The ordinary retinol 0.2 in squalane before and after

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. These commissions help keep this website up and running, and I thank you for your support. Read my full disclosure here.

Disclaimers: I paid for these products myself. I have in no way been influenced or paid to endorse these products. All recommendations and opinions are my own.

I have really enjoyed using moisturisers containing retinol such as Aldi’s budget friendly Lacura Face Care Q10 anti-wrinkle night cream. However, as my skin continues to age, I’ve felt the need to up my game. I was in search of something stronger to tackle the onslaught of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation (read about my attempts to get rid of my hyperpigmentation in my post My TCA Chemical Peel Experience). It was also winter at the time, and my skin was looking super dull and rough, which made me look even older.

I had really wanted to try some stronger retinol products, but had been put off by the high prices. However, I had been hearing all the hype around The Ordinary products and how they were selling quality skin care with formulations for a fraction of the usual price, so I decided to buy some of their retinol. I jumped on line to order some but was thwarted because it was completely sold out. Nevertheless, I was keen to get my hands on some so I signed up for several websites email alerts so I would be emailed when they were back in stock. Finally, about four weeks later, I received the email I had been waiting for and excitedly ordered some. I’ve been using The Ordinary Retinol in Squalane for 6 months now, so I decided to share my experience and also what I’ve learnt about retinol along the way.

What Is Retinol, Where Does It Come from and What Does It Do?

You may have heard that retinol is the ‘gold standard’ of anti-ageing ingredient in skin care. It is actually naturally produced by your body and also known as Vitamin A1. It is commonly used as a dietary supplement because our body needs vitamin A to function. However, it is very popular to use in skin care formulations, as they stimulate the production of new skin cells. As well as reducing the depth of fine lines, they can also help to fade dark spots caused from photo-ageing, hyperpigmentation, hormonal changes, and blemish scars.

The down side to retinol is that it’s highly-reactive, meaning it can break down quickly and lose its potency, especially when it is exposed to sunlight or air. In poor quality skin care products, this may mean that the retinol it initially contained quickly becomes ineffective.

Retinol also increases your sensitivity to the sun, so only use it at night, and ensure you use a strong sunscreen during the day – even if you are mostly sitting inside. Otherwise you will ruin any of the good work that the retinol is doing. Check out my post on My Favourite Sunscreens for Face and Body This Summer.

What is the Difference Between Retinoids, Retinols, and Retin-A?

Confused? I was too. The term ‘retinoid’ describes a family of ingredients that includes both retin-A and retinol. When the term retinoid is used in skincare products, it’s important to remember that it is an umbrella term and doesn’t actually specify the type of retinoid compound in the formula.

Retinols

When retinol is applied, enzymes in your skin convert it into retinaldehyde and then into retinoic acid. Because the enzymes have to convert the retinol, it is gentler on your skin and has fewer side effects. Therefore, this is the most popular form of retinoid in off the shelf skin care. However, you must be patient when waiting to see results, because the conversion to retinoic acid can take at least a few weeks, which is why you should use retinol consistently for a few months before deciding whether or not it works for you.

Retin-A

Retin-A is a much stronger, prescription-only type of retinoid. It is sold in the form of tretinoin cream which is another name for retinoic acid. Retin-A does not need to be broken down by the enzymes in your skin before it can be used, BUT retin-A products must be used with caution as they are approximately 100 times stronger than the average retinol cream you get over the counter. However, you will see dramatic results, but it can cause itching, scaly, red skin when you start using it.

If you are still completely confused, then Cheryl Woodman at Honesty For Your Skin provides a Retin-dictionary in her helpful post Retinol vs. Retinoid.

What Strength Retinol Should I Use?

The Ordinary sell their retinol range in three strengths:

• Retinol 0.2% in Squalane (Low Strength, Moderate Irritation)
• Retinol 0.5% in Squalane (Moderate Strength, High Irritation)
• Retinol 1% in Squalane (High Strength, Very High Irritation)

All three are suspended in squalane. If you haven’t used retinol before, you should really start with the weakest 0.2% strength and introduce it to your skin slowly to see how it responds. Once you’ve finished that bottle, then move up to the 0.5%. Only move up to the 1% if you feel comfortable doing so.

If you have sensitive skin, then start with The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid range. It’s supposed to deliver similar results in a much gentler formula.

• Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion (Moderate Strength, No Irritation)
• Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane (Moderate Strength, No Irritation)
• Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane (High Strength, No to Low Irritation)

I go into a bit more detail below about how I introduced it to my skin. I started with the 0.5% strength and hope to move up to the 1% when I’m finished.

The Ordinary Retinol in Squalane 30ml

The Claims

The Ordinary claims that their product is a highly stable, water-free, and high strength, age-defying solution of retinol. This special form of vitamin A has been proven to minimise fine lines, improve pigment problems, revitalise skin and make its overall appearance fresher and more youthful.

The Ordinary Retinol Ingredients

Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, BHT.

The main ingredient in this product is squalane. I have to admit that I had never heard of squalane before. Squalane is derived from squalene oil (this is not a typo, it is spelt slightly differently) and has been used in traditional medicine for decades and is known for its healing abilities. Squalane is a more stable form of squalene and is colourless and odourless, so this is the form used in cosmetics, and in this case The Ordinary’s retinol products.

In skin care, squalane can aid the absorption of other nutrients (in this case retinol), and is a very effective moisturiser. We actually produce the oil naturally. Sadly, sharks were hunted for this oil, but it is now mostly derived from olives and sugarcane. However, when buying squalane, please ensure that it is plant derived. The Ordinary’s squalane is plant derived and its retinol range is suitable for vegans.

Alongside the squalane is the retinol and also tomato extract which contains antioxidants. In addition, it contains one of my favourite ingredients, jojoba oil, which I use in my home made skin care. Pronounced ‘ho-ho-ba’, it is technically a wax which acts as an emollient that provides a protective film over your skin to trap in moisture. It is very similar to our own sebum (skin oils), so it absorbs easily into the top layer of the skin. Due to these moisturising properties, jojoba is popular in skin care products. It’s super hydrating and its moisturising properties makes it a good skin plumper.

The final ingredient is BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), which is a synthetic antioxidant used as a preservative in cosmetics. They are also widely used as food preservatives.

The Packaging

The Ordinary Retinol is packaged in a cardboard box. Inside it is a dark glass jar containing the retinol. The dark glass is a great for protecting the ingredients from potentially breaking down from exposure to light. However, I am very annoyed at their use of a droper as the dispenser. This means I have to open and expose the ingredients to air each time I use it. As I mentioned earlier, retinol is volatile, and I felt that the product started to change in smell and texture when I was about half way through it. I think it had started going off, and I don’t think the retinol was as effective. I wish that they would instead use a small cosmetic pump dispenser which would be much more hygienic and reduce the products exposure to air.

How to Apply The Ordinary Retinol

The directions instruct you to apply a small amount to your face in the evening as part of your skincare regimen, after water-based serums but before heavier treatments. Do not use with other retinoid treatments and avoid unprotected solar exposure. in the early stages of treatment, retinol can cause irritation, redness and peeling, especially around the eyes and mouth, whilst skin builds tolerance. If persistent irritation occurs, cease use and consult a physician. Use only as directed on unbroken skin. A patch test prior to using is advised.

Warning

When pregnant or breastfeeding, it is recommended to avoid any skincare products containing retinoids.

My Verdict on The Ordinary Retinol 0.5%

As I had used products with retinol before, I decided to start with the 0.5% strength. The oil was clear and had very little smell. It was thin and had a light consistency. I used three to four drops of the oil and massaged it onto my face and neck. It was easy to massage into my skin and absorbed well. My skin didn’t feel too oily afterwards and the next morning my skin felt nice and smooth.

My skin can be sensitive, but as I hadn’t had any previous problems with retinol, I thought I would start by using it twice a week. However, I initially experienced some sensitivity, so I reduced it to once a week for three weeks. I didn’t have any further sensitivity, so I then increased it to twice a week for another three weeks. By now my skin was tolerating it quite well, so I started using it every second day. On the alternate evenings when I wasn’t using the retinol, I used my Anti-Ageing Facial Oil that I make myself.

Apart from the initial sensitivity, my skin seemed to tolerate the retinol quite well. However, at about the four week mark I broke out in the most huge, painful, red, blind head pimples around my lower check/chin area. I smothered them in pimple cream but they just seemed to sit there and wouldn’t go away for weeks. I get pimples, but these were different from my usual ones and I don’t usually get them in this location on my face.

I spent some time on the internet to see if anyone else was having the same problem, as I know that retinol usually has the opposite effect and can help to clear up and prevent acne. But I discovered that retinol can also make your skin worse before it gets better. They even have a name for it – ‘retinol purging’ and it can take anywhere from days to weeks to clear up. Unfortunately mine took weeks. I battled on and hoped for the best, and about three to four weeks later it finally started clearing up.

After Six Months, What Effect Has Retinol Had on My Skin?

So, after six months of using The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% on my skin, have I experienced a skin care miracle? Sadly no. I was disappointed that the retinol had no effect on my hyperpigmentation, however, it did make my skin feel much smoother. I have not really noticed much effect on my fine lines or wrinkles. Maybe if I had one of those wrinkle imaging machines that dermatologists use to see the minor changes that a product can have on the wrinkle depth, I might have been able to see if there really had been any change. But to the naked eye, I notice any difference.

The Ordinary Retinol has been good value. It is much cheaper than similar products on the market, and although the bottle is a little 30ml’s, I only needed 3-4 drops for my face and neck, so it has lasted a really long time. After some initial sensitivity, my skin seemed to tolerate The Ordinary Retinol quite well. But if you have sensitive skin, then start with The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid range as listed above. It’s supposed to deliver similar results but in a much gentler formula.

Now that my skin is used to the 0.5% strength retinol, I think I’ll try the stronger 1% version when I’m finished to see if it will improve my fine lines.

Have You Tried The Ordinary Range of Retinol Skin Care?

Let me know in the comments below if you have tried any of the products in the The Ordinary retinoid range of skincare and whether you liked it or not.

Can I use retinol 0.2 in squalane everyday?

What does The Ordinary Retinol 0.2 in squalane do?

How often should you use retinol 0.2 in squalane?

How long does it take to see results from The Ordinary retinol?