Retinol 0.5% in Squalane — Reddit Reviews
by The Ordinary
Updated October 3, 2026
Retinol 0.5% for acne and texture; dries some faces out.
What the community says
Studies found retinol can reduce acne, and Reddit says this 0.5% version also improves texture and pores. It suits people who want an OTC step-up and can tolerate a retinoid; sensitive, dry, or easily irritated skin often needs slower easing in.
What this means for you
Backed by 22 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/scacjdiscussion and 5 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
Watch out for
Product details
Concerns
Use caution
Skin Type
Where to buy
What the science says
Hyperpigmentation
Some evidence
Retinol: 5 studies tested it on its own. See all 14 studies
What the studies found
- All of these studies found retinol helped fade dark patches
- Most studies showed retinol on the skin made facial dark patches lighter
- A 4% retinol peel faded melasma patches and worked about as well as glycolic acid
- A large review found retinol worked better for dark patches than some other treatments
- Retinol cream also helped fade sun-related dark patches
Studied at 0.1–10%this product: 0.5%
Acne
Not proven yet
Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.
Retinol: 1 study tested it on its own. See all 4 studies
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 51 mentions across 22 threads
The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane on Reddit, in one place — 22 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/scacjdiscussion and 5 more, summarized.
“Retinol every other night (The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane)”
Positive
“My texture is way better, and my skin feels healthier overall.”
Positive
“This is how I cleared my acne”
Positive
“I’m loving my 0.5% retinol in squalane”
Positive
“my skin has never looked better!”
Positive
“and my azelaic acid from the ordinary!”
Positive
“I was using The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% for about a year.”
Positive
“I told him I’d been on 0.5% retinol for a year”
Positive
“1 month on Tretinoin after 1 year of Retinol”
Positive
“The Ordinary retinol in squalane worked really well for me when I didn’t have my tazarotene for a few weeks!”
Positive
“Very inexpensive too”
Positive
“I use The Ordinary .5% retinol with squalene.”
Positive
“Maybe experiment with retinol, once to twice a week; The Ordinary has a retinol in squalane serum I like”
Positive
“The Ordinary has a retinol in squalane serum I like (not too drying and cheap).”
Positive
“Maybe experiment with retinol, once to twice a week”
Positive
“i started with the ordinary retinol 0.5% and worked up from there”
Positive
“the two things that made the biggest difference for me were adding a vitamin c serum in the morning ... and a retinol at night a few times a week.”
Positive
“i use the timeless one ... and a retinol at night a few times a week”
Positive
