The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion has been blowing up everywhere, and honestly, I couldn’t resist giving it a go. Retinal’s got this reputation as the next-gen retinol: faster, more effective, and somehow less irritating. It’s like the overachiever of the vitamin A family.
Naturally, I had questions. Is it the holy grail everyone claims, or just another trendy product that looks good on the bathroom shelf but doesn’t deliver? After weeks of testing it, here’s everything you need to know before deciding if it’s right for you.
Key Ingredients In The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion: What Really Makes It Work?
RETINAL (RETINALDEHYDE) TO TARGET WRINKLES AND BREAKOUTS
Retinal is a derivative of vitamin A. It’s one step closer to retinoic acid (the pure form of Vitamin A and the gold standard for anti-aging) than retinol, which means it works faster. Instead of the two-step process retinol requires (retinol → retinal → retinoic acid), retinal needs just one conversion. Less waiting, more results.
Clinical studies show that retinal is effective at reducing fine lines, evening out skin tone, and fighting acne. But – and this is important – retinal can also be strong. If you’re new to vitamin A or have sensitive skin, you’ll want to proceed with caution.
Related: Is Retinal The Best Form Of Vitamin A?
The Rest Of The Ingredients And Formula
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
- Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
- Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
- Red: What is this doing here?!
- Aqua (Water): It’s hydrating – and helps other ingredients dissolve.
- Coco-Caprylate/Caprate: Derived from coconut oil, it makes skin softer and smoother.
- Propanediol: Another solvent. It also makes the texture lighter.
- Pentylene Glycol: It attracts and binds water to the skin for extra hydration.
- Hydroxyapatite: A mineral that acts as a soft-focus agent. It makes your wrinkles look smaller, but it’s just an optical illusion.
- Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide: A pseudo-ceramide that strengthens the skin’s protective barrier and makes it softer and smoother.
- 4-t-Butylcyclohexanol: A fatty alcohol that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid: A soothing agent with anti-itching properties.
- Ergothioneine: A natural amino acid with hydrating and antioxidant properties.
- Biosaccharide Gum-1: It thickens the texture of skincare products.
- Bisabolol: A soothing agent that reduces redness and irritation. It also your skin better tolerate retinal.
- Brassica Campestris Sterols: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Zingiber Officinale Root Extract: It has powerful soothing and antioxidant properties that boost retinal and make it easier for your skin to tolerate it.
- Butylene Glycol: A type of alcohol that helps dissolve other ingredients. It also hydrates skin (yes, really!).
- Isohexadecane: Another solvent.
- Hexyldecanol: An emollient that makes skin softer.
- Maltodextrin: A plant based sugar used as a stabiliser and absorber.
- Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum: It thickens the texture of skincare products.
- Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6: It helps create stable and elegant textures.
- Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer: A stabiliser and texture enhancer.
- Stearic Acid: A saturated fatty acid that makes skin softer and smoother.
- Isoceteth-20: A cleansing agent with solvent properties.
- Polysorbate 60: An emulsifier that helps water-based and oil-based ingredients beautifully blend together, so the formula doesn’t separate into two layers.
- Ascorbyl Palmitate: An antioxidant that fights free radicals. It’s a form of Vitamin C.
- Tocopherol: A form of Vitamin E with antioxidant properties. It also helps the formula last longer.
- Lactic Acid: An exfoliant. It doesn’t do that here. Here, it only hydrates skin.
- Sodium Lactate: It hydrates skin and makes it softer.
- Sodium Hydroxide: A pH-balancer.
- Ethylhexylglycerin: It has mild hydrating and preservative properties.
- Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
- Chlorphenesin: Another preservative that keeps the formula safe for longer.
Texture
The texture of The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion feels lightweight but creamy. It absorbs quickly without leaving a heavy residue, but don’t expect a dewy finish – this dries down to a more natural, matte feel.
Oh – and it’s yellow. So yes, it does leave a yellow cast on your skin. One more reason I like to use it at night.
Fragrance
Like most of The Ordinary’s products, this one is fragrance-free. That’s a big win, especially for sensitive skin types. Retinal is already a strong ingredient, so no one needs unnecessary irritants like fragrance to increase the irritating potential.
How To Use It
Retinal isn’t something you slap on every night from night one. Start slow – every other night at most – and only after cleansing. Pair it with a simple, hydrating routine to avoid irritation (no exfoliation on the same night!) And sunscreen is non-negotiable during the day when using this.
Packaging
This comes in an opaque, pump-style bottle. It’s perfect for protecting retinal from the light and air that could compromise its effectiveness. Plus, it’s hygienic and easy to use. The only drawback? It’s a very small bottle. But hey, that makes it easier to travel with it.
Performance
I’ll give credit where it’s due: The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion delivers results – but not overnight. After a few weeks, I noticed my skin looking brighter and smoother, and some fine lines seemed softer.
It also didn’t irritate my skin, but then mine isn’t sensitive – and it’s used to all kinds of retinoids. If you’re a newbie, keep your moisturise close.
That said, if you’re an experienced retinoid user, this might feel underwhelming. At 0.2%, it’s a beginner-friendly option. But for someone used to stronger formulations, like Tretinoin, this won’t cut it.
What I Like About The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion:
- Great for beginners or sensitive skin.
- Helps improve skin tone and texture over time.
- Lightweight, creamy formula absorbs easily.
- Affordable price point.
- Fragrance-free and non-irritating for most.
What I DON’T Like About The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion:
- Takes time to show significant results.
- May not feel potent enough for advanced retinoid users.
- Leaves a yellow cast on your skin.
Who Should Use This?
- First-time retinoid users.
- Sensitive skin types wanting to dip their toes into retinal.
- Those with mild skin concerns, like wrinkle and acne – regardless of your skin type.
Does The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Our highest-strength retinoid formula with stabilized retinaldehyde for advanced age support, optimal for nighttime use. | It’s true – because it’s so vague. Advanced age support means nothing. |
| Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is a very high strength retinoid formula that rapidly firms and smooths skin, while noticeably reducing the appearance of dark spots. | Almost true. It does the job, just not rapidly. |
| It helps refine skin texture, while targeting uneven tone and boosting luminosity for brighter, more even-looking skin. | True. The luminosity is due to the minerals in the formula, not retinal. |
| With a high 0.2% concentration of retinal, Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is able to noticeably improve skin firmness and improve the look of lines and wrinkles, including crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles. | True. Note how it says it improves the LOOK of fine lines, not that it reduces fine lines. |
Price & Availability
$14.90 at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK and The Ordinary
Do You Need It?
If you’re new to retinal and want a gentle, affordable way to start, this is a great option. But if you’re looking for fast, dramatic results and your skin can handle more potent formulations, you may want to skip ahead to something stronger.
Dupes & Alternatives
- Medik8 Crystal Retinal 3 (£49): 0.03% Retinal serum for vitamin A beginners. It doesn’t leave a yellow cast behind. Available at Look Fantastic and SpaceNK.
- MaeLove Moonlight Retinal Super Serum ($39.95): This retinal serum has a niacinamide + ceramide base to counteract the potential dryness and irritation from retinaldehyde. It also has fragrant oils that could irritate sensitive skin. But if your skin doesn’t react badly to them, it’s an effective and affordable option to consider. Available at MaeLove.
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
Aqua (Water), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyapatite, Retinal, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, 4-t-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ergothioneine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Hexyldecanol, Maltodextrin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
