Retinal 0.2% Emulsion — Reddit Reviews
by The Ordinary
Updated September 23, 2026
0.2% retinal for faster texture and line payoff; expect an adjustment period.
What the community says
A 0.2% retinal emulsion for people moving up from retinol and wanting more obvious texture changes or line-softening. It layers like a basic serum, but the purge and sensitivity can hit hard if you rush it.
What this means for you
What people love
Watch out for
Product details
Where to buy
Real Reddit threads — 57 mentions across 30 threads
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion on Reddit, in one place — 30 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/tretinoin and 3 more, summarized.
“Today marks the one month anniversary of starting retinol (TO retinal 0.2%) - so happy with the progress so far as I've been really self concious of my (31F) forehead lines!”
Positive
“It's The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion! It's like magic, but the inital purge was... unpleasant 🥲 it cleared up in about 2 weeks though!”
Positive
“Every third day swap out Vit C for The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion.”
Positive
“PM: Klairs Hydrating Facial Toner,, TO 2% retinal (3x/week)”
Positive
“Which 2% retinal are you using?”
Positive
“TO usually refers to The Ordinary”
Positive
“I'm on 20% azelaic and using over the counter 0.2 retinal from the ordinary”
Positive
“I'm loooving the results too”
Positive
“my skins never been so good”
Positive
“Once per week I'll use the Ordinary Retinal 0.2% (avoiding the mouth and chin area though)”
Cautionary
“✂️cut all actives!! ✂️”
Cautionary
“Ok so this has been happening to me a few weeks now and I’m trying to figure out what it is as well.”
Cautionary
“Retinal i recommend to try OTC first to build up resistance before starting Tretinoin.”
Positive
“The Ordinary do a good one and is very reasonably priced”
Positive
“or Medik8 which is more expensive.”
Positive
“0.2% from The Ordinary (1-2x week)”
Positive
“now slowly I am replacing two of those 6 times with 0.2% retinal”
Positive
“it has been more or less okay”
Positive
Dupes & Alternatives
Paula's Choice
Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant
Better for Texture / Pores
2 shared traits
813 mentions
