The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
This is a documentation review of The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane, built from the brand's US product page, its usage and safety text, its formulation compatibility notes and its US returns policy, all read on October 21, 2026. It is the cheapest retinol in our beginner shortlist at $9.30 for 30 ml, and the only one of the three whose retinol percentage is printed in the name at a moderate strength. The base is short and water-free: squalane, a triglyceride and jojoba oil, with retinol and two antioxidant extracts. The return policy is unusually generous, 365 days if the bottle is at least half full. The catches are practical. The brand calls this a moderate-strength, intermediate formula and itself tells newcomers to start with its 0.2% version, which was showing out of stock that day. The bottle must be refrigerated after opening and used within three months. And an oil base will not suit everyone. Nothing here is medical advice.
Why we rate it
- Cheapest retinol in our shortlist at $9.30 for 30 ml, about $0.31 per ml by our arithmetic
- Retinol strength disclosed on the label at 0.5%, which the American Academy of Dermatology notes is not required for over-the-counter products
- 365-day returns on products at least half full, the longest window of the three brands we graded
Keep in mind
- The brand describes it as moderate strength and tells beginners to start at 0.2%, which was out of stock on October 21, 2026
Community discussion
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