I have literally spent thousands on retinol over the past five years. From the $88 Skinceuticals and Drunk Elephant to this $8 bottle of 1% from the Ordinary and I am so impressed with this little bottle of oil. It has the same exact strength retinol as the $88 tubes I was buying and has left my fave with an undeniable glow that has me thrilled. It's an oil and I take about five drops and massage into my face during my nighttime regimen. It does take a few minutes to absorb but it absolutely does dry down and leaves my face so glowy, supple and soft when I wake up in the morning. This bottle will also last months because you only need a few drops (I use about 5). I keep all of my vitamin C and Retinol serums in the fridge to keep them as fresh as possible. This ... MoreI have literally spent thousands on retinol over the past five years. From the $88 Skinceuticals and Drunk Elephant to this $8 bottle of 1% from the Ordinary and I am so impressed with this little bottle of oil. It has the same exact strength retinol as the $88 tubes I was buying and has left my fave with an undeniable glow that has me thrilled. It's an oil and I take about five drops and massage into my face during my nighttime regimen. It does take a few minutes to absorb but it absolutely does dry down and leaves my face so glowy, supple and soft when I wake up in the morning. This bottle will also last months because you only need a few drops (I use about 5). I keep all of my vitamin C and Retinol serums in the fridge to keep them as fresh as possible. This little bottle packs a serious puch my friends.

10/10

I bought this and was very skeptical because I have had problems with adult acne and have needed a prescription medication prescribed to treat it. Therefore I am very skeptical about what I put on my face to avoid any breakouts. I took a chance with this and I am so glad I did. I did not have any breakouts with this retinol. The squalane in it is amazing. I wake up with soft, moisturized, glowing skin. As far as anti aging. I have seen more results in the first couple of uses with this product then I have with prescription Tretinoin. I pair it with Argireline Solution and it has made my vertical lines on my forehead just about disappear within the first week. I’m 35 years old and have tried just about every moisturizer, serum under the sun. This works.

A must in night routine

Retinol 1% is my essential night routine in past 3 years. I started with 0.2%, then 0.5% and finally 1%. It's important to initiate retinol to your routine in low content and gradually increase as you let your skin get used to it, as some people may experience irritation. It has caused absolutely no irritation to me whatsoever. The consistence is squalene oil, which is a light-to-medium thickness oil. Has to be used only in night routine, and stored in the fridge. Works wonders along with acids against texture irregularities and hyperpigmentation. However, keep in mind that results can be visible after months of consistent use, or even years. Always use sunscreen in the morning (no1 rule in skincare)

Best product but problem again

This is my staple product and has been for about four years. My skin is flawless and my wrinkles are gone because of it. But I have a problem again! About a year ago I went through a bottle when I began to believe there was no active in it. I tried it on a new area of skin to make sure and nothing happened. When you use retinol at this strength there is an effect, even with long-tine use. Anyway, I opened a new bottle and it was back to the full effects of 1% retinol. Two months ago I had the same problem with a brand new bottle I opened and always keep in the fridge. I have bought another bottle this week and already start to see the retinol at work. So, either the retinol is not in the bottle or it is defective. But it is a long time to waste thinking there is an ... MoreThis is my staple product and has been for about four years. My skin is flawless and my wrinkles are gone because of it. But I have a problem again! About a year ago I went through a bottle when I began to believe there was no active in it. I tried it on a new area of skin to make sure and nothing happened. When you use retinol at this strength there is an effect, even with long-tine use. Anyway, I opened a new bottle and it was back to the full effects of 1% retinol. Two months ago I had the same problem with a brand new bottle I opened and always keep in the fridge. I have bought another bottle this week and already start to see the retinol at work. So, either the retinol is not in the bottle or it is defective. But it is a long time to waste thinking there is an active in there!

Great product, but use it right!

I use this product every day, it has kept my skin moisturized, clear and luminous. I use it on my face, neck and hands. At first, when I started using it three + years ago, it stung very slightly, then I realized I should not use it after I scrubbed my face or if I have a scratch of any kind. Ladies and gents, this is a great product. Word of advise, if you have never used a retinol product, start with the lowest available percentage Deciem has, once the first bottle is out, you can graduate to this one, the most potent. Also, if you are using a prescription Retinol, for the love of god, don't use this, first of, you don't need it, and secondly, you will be irritated as hell (it is like taking prescription twice, not good or needed!) Additionally, if you are using ... MoreI use this product every day, it has kept my skin moisturized, clear and luminous. I use it on my face, neck and hands. At first, when I started using it three + years ago, it stung very slightly, then I realized I should not use it after I scrubbed my face or if I have a scratch of any kind. Ladies and gents, this is a great product. Word of advise, if you have never used a retinol product, start with the lowest available percentage Deciem has, once the first bottle is out, you can graduate to this one, the most potent. Also, if you are using a prescription Retinol, for the love of god, don't use this, first of, you don't need it, and secondly, you will be irritated as hell (it is like taking prescription twice, not good or needed!) Additionally, if you are using any kind of acne reducing pads, like OXY pads or Neutrogena, don't use this after. Those pads have Salicilic acid, it does not mix well with retinoids. I keep mine in a little make up fridge ($35 bucks at Walmart) in my bathroom. Also, you may purchase this and not feel any irritation at all, that is also OK, it does not mean the product is not working, it means your skin is assimilating it without issues, if you don't believe it, take a selfie, use it for a month and take another selfie. When something is working gradually, you won't notice it as loudly. It is unfair that people that do not take the time to read instructions, feel so good about giving bad ratings to a great product. It is just not right.

Haven't worked out for me

Started with the strongest version from the get-go. Built up my tolerance gradually, starting from 2x a week and increasing to every other day after two weeks, and continued using it daily after four weeks. I've been using it for six months in total. The price is very attractive compared to other products on the market and I trust the Ordinary products based on my experience with other products. However, this product didn't satisfy my needs. First of all, it was pretty oily and didn't absorb well into my skin. I'm quite sure a good amount of the product ended up on my pillowcase. Leaving the product to absorb for a longer time (>1h) hasn't helped either. The greatest disappointment, though, is that I do not feel that the product worked at all. I mean, obviously, I ... MoreStarted with the strongest version from the get-go. Built up my tolerance gradually, starting from 2x a week and increasing to every other day after two weeks, and continued using it daily after four weeks. I've been using it for six months in total. The price is very attractive compared to other products on the market and I trust the Ordinary products based on my experience with other products. However, this product didn't satisfy my needs. First of all, it was pretty oily and didn't absorb well into my skin. I'm quite sure a good amount of the product ended up on my pillowcase. Leaving the product to absorb for a longer time (>1h) hasn't helped either. The greatest disappointment, though, is that I do not feel that the product worked at all. I mean, obviously, I didn't conduct any scientific measurements of my face. However, I didn't experience any irritation as expected either. Perhaps, I managed to avoid the irritation through the gradual increase. Considering I started with the strongest one though, I'd expect to experience some irritation. Well. All in all, it's nothing for me. Maybe I'm immune to Retinol which would be sad since that is the most researched and proven ingredient for anti-aging.

I can not rave about this product enough

I bought this during the Black Friday sale. I figured that if it did not work out for me, it wouldn’t be a great loss to my wallet. This product blew me away. I noticed results after the very first use. I have been using it with the Argireline solution 10%. I was using a topical prescription retinoid for 2 years prior to this for adult acne and anti aging benefits. This retinol product from the ordinary out performed Tretinoin. My skin has never looked better at 35 years old. It erased fine lines and wrinkles, I had vertical lines on my forehead and in combo with argireline, this retinol erased them, tightened my skin, evened out my skin tone, cleared acne, it has helped with acne scars, and the list goes on. The added Squalane kept my skin hydrated and gives me a ... MoreI bought this during the Black Friday sale. I figured that if it did not work out for me, it wouldn’t be a great loss to my wallet. This product blew me away. I noticed results after the very first use. I have been using it with the Argireline solution 10%. I was using a topical prescription retinoid for 2 years prior to this for adult acne and anti aging benefits. This retinol product from the ordinary out performed Tretinoin. My skin has never looked better at 35 years old. It erased fine lines and wrinkles, I had vertical lines on my forehead and in combo with argireline, this retinol erased them, tightened my skin, evened out my skin tone, cleared acne, it has helped with acne scars, and the list goes on. The added Squalane kept my skin hydrated and gives me a healthy glow. I did not experience any irritation or dryness. This is the fountain of youth in a bottle. My skin has never looked healthier, younger, firmer, and clear.

This absolutely changed my skin!!

This product is amazing!! The first time I used it my face did go red and peel - that's normal for a retinol folks! Means it's working. I had to then stop until the redness cleared (about a week) before using it again, and have been using it daily ever since without issue. Initially I applied this after moisturizer (to reduce irritation), and eventually progressed to before my moisturizer. If you want this product to work for you, do your research on retinols! If you're concerned about irritation, either start with a lower strength and work your way up, work your way up to more frequent use, and/or start off by applying this over vaseline. If you're concerned about your eye area, apply vaseline to that area first. Apply sparingly (I find it takes 3 drops for the ... MoreThis product is amazing!! The first time I used it my face did go red and peel - that's normal for a retinol folks! Means it's working. I had to then stop until the redness cleared (about a week) before using it again, and have been using it daily ever since without issue. Initially I applied this after moisturizer (to reduce irritation), and eventually progressed to before my moisturizer. If you want this product to work for you, do your research on retinols! If you're concerned about irritation, either start with a lower strength and work your way up, work your way up to more frequent use, and/or start off by applying this over vaseline. If you're concerned about your eye area, apply vaseline to that area first. Apply sparingly (I find it takes 3 drops for the face), as more doesn't equal more effective, it equals more irritation. I've been using this on my face daily for about 3 weeks, and I see a huge difference in my skin! I've only been able to apply it to my neck/chest 3x so far and I've noticed a big difference in pigmentation/sun damage there. My face is looking so much brighter, more even, smooth, etc. I definitely went through a purge, but I'm now noticing my skin heals much faster. It just all around looks much younger. I took my makeup off tonight and had to do a double-take, as I couldn't believe how (almost) flawless my skin looked as I washed it off! I love how this is so affordable yet effective! Will continue to use and recommend this so long as it remains an affordable option!

UNBEATABLE VALUE for a quality product!

Being 59yo with the usual ageing skin concerns, this is my go-to retinol serum and it's value for money cannot be beaten. Thank God for The Ordinary - a skincare brand that does not overload products with an endless list of (often unnecessary) ingredients. Therefore, the actives in The Ordinary products are less diluted which equals higher potency. It's impressive that retinol is listed as the 4th of only 7 ingredients in this serum, which is remarkable for a retinol product at this price point. Many/most other brands have 2-3 times more ingredients (mostly chemicals) and retinol is rarely/never listed so high on the list as with The Ordinary. In this case, less is definitely more (ingredients-wise). Being an habitual label reader, take my word for it - this product ... MoreBeing 59yo with the usual ageing skin concerns, this is my go-to retinol serum and it's value for money cannot be beaten. Thank God for The Ordinary - a skincare brand that does not overload products with an endless list of (often unnecessary) ingredients. Therefore, the actives in The Ordinary products are less diluted which equals higher potency. It's impressive that retinol is listed as the 4th of only 7 ingredients in this serum, which is remarkable for a retinol product at this price point. Many/most other brands have 2-3 times more ingredients (mostly chemicals) and retinol is rarely/never listed so high on the list as with The Ordinary. In this case, less is definitely more (ingredients-wise). Being an habitual label reader, take my word for it - this product is a must-have retinol serum, especially for those on tight budgets. I've been using The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane 5-7 nights/week for 2+ years now. You're not going to see instant results if ageing skin is your concern, but NO RETINOL SERUM CAN DELIVER SHORT TERM RESULTS for wrinkles/ageing skin, as consistency over years is key with retinol/tretanoin products. Realistically, after 4-6 months of consistent use, you can expect to see gradual fading of sun damage and a reduction of fine lines. Using a potent (20%+) vitamin C serum every morning will also boost retinol's efficacy, especially for sun damaged skin like mine, which I also do every day. This product is definitely a winner and a stayer in my daily skincare routine. Highly recommended. NOTE: As acne is not a concern for me, I cannot vouch for it's effectiveness on acne-prone skin, although I see there are many, many positive reviews online to be found for acne treatment.

Unexpected results!

The most effective product I've used so far for KP (chicken skin) on my upper arms and thighs. For some odd reason I can't use this on my face without breaking out, despite starting on the relatively mild Granactive Retinoid and progressing to 0.5% Retinol in Squalane. But when it comes to body it's a whole different story! I read an online article last year that gives you the low down on the best things you can use on KP. AHA (Glycolic and Lactic acid) lotions and scrubs featured heavily on that list, but one ingredient which they strongly advised looking out for was 'Retinol'. Now I don't know if this article was written pre-The Ordinary era but they emphasized Retinol being a super-effective but very costly cure...but of course that's no longer the case! With all ... MoreThe most effective product I've used so far for KP (chicken skin) on my upper arms and thighs. For some odd reason I can't use this on my face without breaking out, despite starting on the relatively mild Granactive Retinoid and progressing to 0.5% Retinol in Squalane. But when it comes to body it's a whole different story! I read an online article last year that gives you the low down on the best things you can use on KP. AHA (Glycolic and Lactic acid) lotions and scrubs featured heavily on that list, but one ingredient which they strongly advised looking out for was 'Retinol'. Now I don't know if this article was written pre-The Ordinary era but they emphasized Retinol being a super-effective but very costly cure...but of course that's no longer the case! With all those unused bottles of The Ordinary Retinol sitting around it made complete sense to use them up and I jumped straight onto the 1%. At first I used every 2-3 nights and then I increased to every 2nd night. That was about 1 month ago. I've experienced no irritation and no breakouts whatsoever and in fact I actually use this very liberally, up to 7 drops or so per upper arm or thigh. I can now see a big difference in the visibility of my KP, the red dots are much less visible and refined. Prior to using this Amlactin was the most effective product I had tried, Retinol is one step beyond that, my arms are at least 70% improved (legs were worse to start with so will probably take longer to catch up). The only one downside is I have to be super-diligent about using sun protection, regardless of the conditions outside. Other than that super happy with the results and all for a fraction of the price of any other KP 'cure'. Will the results remain? From what I've gathered about the condition I doubt it, maintenance seems to be the key in keeping it at bay as there's no permanent cure and until there is, this is the next best thing! ~ My Space NK Top 7 must-have list ~ (My top 7 must-have beauty products of all time, focusing mainly on my purchases at Space NK) 1. Hair Loss Treatment: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Hair Oil 2. Bronzer: ‘Chantecaille’ - HD Perfecting Bronze 3. Pigmentation + Anti-Aging Serum: ‘Divine Herbal’ - Facial Treatment Serum 4. Eye Primer: ‘Ilia Beauty’ – Natural Brightening Eye Primer 5. Mask: ‘Eve Lom’ – Radiance Transforming Mask 6. Foundation Brush: ‘Space NK’ – Brush 102 7. Shampoo: ‘Briogeo’ - Scalp Revival Shampoo