Index / The Ordinary / Retinoid
The Ordinary

Retinoid.

The Ordinary
Retinoid
Retinoids

About this product

A 1% retinoid in squalane base designed to address acne, wrinkles, pore size, and skin texture while minimizing irritation.

Best for

Acne-prone skinMature skin
Retinoids

The Guru Index verdict

78%

Approved

Approved · 78%
2Reviewers
2Approved
0Mixed
0Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus consistently praise this retinoid for delivering visible results (diminished wrinkles, smaller pores, and increased skin thickness) while remaining gentler than stronger formulations. The consensus is that it's effective for both acne and anti-aging concerns, with its lower concentration making it accessible for those doing multi-step routines. The product is also noted as a good entry point in a retinoid progression for building tolerance.
Synthesized from 2 expert reviews
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
"The Ordinary, which is a 1% in squalane, so it's not as irritating. Because I do a lot of different stuff to my skin and so I don't want the giant go bigger go home retinoid, this is such a great product. It's made for acne, but the wrinkles go away too. Pore size shrinks, exfoliation increases, and it increases the thickness of your skin much like microneedling. When you have thicker skin it's healthier, and remember with age our skin thins."
All 2 takes from Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
All of your pressing questions answered in today’s Instagram live show!
"The Ordinary, which is a 1% in squalane, so it's not as irritating. Because I do a lot of different stuff to my skin and so I don't want the giant go bigger go home retinoid, this is such a great product. It's made for acne, but the wrinkles go away too. Pore size shrinks, exfoliation increases, and it increases the thickness of your skin much like microneedling. When you have thicker skin it's healthier, and remember with age our skin thins."
All of your pressing questions answered in today’s Instagram live show!
"The Ordinary, which is a 1% in squalane, so it's not as irritating. Because I do a lot of different stuff to my skin and I don't want the giant go bigger go home retinoid, this is such a great product. It's made for acne, and the wrinkles go away too. Pore size shrinks, exfoliation increases, and it increases the thickness of your skin much like microneedling. When you have thicker skin it's healthier, especially as we age and our skin thins."
Approved
"The Ordinary Retinoid is one of the most important ingredients. Retinol works by increasing your skin cell turnover, and the faster your skin cell turnover increases, the faster your skin improves. You can use The Ordinary 5 Granective Retinoids, and when you're ready for it, you can move to a higher concentration. Managing the retinol concentration and bringing it to an optimal level is critical to treat your melasma."
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