The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, High-Strength Retinol Serum for Anti-Aging and Skin Smoothing

It's less than $10, after 5½ weeks, I have 70% of the bottle left and it’s WORKING. Keep reading for my experience❣️ •photo is my "after" 5 full weeks• I couldn't find any "before" pics without makeup or sunglasses, and doesn't that just say it all ♡I have sensitive skin, combination skin. Like many, I've tried so many products being in my late 30s. I struggle with hormonal acne, which makes skin care hard. Plus, forehead & neck wrinkles, etc. This product has clearly listed ingredients, vegan, no animal testing. Note: This particular product is 1% retinol squalane & is not necessarily for beginners. If you burn or get dry skin easily, maybe start with a lower concentration, but me being me, I wanted results and went all in. I was not disappointed! And I didn’t notice any particular smell, which I appreciate.Pro Tip: Keep in the fridge! Feels amazing and recommended on the box to extend potency.My Trial and Error!•Week 1: I skipped the recommended test patch & I started at 4 nights a week. Maybe a little ambitious😅 My skin broke out with whitehead acne in not my typical zones, a bit oily, not looking like my typical zits. Ifykyk.Week 2: Did a little research, the retinol strength and quality literally pushed all dead skin, imperfections, embedded dirt/environmental junk to the surface as my skin regrowth sped up. This was causing those whiteheads as impurities purged. This is normal for retinol products (according to multiple sources.) So I slowed down a bit to twice weekly. I still lightly broke out with a few pimples, but it was gone in a day or 2. Meanwhile, I’m already noticing fine lines improving, a better glow and overall my skin doesn’t look so flat/dull. Hydration— I’d say A for combo skin. Maybe use a little less for oily skin or check out The Ordinary website for routine-building options.Week 3: I’m in the zone integrating into my skin care routine. Personally, I use this product at night after cleanser and alcohol-free toner (not The Ordinary brand, but products that work for me and I trust). I use less than one dropper for my whole face and neck. The serum needs to be totally dry and absorbed. then finish with moisturizer. Halfway through Week 3 I add an extra night.Week 4: I’m at 3 nights a week. Occasional whiteheads. *To be clear! my hormonal acne didn’t change at all, there’s a difference. Retinol doesn't target acne so i didn't expect any change there* Noticeably reduced fine wrinkles on my forehead, my skin tone seems more even, my face looks less flat and more healthy. Some of my self-loathed deep lines look better. Best of all, I FEEL better. Up to 4 nights a week.Week 5: Personal life was rough, routine not as consistent but skin still looks good. Not like one of those creams where you miss a day and you’re back to ground zero. I did 2 days that week.Week 6: I’m actively building a better skin care nightly routine using The Ordinary, but still keeping a few other brand products I love. My 17-year-old son actaully NOTICED, and my favorite barista told me I had a “glow.” 🫶🏽I can’t wait to try the Niacinamide serum next! **hit the thumbs up if this review helped you please!**

I've used retinoids before, and this 1% Retinol in Squalane is definitely one of the strongest options from The Ordinary. The squalane base helps reduce dryness and leaves my skin feeling nourished while still delivering the benefits of retinol. With consistent use, my skin looks smoother, more even, and refreshed. If you're new to retinol, start with a lower strength first, but for experienced users looking for a stronger formula, this is an excellent option at a great price.✨ A little goes a long way, and don't forget sunscreen during the day! 🌞💕

I recently purchased this basically as a step above the good molecules beginner retinol and a step below prescription retinoids.The squaline give my skin a gorgeous glow and hydrates so well. It’s a thin oil feel so it was hard to apply at first since a little goes a long way but once you know what your skin needs it’s easy to apply.It’s effective. The first week I could tell it was casing purging. I’m excited to see what’s to come. I already see a huge difference in pores.The bottle is full so it’s certainly going to last a long time. Especially since I only use it every other day.

What a surprise! I have strawberry skin on my arms around shoulders and any creams made looks better before but this one. It's like a first time in my life that my both arms feel so smooth and nice. No irritation at all and I put sunscreen so the new sensitive skin won't be damaged. I also use it on my face but I got a small reaction around my eyes which I avoid now. Of course it's got better in few days and my skin feels better. I only put around my forehead, nose and cheeks and never forget to put sunscreen next day. this one is strong so if you have a sensitive skin then you should get 0.5% first.My face feels much smoother and brighter with this price?! I can't live with this one now lol

I feel like this retinol really works and has made my pores smaller and wrinkles less defined. This is the first retinol I have ever tried so I don’t have much to compare it to. My skin was never red or irritated from this product and I never had any rash or peeling. I used this retinol about twice a week in the evening. Also the price is much cheaper than other brands. Although I am happy with the results, I dislike the nutty smell that it has and would probably not buy again solely because of that. It was an oily texture but did not make me break out and still felt lightweight.

I've always heard of "anti-aging" skincare. After buying some budget friendly products with this claim, I believed only the crazy expensive stuff would actually work as advertised. Then I bought this.The Ordinary retinol 1% in squalane has been an absolute game changer for my oily, acne prone skin. It's always rough and dull, and the pores around my T-zone are always huge. This product has made my skin very smooth and I notice my pores are a little smaller.WARNING: Do NOT use on skin around the eyes. No matter how I tried to ease my way to applying in that area, the skin always ended up very dry and even burned. It took a whole week for the burn to go away, and applying anything on that area stung like crazy. You would be better off buying a retinol product specifically for the eye area. Also, remember to store in the fridge.As long as I waited for the product to absorb before applying moisturizer, my skin did not get greasy. I also do not notice any fragrance.I 100% recommend this product, but PLEASE do your research on retinol before using it, or you will do more harm than good to your skin. I definitely learned the hard way.

Comes in a small no-frills bottle. Goes on easily and has an oily feel while applying, so not much is needed each time. Product lasts a long time. Works better than some of the more expensive brands I've tried. My skin looks great and feels soft in the morning. Note: In very small letters it says that the product should be refrigerated.

I think the majority of the bad reviews are people either using it improperly or people that are not checking ingredients for things they are sensitive to. I've been using this for probably 3-4 years now and never had an issue. I'm 39, and over time it's smoothed the fine lines around my eyes and lips and makes my melisma less noticable during the summer when it's really bad. Retinol products are not an overnight fix. You have to be diligent. You are only supposed to use a few drops. It *is* oily, but you're not supposed to use retinol products during the day anyway. Use it at night, as directed. I've never noticed a smell with this product, andd I've repurchased many times (usually I buy from Sephora, though. Just happened to try Amazon this time and it's been the same quality).

Un poco grasoso, pero aun así un producto muy bueno. Mi piel luce increíble cuando me despierto por la mañana.

Ich benutze das The Ordinary Retinol 1% in jetzt schon eine Weile und bin insgesamt sehr zufrieden damit.Das Serum wirkt sehr hochwertig und hat bei mir sichtbar die Hautstruktur verbessert. Meine Haut fühlt sich glatter an und kleine Unreinheiten sowie feine Linien sind weniger geworden.Man sollte aber beachten, dass es relativ stark ist. Am Anfang kann es zu leichter Reizung oder Trockenheit kommen, deshalb sollte man es langsam in die Routine einbauen. Gerade in den Sonnenmonaten muss man besonders aufpassen, da Retinol die Haut empfindlicher gegenüber UV-Strahlen macht.

Love this serum! Best retinol I’ve found for the price. Been using for nearly a year and it’s made my face much more firm with line reduction. Absorbs well overnight and doesn’t have too much of a greasy feel.

Thanks to the presence of squalane, one can start using 1% retinol directly on the face at night without experiencing dryness, as the moisturizing properties of squalane help prevent it. However, in my opinion, retinaldehyde—being closer to prescription-strength retinoids—can be more effective. It may cause dryness initially, but over time, the skin builds tolerance, and the results are often better. That said, retinol is still a great option when used consistently over a longer period.

The oil does the job. My skin looks more radiant when I apply the oil every evening.