The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane for acne-prone skin
Retinol
Squalane
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Jojoba Seed Oil
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate rejuvenation for your combination skin, as retinol helps regulate desquamation and squalane provides emollient action to balance oily and dry areas.
- While it offers general hydration benefits, the formula is primarily supportive for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your acne-prone skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users generally praise this serum as an affordable and effective entry-level retinol that improves skin texture and reduces fine lines, though the oily squalane base is a polarizing feature. While many with dry or mature skin appreciate the added hydration, those with oily or acne-prone skin frequently report that it feels heavy, greasy, and can cause congestion or purging.
Highlights
Improves skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “smooths roughness”
- “softens skin”
- “glowing complexion”
Unbeatable price Mostly Mentioned
- “great value”
- “affordable”
- “budget-friendly”
Hydrating formula Often Mentioned
- “non-drying”
- “moisturizing oil”
- “prevents flaking”
Reduces aging signs Often Mentioned
- “fades fine lines”
- “plumps wrinkles”
- “firmer skin”
Greasy residue Often Mentioned
- “sits on skin”
- “doesn't absorb”
- “oily film”
Gentle effectiveness Sometimes Noted
- “low irritation”
- “good for beginners”
- “minimal redness”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “purging phase”
- “cystic acne”
- “clogged pores”
Short shelf life Sometimes Noted
- “expires quickly”
- “requires refrigeration”
- “3-month limit”
Messy packaging Rarely Noted
- “leaky dropper”
- “stains pillowcases”
- “greasy bottle”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “cooking oil smell”
- “earthy odor”
- “stale scent”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, beautybay.com, cultbeauty.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane work for acne-prone skin?
This product works moderately well for your acne-prone skin, as retinol helps manage skin shedding while squalane balances oily and dry areas. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to the lack of harsh ingredients, but acne-prone skin typically needs products with ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or propolis to target breakouts and control oil more effectively.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Retinol and squalane make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin by helping regulate skin renewal while providing lightweight moisture to balance oily and dry areas. To achieve a better fit for this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that directly target breakouts and control oiliness without causing irritation.
What does Retinol do for acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps acne-prone skin by speeding up cell turnover and clearing pores to reduce breakouts. It regulates skin growth and fights inflammation, though it may cause some mild peeling or stinging when you first start using it.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, as evening application helps keep your skin safe around sun exposure. Acne-prone skin works best with products that offer soothing blemish care alongside gentle hydration.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this serum at night to avoid overwhelming your skin. This product helps support blemishes and breakouts, but acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that target underlying causes and control oil.
How often should I use this serum?
Apply this treatment in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Acne-prone skin needs a product with retinols and jojoba oil to help target blemishes and keep skin balanced.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This treatment may occasionally cause breakouts, as reviewers note a moderate risk of clogged pores and some users experience blemishes. However, it is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients, though acne-prone skin often benefits more from lightweight, oil-free formulas that balance oil without heavy textures.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical lycopene-based emulgel significantly enhanced skin hydration and elasticity while reducing erythema, melanin, and sebum contents in human volunteers compared to a placebo formulation over 12 weeks.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2022Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Nanolipidgel formulations with argan or jojoba oil and humectants demonstrate good sensory attributes, instrumental properties, and moisturizing efficacy for cosmetic application.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Cosmetic formulations containing lycopene and melatonin showed significant differences in skin sebum content, hydration, elasticity, erythema index, and melanin index compared to control in 36 healthy women.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2020Topical delivery of lycopene via MG- and TG-containing microemulsions significantly increased stratum corneum and viable skin layer penetration compared to a control solution, with the MG-containing microemulsion also increasing skin antioxidant activity by 10-fold.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2010Tomato-derived nanovesicles and extract accelerated wound closure and increased cell migration in human keratinocytes and mouse fibroblasts without affecting cell proliferation.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024
Ingredients
Squalane, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Jojoba Seed Oil, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Bht
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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