The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane: a Guru Score of 80%

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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✓Approved

"It's a decent retinoid. It's got a lot to like but it's pretty pricey, especially with the new packaging. Overall it'll be nice for most skin types I think could handle using this pretty easily even though it's newer to retinoids."

Dr. Somji Skin

358k subs

✓Approved

"Much later on, even after about 6, 7 even months, maybe just maybe once or even twice a week you can use the lowest strength retinol that Ordinary has because there's significant evidence showing that small amounts of retinol help thicken the skin and help with your barrier over time. If you introduce this retinol too soon then you could just reverse all of the effects that you've got because of a retinoid reaction and the fact that your skin is going to be a lot more sensitive, so I would really wait a number of months before introducing it very, very slowly."

All 3 takes from Dr. Somji Skin

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"Much later on, even after about 6, 7 even months, maybe just maybe once or even twice a week you can use the lowest strength retinol that Ordinary has because there's significant evidence showing that small amounts of retinol help thicken the skin and help with your barrier over time. If you introduce this retinol too soon then you could just reverse all of the effects that you've got because of a retinoid reaction and the fact that your skin is going to be a lot more sensitive, so I would really wait a number of months before introducing it very, very slowly."

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"This is a retinol in squalane, and squalane is an excellent emollient and in fact one of the best around. What that does is provide that nice barrier and it would also encourage hydration of the skin. So whilst you're exfoliating the skin with the retinol, you prevent the dehydration of the skin, which is a risk if you just use a retinol on its own. The Ordinary range of retinols is great because you've got two different concentrations, so you can standardize that range as you're using it and get up the range. It's not bad for a beginner if you're in the well, first signs of aging."

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"The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane is a very good starter retinol. It's a lot more lower in strength and it's for somebody with maybe sensitive skin, dehydrated skin, someone using Retinol for the first time. It's a water-free solution of 0.2% pure retinol. You've got squalene, you've got caprylic triglycerides, you've got jojoba seed oils and you've also got some fruit extract in here as well, so this is actually a nice formulation mainly because you've got retinol but then you've also got a few things to help with your skin barrier as well. So it's a great formulation for someone that's got a little bit sensitive skin and worried about some of the retinoid reactions that you can get."

Sincerely Miss Ash

195k subs

✓Approved

"I really do like the retinol from The Ordinary. I feel like it is very moisturizing although it does have that oil like texture it is quite lightweight on the skin. I never experienced peeling with this formulation either and I did find it quite gentle as well. So I always used the 1%, even the 1% I did find was quite gentle. But of course we are all different, you might experience irritation and some dryness which is common as your skin becomes more accustomed to it."

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.22M subs

✓Mixed

"Number two I love retinols in airless pumps. Don't forget retinol is an antioxidant, it oxidizes in oxygen and becomes ineffective. Whereas if it's in an airless pump, it's protected, there's no oxygen around it. Right now The Ordinary doesn't use airless pumps, everything is in pipets, and so that would be one negative mark I would put against their retinol. The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane is £7.40 versus Paula's Choice which is £59, so quite a bit more expensive. With Paula's Choice they put in 0.3% retinol which I love, they put in bakuchiol which is actually a very effective ingredient, it doesn't work the same way as Vitamin A but quite similar, and it's in an airless pump. So if I had to pick between The Ordinary and Paula's Choice, if you can afford it, I'd go with Paula's Choice."

Mad About Skin

723k subs

✓Approved

"I don't use it anymore because I switched to the Indeed Labs Synoxin, but this is still a great option. You apply it to your dynamic fine lines and wrinkles like the crow's feet, the elevenses, the laughter lines, and it over time it'll just lessen the appearance and depth of any of those wrinkles that you have. It gives an immediate plumping but long-term benefit too, and a study actually showed 17% reduction on average in the depth of wrinkles. That's really good for the price point. If you're on a budget, use this absolutely fine, nothing wrong with going for this."

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All 3 takes from Mad About Skin

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"I don't use it anymore because I switched to the Indeed Labs Synoxin, but this is still a great option. You apply it to your dynamic fine lines and wrinkles like the crow's feet, the elevenses, the laughter lines, and it over time it'll just lessen the appearance and depth of any of those wrinkles that you have. It gives an immediate plumping but long-term benefit too, and a study actually showed 17% reduction on average in the depth of wrinkles. That's really good for the price point. If you're on a budget, use this absolutely fine, nothing wrong with going for this."

Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane?

A lightweight retinol serum combining 0.2% pure retinol with squalane and other emollients, designed as a gentle entry-level option for those new to retinoids.

Is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane worth it?

Mostly yes. 4 of the 5 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 80%.

What is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane holds a Guru Score of 80%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 5 independent expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.