Retinal 0.2% Emulsion — Reddit Reviews
by The Ordinary
Updated October 14, 2026
0.2% retinal improves lines; strongest OTC strength, rough adjustment period.
What the community says
A 0.2% retinal emulsion aimed at texture, forehead lines, and gradual retinoid progression. It suits experienced or patient beginners using it once or twice weekly, but irritation, tightness, purging, and cystic breakouts make slow introduction mandatory.
What this means for you
Backed by 29 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/40plusskincare and 3 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
- High-strength 0.2% retinal for OTC progression
- Forehead-line progress reported within one month
- Noticeable texture and pore improvements
Watch out for
- Purging can be unpleasant before clearing
- Dryness, tightness, and sensitivity can damage the barrier
- Some users report cystic acne or worsened closed comedones
Product details
Concerns
Use caution
Skin Type
Key Ingredients
Where to buy
What the science says vs. what Reddit says
Anti-Aging
Some evidence
Retinal: 5 studies tested it on its own. See all 9 studies
On Reddit: Forehead lines are one 31-year-old’s focus, with progress reported after a month. 5 mentions
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 64 mentions across 29 threads
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion on Reddit, in one place — 29 threads from r/30PlusSkinCare, r/40plusskincare 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
“Prequel, geek and gorgeous, and the ordinary all have good ones.”
Mentioned
“I'd probably suggest retinal.”
Mentioned
“At night you can choose to add a retinoid”
Mentioned
“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
4 shared traits
835 mentions