The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion for oily skin
Retinaldehyde
Bisabolol
Ergothioneine
Lactic Acid
HydroxyapatiteAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- Highly suitable for oily skin, this product's retinal helps regulate desquamation and offers keratolytic action, while bisabolol provides anti-inflammatory benefits to manage oiliness.
- The formulation offers moderate treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, with retinal in a suitable concentration for visible anti-aging effects.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like bisabolol.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this high-strength retinoid is favored by experienced users for its rapid ability to smooth uneven texture and fade dark spots, particularly acne scars and hyperpigmentation. While highly effective for firming skin and reducing fine lines, it frequently causes dryness or irritation in beginners and leaves a temporary yellow tint on the skin.
Highlights
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smoother to the touch”
- “sloughed away dead skin cells”
- “refines overall texture”
- “softening the wrinkles”
Yellow staining Often Mentioned
- “stains pillowcases yellow”
- “leaves yellow tint on face”
- “bright neon yellow color”
- “transfers to light fabrics”
Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
- “fading pesky acne scars”
- “complexion is far more unified”
- “noticeably reducing dark spots”
- “sped up fading process”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “sinks into skin instantly”
- “lightweight formula absorbs quickly”
- “doesn't sit on skin”
- “silky consistency”
Good value Sometimes Noted
- “affordable price tag”
- “cheaper than competitors”
- “great results for the price”
- “reasonable for a retinal”
Irritation and dryness Sometimes Noted
- “caused burning and stinging”
- “experienced peeling on jawline”
- “too intense for sensitive skin”
- “dried out my skin barrier”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “hard to dispense product”
- “pump mechanism is faulty”
- “struggled to get product out”
Small product size Rarely Noted
- “bottle is very tiny (15ml)”
- “finished it very quickly”
- “expensive for the amount”
- “wish it came in bigger size”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% work for oily skin?
This treatment works reasonably well for oily skin, helping manage oiliness and fine lines with a safe, gentle formula. However, oily skin typically benefits more from products containing ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to better control shine and pores.
Which ingredients make this emulsion a good fit for oily skin?
Retinal helps manage oiliness, while bisabolol provides soothing and calming benefits for your oily skin. Oily skin often does better with a product that includes ingredients like niacinamide to control excess oil and zinc PCA to address enlarged pores.
What does Retinal do for oily skin?
Retinal helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and clearing clogged pores when used daily. This ingredient is well-suited for managing breakouts while keeping skin smooth and calm.
What does Bisabolol do for oily skin?
Bisabolol helps calm red and irritated areas on oily skin and may help keep pores clear due to its soothing properties. Products of this type for oily skin need lightweight, balancing ingredients that reduce shine without clogging pores.
Where does this emulsion go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin also needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients and gentle exfoliants that keep pores clear without causing irritation.
Can I use this emulsion with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this emulsion with niacinamide, applying the niacinamide first and letting it absorb before you put on the treatment. This combination is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep oily skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this emulsion?
Apply this treatment in the evening, starting once a week and slowly increasing the frequency only if your skin handles it well. This routine helps your oily skin adjust safely while managing potential irritation.
Can this emulsion clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This emulsion is unlikely to cause clogged pores or breakouts for oily skin, as its formula contains no heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. However, because it contains retinal, it may cause a temporary phase of purging as it speeds up skin renewal. To work best for oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and soothing ingredients like bisabolol to keep skin clear and calm.
Is this emulsion fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A targeted skincare regimen containing active ingredients such as rhodophyceae extract, ergothioneine, and L-carnosine significantly reduced transepidermal water loss by 24.09%, improved skin elasticity, and decreased redness, dryness, and desquamation in thirty-five female Chinese participants over 4 weeks following advanced optimal pulse technology treatment.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A triple combination of ergothioneine, collagen peptides, and sodium hyaluronate attenuated UV-induced skin damage ex vivo and improved facial skin hydration, elasticity, barrier function, and wrinkles in Chinese women.
Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026Ergothioneine at nanomolar concentrations ameliorated UVA-induced skin damage, reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis in human keratinocyte-derived HaCaT cells by upregulating Nrf2/ARE-mediated antioxidant genes.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2015Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020The combination of botulinum toxin and calcium hydroxylapatite applied together produced higher and earlier satisfaction rates and improved hydration in the lower face and neck region compared to calcium hydroxylapatite alone in 15 participants.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Topically applied calcium hydroxylapatite successfully penetrated fractional laser-induced skin defects and remained in the healing skin for at least six weeks, inducing collagen production around the microspheres in a human volunteer.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2025Calcium ions from nanophased hydroxyapatite embedded in collagen nanofibers significantly enhanced human dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and hMSCs growth and proliferation, prevented pathogenic bacteria adhesion, enabled hMSCs differentiation, and caused no adverse reaction in rat subcutaneous implantation.
Nanomedicine, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydroxyapatite, Retinal, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Ergothioneine, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Bisabolol, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Isohexadecane, Hexyldecanol, Maltodextrin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Stearic Acid, Isoceteth-20, Polysorbate 60, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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
How does it fit your skin?
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