This retinal turns skin bright yellow (a harmless cosmetic effect from the ingredient itself) but gurus praise it as genuinely effective at tackling fine lines and aging signs without the irritation many people get from stronger actives. At $15 for 15ml, it lands between retinol and prescription tretinoin in strength, making it a solid next step for anyone already using retinol or looking to skip gentler options. Results take three to four months of consistent use, so patience is key; apply at night only, pair it with a moisturizer to seal in the formula, and those with very sensitive skin may want to start with a smaller amount or ease in gradually.
Synthesized from 14 expert reviews · most recent take July 2026
"Most brands have [...] switched to retinal, which is still permissible and not covered by this ban, and launched new products containing it, such as The Ordinary Retinal, which is one of my personal favorites."
Top Pick: highest potency over the counter retinoid
All 25 takes from Mad About Skin
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"The Ordinary retinal emulsion is the same strength as other market leaders. Slightly more expensive because you're getting 15 ml rather than 30 ml in comparable products. But again, The Ordinary and other comparable retinoids can be used interchangeably. They're the same strength, similar formulation."
"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, both of these same strength, sky high anti-aging and they are fantastic. [...] Both are basically the same, work so well. [...] For me I think [retinal] is where it's at, giving you the maximum potency, minimum risk of side effects and irritation."
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"This is a product that they launched recently and is already one of their best sellers. [...] They only offer it in one strength, which is this, the 0.2% concentration, which is sky high potency. This is the equivalent of the strongest version of that Medik8 one, and there's nothing lower than that. [...] If you're a regular retinoid user like myself and you want super high potency, The Ordinary offers it at a really fair price point."
Exclusive: NEW HIGH STRENGTH RETINAL - Up To 11x More Anti Aging
"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion was an international bestseller from day one. People were desperate to get their hands on the strongest over-the-counter option without needing to break the bank, and this was an amazing addition to the skincare market. [...] I recently announced it to be in the top three best skincare of the whole of 2024."
THE PREFECT RETINOL - Best Retinoids For Next Level Anti Aging Skincare
"The Ordinary will cover you, the Ordinary worldwide. [...] If you want that next level anti-aging, this is where it's at. It's a high strength retinoid that you can use [...] daily to get maximum anti-aging results, though my neck [...] cannot tolerate the potency of this one, so I [...] use something gentler there. If I find my skin is getting a little sensitive or I've overdone it, [...] I'll just not use this for a couple nights and then revert back when my skin's calmed down."
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"The Ordinary has their retinol emulsion, which is in a 0.2% strength, which is a super high strength option. They don't currently have any mid or low strength options to go for. So, I would say if you're used to retinol and you've used it consistently in your routine, it's probably fine to just do a straight switch to the ordinary. If you're new, you probably want to go for one of the low strength Geek and Gorgeous options and work your way up."
RETINAL - What The New Retinal Ban Means ( The Future Of Anti Aging )
"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is expected to be phased from sale over the next couple of months and years in the Canadian market due to allowed limits of retinal in one product. The European Union is also looking into retinal as an ingredient and may apply similar restrictions that they recently imposed on retinol, which have led to a wholesale removal of products from the market. [...] The same theory could happen with retinal, though over a much longer time period."
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"It's one of the highest potency over-the-counter retinoids now for me it has just been pipped to the post by Geek and Gorgeous, which is another one of my favorite skincare brands. [...] However, Geek and Gorgeous is not that easy to get in North America and the shipping can be a little high, so if you're in the North American skincare market then you probably better stick in with The Ordinary than Geek and Gorgeous to save on the shipping."
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"When The Ordinary starts to formulate with retinal, this is going to show that this move away from retinol really is only going to continue as we move across the year. I honestly think this is a good thing for us as consumers because retinal has delivered so many great benefits for my own skin. I get enhanced anti-aging and I'm not getting the same sensitivity irritation that I used to with my retinol serums."
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"The very best option on the market is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2%. It's a new launch for this year, and it's absolutely sensational. The price point is divine, the formulation is amazing, and this is the highest strength retinal that's regularly available over the counter."
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"When it comes to their retinol, they have I think their current bestselling product is their retinol emulsion. [...] It's a super high potency retinol."
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"If you can't get your hands on Geek and Gorgeous, then The Ordinary is a really nice alternative. The Ordinary have brought retinal to the masses and they'll always have a place in my heart for doing that. I know so many people now use retinal because of that ordinary product and are getting phenomenal results. Both are phenomenal and I think the best over-the-counter retinoids you're going to find."
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"This is a new launch 6 months ago and it's already in my most repurchased. [...] It's got a great airless pump on it which I love. This is the highest strength retinal over the counter and it's super affordable. This is why I keep buying it time and time again and I absolutely absolutely love it. I use it every other day on the off days, and I tend to buy like three or four units at a time because I use one of these a month with the 15 mil size."
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"I think this is in response to those European Union restrictions. The Ordinary is known for their retinol products but they're going to be restricted to certain countries, [...] so they've transitioned people over to retinal, which I think is the perfect switch you could make for better results and less irritation. This is the highest potency retinal you can find on the market, so if you're in it for those real quick wins, you want maximum anti-aging, this is the one that I go for."
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"It's great because it's super affordable. But the only thing that stops this being in the top five is they only have one strength. [...] The Ordinary created this product which is the maximum strength you're going to see without any lower strength options available. So if you have super resilient skin, you're used to using retinoids, then this one by The Ordinary is super affordable, super effective. It could be your dream product."
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"I adore this serum because it's just the best way on a budget to increase your hyperpigmentation fighting routine. If you've got a good hyperpigmentation dark spots routine going but you want to take it to the next level, alfatin is the best ingredient to incorporate. The reason I say this is it works with everything, so you don't have to worry about not using it with this active or not pairing it alongside that."
"I wish it was bigger. I spoke to The Ordinary about that, nothing's going to change, but it's good enough that I want to keep buying it. It's a super high potency [retinal]. I love it. I like the texture with it being an emulsion. I just like the product. I am going to repurchase it. Do I wish it came in a 30 ml so I'd have to repurchase it less? Absolutely. But we can't change that, so I like it enough that I'm going to look past that and repurchase."
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"It's not for beginners, there are lots of beginner friendly retinoids out there, this isn't one of them, but for people that are an established retinoid user that want extra anti-aging benefits, this is it. It's super affordable. If you were looking at buying the equivalent strength of this in, say, a medicated option, you'd be paying upwards of £100. This is like £22, a fraction of the cost, with the same great formulation quality and high potency option. I absolutely love it."
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"This is their Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, the strongest over-the-counter retinal you will find, and it's super affordable. If your budget doesn't stretch to other options, this is a super affordable option. I game-changer for the skincare industry and I don't say that lightly. This genuinely such a great product."
ULTIMATE RETINAL SERUM - The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion Review
"Super high potency, really effective when it comes to anti-aging, and I think that price point is divine. This is ticking a lot of boxes. I'm going to give it a solid eight out of 10. I would like to see a larger size, which I'm knocking a couple of marks off for, and I think having multiple different strengths would be ideal, but eight out of 10 this is still a super launch from The Ordinary."
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"The ordinary do a high potency one too. These definitely work."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is my current go-to high dose retinal for all the anti-aging. [...] If you're new to retinoids in general maybe this will be too strong, but for everyone else this just kicks it up a notch and is perfect. I absolutely love it. [...] It's only 15 mil so it lasts me about a month because I use a very small amount, but I do find myself buying it quite a lot. If you're someone that likes it I would probably recommend buying a couple."
2 X BETTER ANTI AGING - How To Use Retinal
"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is a sky-high concentration and only for people that have been established using retinoid for years and want to go in at the max strength. [...] It's not beginner friendly; start with a lower strength and work your way up. But for those of us moving from retinol to retinal and wanting instant maximum results, this is a great option. Just keep your eye on any sensitivity, take a day off if you do start to get any sensitivity and irritation before restarting."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, the ordinary really kickstarted the retinal craze when they launched this product and it's absolutely fantastic. This is hands down the highest potency over the counter retinoid that you're going to find, so if you want to max out on your results reach for a 0.2% retinal and this is going to be streaks ahead of some of the other options."
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"Most brands have [...] switched to retinal, which is still permissible and not covered by this ban, and launched new products containing it, such as The Ordinary Retinal, which is one of my personal favorites."
"Got ginger root extract, which is another great soothing ingredient, as well as vitamin E. So it's got a lot of great ingredients in there for hydration. I would recommend if you haven't used retinoids before, either mix this in or layer it in between two thick moisturizing products. They call it the sandwich method and it helps prevent it from drying out your skin too much. But really nice retinoid product overall, and with the sale even more affordable."
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"The one I've played with the most so far is the one from The Ordinary. It's really nice. [...] Overall it's really nice and I think it's like 15 bucks. So keep that in mind though because it's 15 bucks but you get half an ounce as opposed to where these are double the size. So sometimes you got to do the math with The Ordinary because sometimes it looks really really affordable and then when you factor in it's kind of little, it's not quite as affordable."
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"I've been testing it out now for over a month or so and I do think it's helping with my skin as well as softening the wrinkles and fine lines. I haven't noticed anything overwhelming because it takes months, so be patient with it. If you're going to be dedicated and really want to notice benefits, give it three to four months. Don't expect anything miraculous to happen within a week or two. It takes months of continued use and patience."
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"The Ordinary retinal emulsion [was nominated for best retinoid]."
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"I think adding this into my routine, my skin certainly has firmed up a bit and helped tighten it as well. For the price, this is 30ml and retails for $23, which makes it pretty affordable. The closest dupe is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, which also has 0.2% retinal, and while it looks more affordable at $14 or $15, it's half the size of this, so you have to double that price and then it ends up being more expensive."
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"The Ordinary has a retinal serum as well, which is 15 bucks, which is nice. So that's something to consider. But it [...] is a tiny bottle, so it's not quite as affordable as you think because it's a half an ounce. So then if you figure it into an ounce, it's 30 bucks, which brings it to more expensive than anything else on this list."
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"The Ordinary, they all have retinals and I think those are worth a try for firming up your skin. They also take time and patience so give it a few months and that's something worth trying."
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"Next up, The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, which uses 0.2% retinal. That makes it a lot stronger, so this one's really nice. Retinal is stronger than retinol, it's right up there. It's not as strong as tretinoin, but it's the next one up, right underneath something like adapalene. So it's up there, it's stronger than retinol, and it's much stronger than all of those retinol derivatives, the retinol derivatives like HPR and all of those, they're very gentle."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is great. It increases cell turnover and with that brightens up skin. So that'd be another something to use at night. And alternating with retinoids and exfoliants, not using them together."
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"The Ordinary Retinol Emulsion, that's great too. You can't go wrong with them."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion contains 0.2% retinal, which is one of the stronger retinoids. It also has bisabolol in it and ginger root extract and vitamin E for soothing. It is on the more affordable side, though keep in mind this is [...] 2/3 of an ounce. [...] If you compare it to other retinals at 1 oz, they end up being pretty close priced, but this one's nice also for travel."
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"Got ginger root extract, which is another great soothing ingredient, as well as vitamin E. So it's got a lot of great ingredients in there for hydration. I would recommend if you haven't used retinoids before, either mix this in or layer it in between two thick moisturizing products. They call it the sandwich method and it helps prevent it from drying out your skin too much. But really nice retinoid product overall, and with the sale even more affordable."
"The Ordinary Retinal Emulsion also has 0.2% retinal. It contains a sensitive, which is an ingredient molecule that stops the reaction of feeling of stinging and burning sensation on your skin. So if you use something that's really irritating, this ingredient kind of stops it in its tracks. [...] It also contains ginger root, which is going to be beneficial for your skin."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, this one's 15 bucks, it is a smaller size of a bottle, half an ounce. [...] If you're just looking for something where you're able to use just a tiny pea-size amount, it's really nice. It's also nice for travel as well, [...] it's just a nice small compact little tube. It's got 0.2% retinal in there so it's great for anti-aging."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is great. I'd give it a seven out of ten. My main issues are a little bit with the scent, the animal testing area, which changes every day a little bit, and then just the factor. Maybe if I had the higher number, it'd be more efficient or effective."
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"The Ordinary came with their Retinal 0.2% Emulsion which is very nice as well. The bottle is a little bit tiny but it's [...] a weaker version at 0.2%, so it's a very nice serum. [...] I've tested it and reviewed it recently and it's still really nice product."
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"This one's got 0.1% retinal and it also contains vitamin E as well as their highly regarded thermal spring water for soothing your skin."
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"It does help with fine lines and wrinkles. The morning after I apply this one, my skin looks smooth, a little bit smoother. Skin tone is improved. After using this for a few months, I didn't notice as much benefit with wrinkles and fine lines as I did with another retinol product, but the active, the retinal, is the same in both. [...] I didn't have issues with dryness or flakiness with it, which was nice."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is very strong, so even if you're experienced with retinoids I recommend starting out very slowly with this one. It has oat and vitamin E in it. It's very nice and layers on nicely. I've been using it, and I've noticed my face around my mouth is getting more and more droopy and saggy looking, so I've been using this especially around those areas."
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"It's in between the retinol and retinoid acid, so it's strong, not as strong as tretinoin and stronger than retinol. It's proven to help with wrinkles, fine lines, firmer skin, more elastic skin. It is fluorescent yellow so you're going to want to use this at night anyway. [...] Very nice product, strong though, so if you're not familiar with retinoids, start slow and use a good hydrating product with it. [...] This one is my favorite."
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"It's got a lot to do a lot to like about it. It's pretty nice product. Definitely will finish it. [...] I do like the fact that it's a little bit bigger packaging. Yeah, and it's pretty darn nice and it's a good product overall."
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"The Ordinary Retinal Emulsion is great, it contains 2% retinal, which is a great strong retinoid vitamin A. You can't go wrong with it."
"There are some brands like The Ordinary that have it for a bit of an affordable price. [...] If you're on a budget and you don't want the exclusive, [...] elite option, The Ordinary is the one, it just gets us, it's for people who aren't ready to jump into the pro level."
"I have gone through two tubes of it. I have gifted it. I have recommended it. I love it very much. And to give you a small little trivia I feel that Ordinary retinyl is modelled on the Medicati retinol. The beauty of Ordinary is that it is fragrance free, it is not comedogenic, it is safe and easy for all skin types to apply and not like be irritated with it."
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"The Ordinary retinol is beyond extraordinary this is one of the best formula that is available on the market today"
Translated from the guru's original language.
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"I have gone through two tubes of it. I have gifted it. I have recommended it. I love it very much. And to give you a small little trivia I feel that Ordinary retinyl is modelled on the Medicati retinol. The beauty of Ordinary is that it is fragrance free, it is not comedogenic, it is safe and easy for all skin types to apply and not like be irritated with it."
Translated from the guru's original language.
Best retinol in the market is here | Ordinary Retinal Emulsion Review | Nipun Kapur
"I am personally loving the impact of this product"
"I have actually really liked this product a lot and I think they did an excellent job with it and I'm now adding it to my list of topical vitamin A products I recommend because it is quite good. $14.90 is very reasonable. [...] I really like the pump package I think that's a convenient way to dispense product as opposed to a tube or a dropper. It does come out yellow which is to be expected from a retinaldehyde and I was able to tolerate this no problem no irritation or anything of the sort."
"My husband used The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion as one of three over the counter retinoid products he trialed for me. Overall I'd say that this one and the Geek and Gorgeous A-Game 10 are better suited for those that look for a retinoid specifically, compared to the more all rounder innbeauty product."
"The Ordinary is 0.2% retinaldehyde which is excellent. Very good price point at $20. It's got babassu oil in it so that's your anti-inflammatory but really not much else. It is a beautiful formula and I would recommend it. It's actually very similar to the Geek & Gorgeous in terms of very basic formula and non-irritating. Both are great for sensitive skin."
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"You don't need to rub too much and it's non-irritating. It's a beautiful formula. Use this at night after you've cleansed your face, avoid using it with any resurfacing acid or if you're pregnant of course. [...] Top it off with a lovely fatty moisturizer [...] to seal in the actives and create a healing environment for the skin. You are going to see a yellow tinge to the skin but that's because retinal is very yellow."
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"The Ordinary [Retinal] 0.2% Emulsion at £15 for 10 ml is expensive for this brand but it is very safe. There aren't any other actives but it is a beautiful non-irritating formula."
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"There's no retinaldehyde, no retinol, nothing in here to get into the dermis to stimulate collagen and nothing to firm and lift. I would rather that you bought the Retinal 0.2% from The Ordinary is going to do a better job than this."
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"The Ordinary is 0.2% retinaldehyde which is excellent. Very good price point at $20. It's got babassu oil in it so that's your anti-inflammatory but really not much else. It is a beautiful formula and I would recommend it. It's actually very similar to the Geek & Gorgeous in terms of very basic formula and non-irritating. Both are great for sensitive skin."
"And remember retinaldehyde is about 11 times more effective according to studies than retinol, and of course it's not as effective as prescription tretinoin or retinoic acid. But sometimes my skin just can't tolerate my prescription and I think it'd be interesting to see if it can tolerate the 0.2% retinaldehyde. I've been able to tolerate 0.1% very easily."
"I do think this is really innovative because it is not irritating at all and I really like how gentle it is even though it is very strong in terms of efficacy but it doesn't feel irritating on the skin and it's a nice milky formula. [...] What I like about this is some retinal serums that I've tried don't feel hydrating, it just kind of feels very [...] waxy sometimes, [...] and then this one doesn't feel super waxy it feels hydrating and moisturizing at the same time."
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"I do think this is really innovative because it is not irritating at all and I really like how gentle it is even though it is very strong in terms of efficacy but it doesn't feel irritating on the skin and it's a nice milky formula. [...] What I like about this is some retinal serums that I've tried don't feel hydrating, it just kind of feels very [...] waxy sometimes, [...] and then this one doesn't feel super waxy it feels hydrating and moisturizing at the same time."
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"I find that I can use this a couple times a week and my skin is fine and then the rest of the days I supplement with something a little less strong. It has been really easy to add into my skincare routine. My only note, if there's any critique, is that it's kind of small, it's only 0.5 fluid ounces, but you're not going to use a lot. You saw how far just that one pump went, and it works really well. Hats off to The Ordinary for going for 0.2% retinol and making it more affordable."
"For $15 this is unreal, it's fantastic for sensitive skin. I think it's fantastic for beginners who kind of want to go advanced or for people who have a retinoid in their routine and they want to go next level but don't want prescription. It can make you a little bit yellow, a little bit goes a long way, just use a little bit. [...] You can use this morning or night, night is better because it won't break down in the sun. [...] I like the pump applicator."
"This is 0.2% retinal Emulsion and it's a retinoid and in my opinion it's the strongest and the best value for money retinoid that's currently available. [...] Retinal [...] is the next metabolic step on from retinol. [...] Traditionally in skincare [...] we had retinol esters, which your body then has to convert from a retinol ester to a retinol to a retinal to the active form of vitamin A in your skin called trans retinoic acid."
"This is stronger than a retinol, is lightweight, fragrance-free, no hyaluronic acid, and bright yellow in texture. When I used this on my face I got scared, I thought I became jaundiced, it was the color of the serum, so just be aware that you will look slightly yellow if you have a special someone that you're trying to impress at night. It does leave a kind of yellow tint to your skin, but you only use it at night anyway and wash it off in the morning."
"This definitely makes a difference in reducing more visible signs of aging. So fine lines, uneven skin tone, dark spots, red spots, just smoothness of the skin texture. One thing I noticed when I was using this and just using retinaldehyde in general is that it gives my skin the same kind of luminosity that I get when I'm using tretinoin. It's that tretinoin glow. I get that with retinaldehyde formulas as well. More so the higher concentration ones like 0.06% upwards."
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"This definitely makes a difference in reducing more visible signs of aging. So fine lines, uneven skin tone, dark spots, red spots, just smoothness of the skin texture. One thing I noticed when I was using this and just using retinaldehyde in general is that it gives my skin the same kind of luminosity that I get when I'm using tretinoin. It's that tretinoin glow. I get that with retinaldehyde formulas as well. More so the higher concentration ones like 0.06% upwards."
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"For my travels I've been using from The Ordinary their Retinal 0.2% Emulsion. This feels like a very similar strength to my Tretinoin formula. 0.2% retinol is no joke, of course I'm past the phase where I have retinization so it's all good, but I just also love the size is just perfect for travel."
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"My favorite of them all is retinaldehyde event retinol was the original retinaldehyde formula"
"This could cause dryness and irritation. So you could use the modulating glucosides with this or the ordinary pink serum, that soothing barrier support serum. You could use those prior to using this. And because this is a cream and it has a bit of a serum texture, you want to use this before your moisturizer. And again, only at night time. But this is a really nice one. And you are getting 15 mls of product and all you need is one pump, a pea-sized amount."
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"I like it because it's a little bit stronger, it does work a little bit quicker in my opinion. It's more of a cream type of texture, very moisturizing, but it can cause dryness and irritation for some people. Retinal is in the middle between retinol and retinoic acid being prescription tretinoin, so if you've been using retinol for a little while and you feel like moving up to use something a little bit stronger, then I would say go with the Retinal 0.2% Emulsion."
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"This is exceptional and I really really like this. I've been using this on my neck and my chest, and when I was testing this on my face, I found this to be quite gentle. The formulation is actually quite moisturizing as well. That said, this could cause some irritation and some dryness, and we all have different skin and react differently, so if you are brand new to this product I would start with once a week and then slowly gradually increase from there depending on how your skin does."
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"Out of the three retinoids that the Ordinary has, this is the one that has performed the best on my skin because it's the strongest and the most effective. It's meant for those that are even more advanced with retinoids, so if you've been using a retinol and a retinoid for a really long time and you're ready for something stronger, this is where you can start. I wouldn't say jump right in and start using this if you're a beginner."
EXCLUSIVE: THE ORDINARY RETINAL 0.2% EMULSION | THE NEWEST LAUNCH FOR SIGNS OF AGING!
"I'm a little disappointed that it's only 15 mls because if you're using this pretty frequently I feel like we're going to go through this really quickly. [...] A pea-sized amount is all you need to cover your entire face, though you might need a little bit extra for your neck area. [...] Before you apply this, [...] make sure [...] your skin is clean [...] and then put your pea-sized amount onto dry skin. The Ordinary does recommend this, and I agree with them."
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"The formulation is truly on point and I have seen great results with this. It's at a 0.2% concentration which is pretty high, so if you are a beginner to a retinoid or you've never used a retinol before, I wouldn't say start with this, start with the retinol and then gradually make your way up to the retinal. This is in between tretinoin and retinol. Because I have a lot of experience with actives, I actually find this to be quite gentle."
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"I have been obsessed with this since the first time I used it. [...] This is The Ordinary's strongest retinoid formulation. This truly is meant for those that are experienced with retinols already. So let's say you've been using a retinol for a while and you would like to graduate to something a little bit stronger, then that's when you'd want to use this."
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"This is really effective if you can be consistent with this. With retinal, also known as retinaldehyde, this is stronger than a retinol. So there's retinol, retinaldehyde, and then the next highest strength is prescription tretinoin. So this product is in between retinol and retinoic acid, and so this can be a little drying and irritating for some skin types, especially if you're a beginner and you're new to a retinaldehyde."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion [...] is absolutely amazing to soften and fine lines, improve texture, tone for brightness. Great if you're acne prone; retinal dehydride is also great to treat acne and this can really improve your skin all around. I love this. If you're new to retinol and you've never used a retinol before, this might be too powerful. This really is meant for those that are more experienced with retinol."
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"I really like The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% Emulsion. This is a retinaldehyde, so this is actually one step down from tretinoin but one step up from retinol, so this would be the next best thing if you can't get your hands on tretinoin. This can still cause irritation and dryness, so start with one or two days a week and gradually increase from there."
NEXT LEVEL ANTI-AGING SERUM - THE ORDINARY RETINAL 0.2% EMULSION REVIEW!
"The Ordinary did a very good job with the texture and formulation in terms of how it spreads across the skin and how moisturizing it feels. I really do feel like this is quite gentle, but remember I am somebody who has been a retinoid user for over four years and before that I was using products like retinol, [...] so my skin has had some experience with actives, which is probably why my skin isn't reacting to this. This is more for those experienced with retinoids."
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"If you want something a little bit stronger than a retinol, then I would recommend The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion, which is an encapsulated retinal. This is one step up from retinol but one step down from tretinoin, also known as retinoic acid. This is great but not necessarily meant for beginners; this is more for experienced users. This can cause irritation and dryness, so be cautious with it."
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"This could cause dryness and irritation. So you could use the modulating glucosides with this or the ordinary pink serum, that soothing barrier support serum. You could use those prior to using this. And because this is a cream and it has a bit of a serum texture, you want to use this before your moisturizer. And again, only at night time. But this is a really nice one. And you are getting 15 mls of product and all you need is one pump, a pea-sized amount."
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"I didn't experience any additional irritation, nothing. This has just been super gentle, extremely hydrating, and I feel like it pairs up nicely with everything that I have used with it. I also really like how this shines through my sunscreen and my makeup because it just gives my skin that beautiful glow and radiance. If you have dry skin, honestly you're going to love it, but even if you have oily, acne, combo skin you're going to love it too. It is still really nice for all skin types."
RESULTS GUARANTEED! 10 PRO TRETINOIN/RETINAL PAIRINGS TO LIMIT SKIN IRRITATION AND SIGNS OF AGING
"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is their newest launch and their strongest retinoid. I recently reviewed it here on my channel and I do go in depth, share my experience with this, and also show you how it applies and how it looks on the skin."
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"This is truly one of the best retinaldehydes I have ever used. This is one step down from tretinoin but one step up from retinol. This is meant for those that have experience with retinoids, so if you're a beginner I would recommend to start with a retinol first and then make your way up to this in time. This is quite powerful, especially for those that are newer to a retinaldehyde."
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"It can be great for acne-prone skin as well. It's definitely going to improve fine lines and wrinkles and it's going to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, especially if you can be consistent with it. When I first started off with [tretinoin], I only started off with once or twice a week, and I did that for several weeks until my skin adjusted, and then I gradually increased my usage from there. I would definitely recommend doing that with this also."
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"The Ordinary has a retinal the 0.2% Emulsion so if you want to stick with the Ordinary brand this is lovely. I did recommend these two together in that nighttime routine. I love this pairing a lot but I usually always use tretinoin so I generally use this combination five to six nights per week and I love it. Tretinoin, retinol, retinol deyes these can also help to stimulate new collagen elastin improving texture and tone fine lines and wrinkles acne it does it all."
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"I really love this for the face. If you can't get your hands on prescription tretinoin, this is amazing for the face because remember this is one step down from tretinoin. This can be very irritating for those that are beginners. This is truly better for those that are more experienced users with retinoids but it can cause a little dryness, a little bit of irritation."
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"This is their strongest retinoid with everything that they have in their retinoid collection. [...] This is the strongest because this is a retinaldehyde. If you're using a retinol right now and you're really not seeing a difference and you would like to increase the strength of it then I would say go with this one. The 0.2% is the only strength that they have currently right now. [...] It can cause some dryness and irritation for some people."
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"It is really straightforward and I see great results with this one. My skin is super soft and smooth. It really does help to firm as well. I love this for my neck and my chest and the tops of my hands and I do like to occasionally use this on my face as well. And it's also really affordable."
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"It helps with cell turnover, it can help to produce new collagen elastin, and it can also help to improve texture tone and acne at the same time. So just be consistent, you want to be on something like this for a long time. [...] Start slow, so start with maybe one or two days a week, gradually increase from there. [...] These types of products can really help to improve your overall complexion and it can really help to remove and soften fine lines and wrinkles."
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"The Ordinary's Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is their newest launch and their strongest retinoid that they have now in their collection. This is an encapsulated retinal, and it's important to know that you want to use your retinal in your nighttime routine because retinal is light sensitive, so these actually degrade in natural daylight."
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"But this is really, really nice. I have really achieved that brighter complexion with this. This product makes my skin super soft, and my neck can actually tolerate this as well. I've been using this pretty much every night on my neck area and I absolutely love it. I feel like I'm already seeing results with my neck where everything just looks more soft and smooth, and some of the fine lines that I have on my neck don't look as noticeable."
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"This really will help with texture, improving skin tone, softening fine lines. It really does it all. It does help to prevent breakouts as well. [...] This really does give a nice soft smooth look and feel to the skin. The first thing that I noticed was skin clarity, how smooth and soft it looked and it looked a lot brighter as well. And then obviously in time, the more consistent you can be, it's going to improve everything else. [...] It has this nice creaminess to it, but it's an emulsion."
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"I was basically using this with everything so I did pair this up with troan at night time copper peptides regular peptides I did use this with vitamin C there were no issues everything layered up really nicely"
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"I like this the most because I do find this to be quite gentle, I find this to be moisturizing and also really effective. I've been using this on my neck since they launched this early this year. [...] Before using this I was using the [Paula's Choice] 1% retinol on my neck."
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"The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion [...] is an encapsulated retinal derivative that has a slower delivery system into the skin and is also going to penetrate deeper into the skin as well. This is going to improve texture and tone, it can help with fine lines and wrinkles, and it can also help with acne at the same time."
What the evidence says.
Independent of what the gurus think, this is what
the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.
Retinoids
Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.
Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.
Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.
A lightweight retinaldehyde emulsion at 0.2% strength designed to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Comes in a 15ml pump bottle.
Is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion worth it?
Mostly yes. 12 of the 14 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.
What is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion's Guru Score?
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 14 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.
Who is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion best for?
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is generally suited to mature skin.
Same formula, worth a look.
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