The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane: a Guru Score of 58%

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 takes Critical takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

~Skip

"The Ordinary Retinol 0.5 in Squalane no longer exists. It was discontinued and was replaced by their Retinol Emulsion, which is now one of the brand's best sellers."

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.22M subs

~Skip

"The downside here is the packaging is not safe. It comes out the same, blends the same into the skin, however this is 0.5%, so this actually would now not be allowed in the UK and EU. 0.3% is going to be the max, so they are going to have to reformulate this product again. We just don't know how effective it is. So for me it's a no for skin of color."

Dr. Somji Skin

358k subs

~Approved

"You can probably afford to start with something maybe a little bit stronger like a 0.5 in squalane from The Ordinary. If it's just general anti-aging and a little bit more benefits of mild acne then you can use over the counter retinols. I think that's going to be quite nice. I wouldn't bother with any retinol esters and things like that because they're just too weak retinoids and they're not really going to change, especially doing skin cycling where you want something a little bit stronger because you're only going to be exposed to it for a short period of time."

All 2 takes from Dr. Somji Skin

Skin Cycling Secrets You Didn't Know | A Guide to Achieving Glowing Skin

"You can probably afford to start with something maybe a little bit stronger like a 0.5 in squalane from The Ordinary. If it's just general anti-aging and a little bit more benefits of mild acne then you can use over the counter retinols. I think that's going to be quite nice. I wouldn't bother with any retinol esters and things like that because they're just too weak retinoids and they're not really going to change, especially doing skin cycling where you want something a little bit stronger because you're only going to be exposed to it for a short period of time."

Which Ordinary Retinol Is Right For You? | 6 Types of Retinols | Dr. Somji Explains The Ordinary

"This can be a little bit more irritating than the 0.2%. If you've got oily skin, you might use the 0.5% rather than 0.2% because it won't irritate you as much. But if you've got irritated skin or a compromised skin barrier, repair that first and then start on 0.2%. If you've gone up the ladder, this is a great thing, but still be careful. Don't just start using this every day. Start using it alternately or even three days a week, and then week on week increase. If you've got very sensitive skin and want to start a higher strength retinol, use it once the first week, twice the second week, three times the third week, and so on. Eventually your skin will get used to it. If you get to a point where your skin doesn't get used to it, just stay using the retinol at three times a week. You still get benefit from it."

The Budget Dermatologist

719k subs

~Approved

"This is another 20% option so now we're in the 20% let me first say you don't have to have a 20% vitamin C serum to get benefits"

Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane?

A retinol treatment serum at 0.5% concentration suspended in squalane oil, designed to address signs of aging and support skin renewal.

Is The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane worth it?

The gurus are split. 2 of the 4 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 58%.

What is The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane holds a Guru Score of 58%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 independent expert reviewers we have collected.