RetinoidVitamin ESqualane

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Amazon → Google →

Opens a search for this product. We do not sell anything ourselves.

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 Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Nadine Baggott

164k subs

✓Yay

"Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 is beautiful stuff. I've been on retinoid since 365 years ago so I'm not a starting person, but this is number two and it's a good product."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.72M subs

✓Yay

"Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 has 0.5 percent hydroxypinacolone retinoate, which makes for a stronger product. It automatically works within your cell but it is less irritating, so it is an interesting one to try if you've never been able to tolerate a retinol or a retinal ester. You may be able to tolerate this one."

All 2 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss

Top 5 Ingredients for Acne, Breakouts, Blackheads, Oily Skin! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

5 Golden Rules To Incorporate Retinol In Your Routine! | Dr. Shereene Idriss

"I have the Two, and this one is mixed with retinol, so it will definitely be more irritating than the Retinoid One. But they are interesting products to try, especially if you want to jump in, and from the readings of the reviews, people are not getting that much irritation from them, so they seem to be doing great for people who are scared to take the plunge and go stronger or who are ready to go a little bit more than a retinal but don't want a prescription yet."

Caroline Hirons

251k subs

✓Yay

"I only have one Retinoid 2 refill because I'm testing other things. My skin adapted and I needed something with a bit more kick. Our retinoid is fantastic. This is 0.05 of retinol HPR. It's a beautiful retinoid. I wanted the formula when we made this. I wanted the formula to be like using a moisturizer, not like using a sticky cloying retinoid that makes your pillows yellow and actually doesn't make you look a bit jaundiced. That's not what we do."

Founder's own brand

All 2 takes from Caroline Hirons

The Empties - Skincare Feb 2024

"I have a Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 which is my retinoid of choice. Retinoid 2 is 0.5% with boosters which makes it around 0.6%. We don't use any retinol in our retinoid product. Retinoid 2 is for you if you are a hardcore user or you want maintenance or you've got problem skin, breakouts, acne, you would use Retinoid 2."

Empties 2025 | Caroline Hirons

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Skin Rocks Retinoid 2?

A 0.5% retinoid serum formulated with hydroxypinacolone retinoate and boosting ingredients, designed for experienced retinoid users or those with acne-prone and problem skin.

Is Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 worth it?

Yes. All 3 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 78%.

What is Skin Rocks Retinoid 2's Guru Score?

Skin Rocks Retinoid 2 holds a Guru Score of 78%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.