The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane, Intermediate Retinol Serum - 1.01 fl oz - Ulta Beauty

After a life changing injury 6 years ago, my skin changed from mildly oily to sensitive and dry. Prior to the 0.5% retinol in squalane I was using the AHA/BHA and it burned my skin 🥺. This one is perfect and my skin loves it.

I appreciate the price point of the Ordinary products, makes a beauty routine attainable. Personally I am not one that spends a lot of time waiting for layers of product to dry with multiple steps. I have a great lotion that I've used for years and I just add a couple drops of retinol with my lotion and apply to my face and neck before bed, so far so good.

This stuff really did work on my dark spots - I noticed an improved difference in 3-4 weeks. But I think the oil delivery was way too much for my sensitive skin and I broke out in cystic acne. I so wanted to like this product!

I absolutely LOVE The Ordinary!!! With these inexpensive products, you can put together a personalized skin care regimen that meets your exact needs without paying for a lot of ingredients you probably don't need and/or going through some expensive customization service. I combine The Ordinary with COSRX Snail Mucin products and a Mario Badescu toner for the best results. Granted, my regimen consists of about a dozen products, so I could save time by spending more money, but the results I've gotten from the regimen I've put together are undeniable! My skin looks firmer, healthier, and younger. I started with this Retinol Serum, but switched to the Retinoid Emulsion because this product is counter effective with the copper peptide serum and the Emulsion is not. I have seen better results with the Emulsion.

This retinol has already made a difference on my face and it's only been 2 weeks. It is smoothing out all the lines. Definitely would recommend.

On the first try already saw results! Works well overnight. Great for mature skin

I have tried other products that contain retinol but they really had no effect. For some reason, my skin likes the oil base of this product. I have t-zone oily skin and because of this large pores in those oily areas. When I regularly use this product my pores appear significantly smaller. I will admit that the oil base is a bit annoying however the workaround for me is to put it on long before I go to bed, allowing my skin to absorb a good portion of the product. When I am ready for bed I cover my face with a gentle moisturizing lotion. That seems to do the trick.

super affordable. Not greasy. Light weight, Works fast. Only for pm tho.

Does the job but I cannot get over the smell. Yikes

For experienced retinol users only. This product can be used as an under eye treatment at night. keep away from actual eyes. You are welcome.

This product made me brake out in hives and it felt like my face was on fire. Definitely not putting on ever again, but please put on a little bit at first just so you don't get the same reaction as I did or worse.

I have used this product for just over a month. This is exactly what I was looking for! It work and you can see the difference already.

I have been using "the ordinary" products for some time. I can tell the difference in my skin before I began using it. The retinol is great.

Likes: Clean ingredients. I have very sensitive, acne prone, dry skin. So this product looked pretty perfect Dislikes: Giant and painful neck zits. A place I really didn’t get acne before and within a week of starting this, I was getting painful zits on my neck. I tried switching my pillow case each night and still the product seemed to come off my face (did not apply on neck) and was causing these zits. I stopped using the retinol, I stopped breaking out.

I like most of The Ordinary products I've tried, but this is the best! I'm older, but have decent, fair but tough skin; it used to be oily, but now fighting dryness and fine lines. This stuff is helping everything. Seriously, I'd bathe in it if I could. Notice no smell at all. Favorite product of any I've used in years. I'm exposed to sun wthout trying, but it hasn't made my light skin more susceptible to burn, etc. Of course, I do NEARLY bathe in sunblock!

I love this product, since using it I have seen significant improvement in the overall coloring of my skin

I decided to try this out after i finished a tube of the good molecules retinol cream, i felt i was ready for a stronger %. It is not drying or irritating, but its super oily, and i already have oily skin. It also smells TERRIBLE. Omg its so bad i almost returned it right away, i thought maybe it expired or something. It didnt, its just how it smells. On top of all that, i havent noticed a difference in my skin at all. So sadly this product is just not for me, however it may work for you! Just hold your breath when you use it lol

Smells terrible and causes headaches and can’t sleep

For the last 2 weeks my routine has consisted of washing with micellar water, peach slices snail toner, this retinol product, the Ordinary's niacinamide serum, and Cera Ve daily moisturizer. My skin is smoother because of this product and the others. I'll still get bumps and more so during my period, but I think all of this is working to my skin looking great on a budget! Definitely would recommend.

This product isn't as potent as others but I think it's a good introduction to retinol to help you skin adjust without too many negative effects.