Retinol 0.5% in Squalane — Reddit Reviews
by The Ordinary
Updated October 19, 2026
0.5% retinol improves texture; Reddit loves it, research remains mixed on acne.
What the community says
A 0.5% retinol oil in squalane targets texture and early lines for experienced users who can start twice weekly. Redditors report clearer, healthier-looking skin; research found 0.2% retinol reduced inflammatory acne, yet sensitive skin often burns.
What this means for you
Backed by 20 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/scacjdiscussion and 4 more.
Read the threads ↓What people love
- Redditors report noticeably better texture and healthier-looking skin
- Redditors find the squalane base less drying than expected
- Research signal for inflammatory acne at 0.2% retinol
Watch out for
- Redditors report retinol burn on sensitive skin
- Redditors report breakouts, including worse whiteheads
- Redditors dislike squalane sitting heavily on skin
Product details
Concerns
Use caution
Skin Type
Product Traits
Key Ingredients
Where to buy
What the science says vs. what Reddit says
Anti-Aging
Strong evidence
Retinol: 15 studies tested it on its own. See all 23 studies
On Reddit: Nasolabial folds and skin plumpness visibly changed for one user, who says she’ll keep going. 5 mentions
What the studies found
- Most studies found it helped with signs of aging like wrinkles, uneven tone, and dark spots
- It often improved fine lines, skin smoothness, firmness, and radiance
- Some studies found it worked about as well as other common retinoid treatments
- Stronger retinol often smoothed skin more, but also caused more irritation
- The most common side effects were redness, irritation, scaling, stinging, and dryness
Studied at 0.1–5%this product: 0.5%
Hyperpigmentation
Some evidence
Retinol: 5 studies tested it on its own. See all 12 studies
What the studies found
- All 5 studies that tested it on its own found it helped fade dark spots or patches
- It improved sun spots and uneven skin tone in sun-damaged facial skin
- It also helped melasma look lighter in one clinical trial
- Some studies found it worked alongside smoother skin and fewer fine wrinkles
- The most common side effects were irritation, burning, itching, dryness, redness, scaling, and stinging
Studied at 0.15–10%this product: 0.5%
Acne
Some evidence
Retinol: 2 studies tested it on its own. See all 5 studies
What the studies found
- Both studies that tested it on its own found it helped acne
- It reduced pimples, blackheads and whiteheads in people with facial acne
- It also reduced red, sore spots in people with inflammatory acne
- It worked less well than benzoyl peroxide in one clinical trial
- The reported side effect was peeling
Studied at 0.03–1%this product: 0.5%
Texture/Pores
Not proven yet
Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.
Retinol: 2 studies tested it on its own. See all 3 studies
On Reddit: Within a few weeks, commenters report their pores shrinking. 6 mentions
What the studies found
- Both studies that tested it on its own found it helped with skin texture and pores
- Studies found retinol made skin feel smoother and less rough
- One study found it improved uneven skin tone along with rough texture
- It worked about as well as tretinoin for these skin changes
Studied at 0.25–3%this product: 0.5%
Dullness
Not proven yet
Few or mixed studies. This claim isn't established.
Retinol: 2 studies tested it on its own. See all 2 studies
What the studies found
- The results are split, so there is no clear answer yet on retinol for dullness
- Some studies found retinol improved uneven skin tone and dark spots
- Some studies found retinol improved signs of sun damage linked with dull-looking skin
- The most common side effects were irritation, and stronger retinol caused more of it
Studied at 0.3–1.1%this product: 0.5%
Research context, not treatment advice. Studies are about the ingredient, not necessarily this exact product.
Real Reddit threads — 57 mentions across 20 threads
The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane on Reddit, in one place — 20 threads from r/SkincareAddiction, r/scacjdiscussion and 4 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
