The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane for oily acne-prone skin
Retinol
Squalane
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Jojoba Seed Oil
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 your oily skin as squalane and jojoba seed oil provide emollient action, while retinol effectively reduces fine lines and wrinkles by promoting skin renewal and smoothing texture.
- The formula provides general hydration and antioxidant benefits from rosemary leaf extract, which are supportive but not specifically targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like squalane and jojoba seed oil.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
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
How well does The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane work for oily acne-prone skin?
This product works moderately well for your oily skin because it softens texture and smooths fine lines, though other treatments fit acne better. An oily acne-prone skin needs a treatment with ingredients like niacinamide or Vitamin C and propolis to control excess oil and target blemishes safely.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane and jojoba seed oil make this serum a good fit by softening your skin without feeling heavy. A treatment for this skin type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or Vitamin C to target breakouts and control excess oil.
What does Retinol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps oily acne-prone skin by clearing up breakouts and smoothing the skin, though it may occasionally cause some mild scaling or stinging. This ingredient works by addressing the root causes of acne, making it a reliable choice for keeping pores clear and skin smooth.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2018
What does Squalane do for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep oily skin soft and smooth, but oxidized squalene can trigger inflammation in acne-prone skin. Because of this, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also targets breakouts with ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or benzoyl peroxide.
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 treatment at night, as using them separately helps avoid irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs a treatment that specifically targets blemishes and breakouts alongside ingredients that smooth texture.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, starting slowly to see how your skin responds. This type of product needs acne-targeted ingredients and oil-balancing agents to properly care for oily, acne-prone skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin, but reviewers occasionally report breakouts since the formula lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. To better manage acne and breakouts, oily skin needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or niacinamide to help clear pores and regulate oil.
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, 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 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 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 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, 2014Topical 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 oily acne-prone skin better
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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