The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane for sensitive skin
Retinol
Squalane
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Jojoba Seed Oil
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract
Low
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for sensitive skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 suitability for normal skin, as retinol helps regulate desquamation and squalane provides emollient action, though it may not deliver optimal results for your redness and irritation concerns.
- The presence of retinol, while beneficial for fine lines, can initially worsen sensitivity, and its concentration may not be sufficiently balanced for your sensitive skin.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis retinol is highly recommended for beginners and those with sensitive skin, effectively addressing fine lines and texture with minimal irritation. Its hydrating base helps prevent dryness, though many users find the oil-based formula greasy and note the need for refrigeration and a relatively short shelf life.
Highlights
Gentle and beginner-friendly Mostly Mentioned
- “good gentle exfoliator”
- “no side effects”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “perfect starter retinol”
Great price Often Mentioned
- “can't beat the price”
- “affordable anti-aging”
- “great value”
- “cheap but effective”
Improves texture and glow Often Mentioned
- “woke up with glowy skin”
- “pores looked smaller”
- “smoother texture”
- “glass skin vibe”
Greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “too oily”
- “sits on skin”
- “feels heavy”
- “greasy residue”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “keeps skin moist”
- “didn't dry me out”
- “very nourishing”
- “no peeling at all”
Short shelf life Sometimes Noted
- “goes bad quickly”
- “smells rancid after 3 months”
- “hate keeping it in fridge”
- “expired before I finished it”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused tiny breakouts”
- “clogged my pores”
- “purging phase was rough”
- “gave me whiteheads”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like vegetable oil”
- “stale oil smell”
- “earthy scent”
- “weird odor”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane a weak match for sensitive skin?
This treatment is a weak match because the retinol can initially worsen sensitivity and may not be balanced well enough for your skin, and while squalane keeps things soft, the formula may not help much with redness and irritation. A treatment for sensitive skin needs soothing and repairing ingredients like niacinamide or snail secretion filtrate and powerful antioxidants to calm the skin without causing irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for sensitive skin?
This serum is a weak match for sensitive skin because retinol can initially worsen irritation and redness. Treatments that rate higher for this skin type need soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hydrating components that calm redness without causing stinging.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
What does Retinol do for sensitive skin?
Retinol is generally too harsh for sensitive skin and may cause stinging, scaling, and irritation. A product for this skin needs gentle ingredients that smooth and calm without causing redness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Toxicology Letters, 2003
What does Squalane do for sensitive skin?
Squalane helps calm sensitive skin by defending against everyday irritation and keeping it smooth and soft. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier so it stays comfortable and hydrated.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Because this product is a weak match that may initially worsen redness and irritation, a product of this type needs calming ingredients and a balanced concentration to keep sensitive skin comfortable.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
It is generally best to avoid using this treatment in the same routine as vitamin C, as layering them may increase the likelihood of redness and irritation on sensitive skin. Instead, you might use your vitamin C in the morning and apply this treatment at night, making sure to follow with a good moisturizer.
How often should I use it?
This product is a weak match for sensitive skin because retinol can initially worsen redness and irritation, so it may not be suitable for frequent use. A product of this type for sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients and gentle concentrations that calm irritation while supporting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This product is unlikely to cause breakouts for most people, though reviewers occasionally report them. Sensitive skin needs a gentler treatment with soothing ingredients and lower strength to avoid redness and irritation.
Is it 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, 2017Topical 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, 2018Squalane 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, 2023Clay 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 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, 2025Topical 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, 2022Cosmetic 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, 2010
Why other serums fit sensitive skin better
- Retinol in this serum
Topical 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, 2019
Ingredients
Squalane, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Jojoba Seed Oil, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract, Rosamarinus 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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