The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane 30ml

I bought this product but haven’t used it enough to really say if it’s effective or not I do have a question about it it says not to use with other retinol products but is it ok to use an eye cream with retinol in it if I don’t put this product around my eyes?

So far I’m enjoying this product! Do I need to be refrigerating it? I have seen mixed reviews. Thank you! DECIEM Response: We are happy to hear you are enjoying The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane! We made changes to the existing formulas under the “Retinoids” category of The Ordinary in standing with our commitment to innovation and further improving our formulations. Given that the oxidation of Retinol is an inevitable process, irrespective of the format that it is present in, the oxidation process can be delayed. With that in mind, we’ve changed the period-after-opening (PAO) and included “refrigerate after opening” in the directions alongside the formulation change in efforts to further delay the inevitable oxidation of Retinol and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR). Hope this helps! Thank you for the lovely review! ❤

I love the stuff.. It moisturizes my skin and seem to help with my period breakouts

Hi! I have a question. Can I mix Retinol 0.5% in Squalane and Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% in my nighttime skincare routine?

I don' like this retinol serum the 1% make me peel off ant this one make nothing.

I was struggling with deep cystic pimples on my cheeks and decided to give this a go, and i have been surprised by the results. I havent developed a new cyst since i have started when i would get a new one every week before ! I have also noticed a huge different in my skin texture and i have only been using this for 2 weeks! Try it!

Very oily texture, would not reccomend if you have oily skin like me.

I really like this product but I wish they would make it in a smaller size. I only use retinol twice a week and I barely get through a third of a bottle before it goes off. I hate wasting the product. A 15 ml size would be perfect.

I've been using this a while and loved it initially. Lately it's come very oily much more than other bottles. So oily, it's causing more problems than it's helping. Time to find a new brand

I have a question. I have been using the product for some time now but I don't know how long exactly. I believe it's somewhere close to 3 months. Yesterday I have noticed that it changed the structure (I have been storing it in the fridge the whole time) - it was translucent, now it's cloudy. Does it mean that it's gone bad? I used it yesterday and haven't noticed anything strange or bad.

I’m sure the product works great for some but unfortunately I have used this product four times over the last week and this morning woke up to ‘burnt’ skin. I’ve been moisturising, icing and applied Aloe Vera. Unsure on the best way to treat this.

I have started using retinol 0.5% since a week. And my skin sometimes get red at anytime of the day.

I bought this product last 2 weeks ago and was very hesitant to use since I’ve been using some products with retinol which only irritate my skin. However with this beauty regimen, I already saw the difference a day after using it. It’s a game changer regimen! Now, I just bought a new one while it’s on sale.

Hi! I'm in the third week of using Retinol 0.5% and at first, I was loving the product but now I feel that every night that I use it (I use it every three nights) I wake up with at least 3 new pimples. Nothing dramatic but they are ready to pup and in some wired areas. Is it normal? should I power through to see the miracles of Retinol ? ...

I’ve been using this retinol for a while and I am in love with it. You just can’t beat the price, especially if you’re new into skincare or retinols. I’ve noticed a lot of positive changes since I started using TO 0.5% retinol. I used it every night from the get go because I had already used moisturizing creams with retinol before (though percentages were smaller around 0.1-0.3), so my skin was already accustomed to it. Most people expect miraculous changes overnight from retinols, but that’s just not possible. It takes 3-6 months of consistent use to notice the smallest of changes, and even more for deeper wrinkles or sun damage. Even if you get irritation do not give up. Educate yourself on how retinol works and use it properly, please! My only complaint about The Ordinary retinol is that squalene is just so oily for my already oil/combination skin, so I have to use only about 3 or 4 drops; if I use more than that it’ll just make my face super oily. But overall amazing product that is definitely worth the price! You won’t find anything better than this at this price.

I am 35 years old and retinol 0.5% works for me perfectly. My skin did get some flakes after a week of using it but I massaged my face with a brush and they all went away. I use sunscreen even on cloudy days - noticed that my skin got a bit more sensitive to sun, but nothing too bad. Overall, it got noticeably fresher and nicer, more even. I keep my bottle in a fridge and use this solution not only for my face but also for my neck and chest, hands, elbows and feet (but not everyday).

I just got this, not sure yet how I feel about it. It feels super oily for hours and it smells bad. I keep it in the fridge but I don’t think it had a chance to go bad in the couple days it took to ship? I have high hopes but not sure I want to continue to use if it’s not supposed to stink…

I have pretty resilient skin so this works really well with no irritation. I definitely see the results from adding to my night time routine with lessening of smile lines and increased firmness. On nights when I exfoliate I still use this but diluted with a moisturizer, works just as well. Just ordered the 1%.

I do love the serum which I bought in early July 2021. Today (Nov 11 2021) I noticed on the bottle that it is suppose to be refrigerated after opening. Luckily I do have a new bottle on order for the November sale. This time I’ll refrigerate after opening. Wish that warning was more noticeable on the packaging and bottle.

As your product description says this product doesn't have plant oils then ingredient List says it has jojoba seed oil tomato extract & rosemary extract aren't they plant oil or what?

I recently started using the product and I'm amazed by the results it is giving to my skin. I normally have senstive skin so when i used this product for the first few days it didnt break me out for the better. But recently I looked on the package that its shelf life is not 3 Months !! So I want to know what happens after 3 months? It stops showing results ? Should i stop using the product? Will it react will my skin??

Rosacean's review here :) 1. does it really work? yes, it does 2.does it irritate sensitive skin? not at all, as long as used properly (without other actives & acids) 3. does it cause breakouts? not at all 4. what's its consistency & feeling? consistency: oily, feeling: velvetty and oily 5. does it pill with other products? not at all 6. would i recommend it to a friend? i would definately recommend it to a retinol lover.

Three weeks ago I purchased two of these products and have applied it religiously every pm. I have noticed a few spots appear which I understand is normal but my skin is much softer already, so I will carry on using these until nearly empty then purchase the retinol 1%. Ive suffered acne since the age of 10 & I’m now 53. It made me loose all my confidence and now I have quite pitted acne scaring on my chin, which I’m hoping these products will help with. Other than a few spots on my chin and neck, I haven’t had any other irritation, which I’m pleased about. But nothing could be as bad as the cystic acne I used to suffer with. My advice to anyone else in a similar position, would be to try these products as advised and see for yourself as all skin is so different! I’m really happy so far and long may it continue. Thank the ordinary for bringing us these products at such a good price!

I purchased this about a month ago and I have been using it every other night for the past 3-4 weeks and I kid you not my skin has been clearing up. I was experiencing a really bad breakout with a bit of cystic acne. It was very painful and my face was red all the time from the inflammation. This really saved my skin!!! Highly recommended!! DECIEM Response: We're so glad you're loving The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane. Thank you so much for your review! <3

I've never used retinol before but wanted to try it out because I have lots of post-acne scarring, clogged pores, and have started to notice fine lines (I smile A LOT so my smile lines are especially bad). I was worried since I'd read reviews that retinol will make you break out or irritate the skin. I've had minimal purging, nothing worse than breakouts I would get during my period, and my skin has never been softer. I can tell that my clogged pores are clearing out too. I don't think I've been using long enough to see differences in my fine lines, but if I go to bed with a blemish, I wake up with the softest skin and the breakout is gone! I use it almost every night without any issue and it's a total game changer!

I have been using for almost 2 weeks, so still new to it. Very hydrating and no adverse reactions yet.

Zgadzam się z większością opinii, że data ważności 3 miesiące to dość krótko aby zużyć do końca cały produkt nawet przy częstym stosowaniu. Ja używam go jeszcze na ramię z powodu wyprysków i świetnie się sprawdza. Bardzo polecam ten produkt! Zamówię go na pewno ponownie.

I love the ordinary products. I bought for the first time retinol 0.5% in Squalane couple days ago. I’m a bit worried that the color is light yellow, and the website shows a photo where is transparent. Is that normal? Should I used anyway?

Hi, Finally, I decided to take the first step towards the anti-aging regime. Retinol turned out to be one of the most effective products. This didn't adversely react. Spreads beautifully and my skin feels pampered. Started using once a week and now I am using it atleast 5 times a week. Next step is Retin A.

Really love this product! I’m on my second bottle now and I’ve seen a huge difference in my skin. The lines on my forehead have significantly decreased, a lot my acne scars have also disappeared. The reason I’m not giving it a 10/10 is because every time I use it after I use the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% it balls up (I feel like the niacinamide is being removed from my face and balling up on my fingers). The same thing happened when I tried using it after the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. I’m not sure if these products don’t go together that’s why that happens but I would love to keep using these products. Also, would it be a good idea to just add this product to my night cream instead of putting it directly to my face? DECIEM Response: Thanks so much for your review. "Pilling" often occurs due to many different reasons, for example the amount of the product being applied, consistencies of the products being used in conjunction, the total number of products being applied, etc. We recommend applying 1-3 drops of each serum and allowing it to fully absorb before the next application of product. We would not advise pre-mixing the product.

I've been using this for the past 2 weeks evey other night. The next morning after my first use, the face felt a bit tight. After the second use, i experienced my first ever purge: my entire forehead, chin area and one cheek were full of small pimples. It took my entire willpower to stay away from them and also to keep going with the retinol. After the third use, it all went great, my small pimples disappeared, old ones decreased in size and my entire face started looking great. Needless to say, i will continue using this.

I love every product from The Ordinary. Affordable and effective skin care. Especially the 0.5 Retinol.

I don't understand why the rating is low. This is the best product for my skin and I receive a lot of compliments for my youthful look. Highly recommend

I started using this product one month ago. I'm 44, have oily skin with large pores and it can look quite uneven. After just one month I can see my skin is more radiant and smoother. I think I will need to use it a little longer to see improvements in dark spots. I have pretty hardy skin, so I use it every day on my face after moisturiser. 30ml is too much for just the face so I'm trying a few drops on my neck and decolletage to see what happens.

I just finished a bottle of this. It wasn’t until I was 3/4s through that I saw the refrigerate instructions on the bottle; I’ll take accountability for not reading the bottle from jump. It added moisture to my skin but failed as intended. It’s efficacy was nonexistent. As soon as I switched to a different retinol my skin thrived. Don’t be dumb like me. Keep this baby cool or find a different formulation. I love the ordinary but greatly disliked this product.