Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, High-Strength Retinoid Serum for Advanced Anti-Aging Support, 15ml

I put this to the test and I can say I absolutely approve. For years, I had used Tretinoin and then Tazarotene. I never got the results everyone else got, despite using ceramides, SPF 50+ and moisturising my skin constantly. Tret made me peel non stop and Taz made my skin ridiculously sensitive. I never noticed any difference in my skin tone or wrinkles, despite using these for years. If anything, I felt things only got worse. I thought to myself that maybe my skin is just too sensitive. For context, I am the palest of the pale on the Fitzpatrick scale and my skin bruises easily and I get stretch marks easily. The retinoids I had tried absolutely did not thicken my skin. So I decided to try this product, The Ordinary Retinal at 0.2%. I only apply it every second night and my golly, I am noticing a difference already, after 2 weeks. I do not have the same irritation and I am really happy with how things are going. I start off by cleansing my face and apply a thin layer of the Olay Beauty Fluid (gorgeous stuff, by the way!) and wait half an hour, then I apply a pea size amount (I can't stress this enough. Retinoids are medication and should be treated as such. Otherwise you will destroy your skin.) and dot it around my face and then rub it in. It absorbs very quickly and don't be alarmed if your face has a yellow tint, it's normal for a retinoid to have this. I then wait another 20-30 mins and apply my second layer of Olay, essentially "sandwiching" the retinoid. Some people use vaseline on top of this to work as an occlusive, but I don't like the feeling of my face being covered in Vaseline. It definitely does help, though! In the morning, be sure to wash it off straight away. You don't want any sunlight to reach your skin when you have a retinoid on it. Apply your lotions and potions and always finish off with an SPF 50+ (La Roche or Tropic are both excellent.) For the price, this is excellent! It's effective and works better for folk who can't tolerate the stronger retinoids. You'll be grateful to try this a it won't be as inflamed as the stronger retinoids. Inflammation breaks down collagen and it's the last thing you need when you are trying to slow down the aging process So get your Retinal from The Ordinary and enjoy ❤️ it is the best magic potion out there.

Amazing stuff! Has made a massive difference to my skin that use to look dull with open pores and hyperpigmentation. This stuff is stronger than Retinol. So do your research before trying this. My tip is use plenty of moisturiser once this has sunk in to prevent dry skin. And using hyaluronic acid serum helps before moisturiser to combat this. Personally I rotate this with AHA/BHA acid peel from The Ordinary every other night. You only need one pump to use over all your face (not the eye area) But I am impressed with the results so far. My skin is so smooth, no visible pores hyperpigmentation has faded dramatically and my make up glides on now. The price is also fantastic

I bought this retinal serum to step up from lower strength retinoids after my skin had already adjusted, mainly to target uneven texture, breakouts, and early fine lines. The emulsion has a lightweight texture that spreads easily and absorbs well without feeling greasy. A pea sized amount is enough for the whole face, and despite the small bottle, it lasts longer than expected when used correctly. Results became noticeable within a couple of weeks, with smoother skin, fewer congestion issues, and an overall brighter appearance. That said, this is a high strength product and it does require care. Some initial dryness and sensitivity are likely if it is overused or combined with other active ingredients, so moisturising properly and easing into use is important. The yellow tint may also be off putting to some, although it does not stain and washes off easily. Overall, it delivers strong performance at a relatively accessible price point, provided it is used with caution and experience.

After two month's use, I've seen a marked improvement in my skin texture. I have sensitive 40s skin with PP rosacea. I've tolerated the retinal well, starting off twice a week at night and now using every other night. Skin looks clearer, more even tone and noticeably smoother texture, with no irritation. The texture of the retinal is much nicer than retinols I've previously used and found to be greasy and heavy - this cream goes on easily and sinks in quickly. Great stuff and excellent value.

I would say that this product works. Don't do what I did and ignore the online advice to build up to this strength. I used it every evening for a week. My skin became tight, sensitive and I had dry flaky red skin around my eyes and forehead. Having said that, I stopped for a few days and made sure I kept my skin moisturised. After 3 days my skin settled down and I believe I can see a reduction in the lines near my eyes and someone on the more deeper lines on my forehead. I am going to try using it now two nights on two nights off and see if that keeps the sensitivity at bay. Oh and the colour is bright yellow. I have white bedsheets and this has definitely stained them so beware of that.

This cream feels light when applied - it is yellow and does have a yellow tint which stays after the cream has absorbed so I do have to wash the yellow off in the morning and it does get on my pillow. The cream does not irritate or burn my skin when I apply it (once a week for the last 4 weeks) and I have quite sensitive skin- I had no noticeable changes to my skin for a couple of weeks and then I started to get some areas of dry redness and some flaking and spots. I don’t find this as strong as some of the other reviews suggest- but I do apply heavy moisturiser afterwards.

Very effective for anti-ageing, which works faster for reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture. Its helps with my acne, dark spots, and dullness over time.

It's stronger than retinol and definitely will peel your skin off. It's a good product, worked well for me. Quick and free delivery very appreciated

Sehr gutes Produkt, zieht schnell ein und fühlt sich angenehm auf der Haut an. Hautbild wirkt gleichmäßiger und frischer. Gut verträglich und sparsam im Gebrauch. Klare Empfehlung.

This is a good starter retinal. It is bright yellow which should be its purest form. It is lightweight and fragrance-free. It drys instantly while also moisturizes.

I really like this product it seems to be very effective. However it is extremely small so you literally should buy x2 at least

Ottimo prodotto soprattutto per il rapporto qualità -prezzo. Usato con costanza migliora moltissimo l'aspetto della pelle. Non ho avuto irritazione

This is my favourite retinal. I’m so sad that the ordinary doesn’t sell this in Canada anymore. The price on it fluctuates, which is expected I’m glad that I can still get it here. I use this three times a week and I have been using it since October and it’s now February. I have no idea how much is left in the bottle because I can’t see, but it doesn’t feel empty and the pumps still pumping a normal amount of product without spitting. I have a very intense skincare routine, but this helped me get rid of my fine lines and texture. The fine lines aren’t 100% gone hydration also had something to do with it but it did really help. This is my ride or die. I’m really sad. I can’t get in Canada anymore outside of Amazon.