The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane for dry sensitive skin
Retinol
Squalane
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Jojoba Seed Oil
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract
Low
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry sensitive skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 benefits for your dry and flaky skin as squalane and jojoba seed oil provide hydration, but the inclusion of retinol poses a significant risk of worsening your dry and sensitive skin.
- The formula lacks sufficient humectants for optimal hydration, which is crucial for managing dryness.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
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 dry sensitive skin?
This treatment may help hydrate flaky areas with squalane and jojoba seed oil, but retinol poses a significant risk of worsening dry and sensitive skin. It also lacks enough water-attracting ingredients for deep moisture. A better match for this skin needs rich hydrating and nourishing ingredients, skin barrier support, and gentle soothing components that improve moisture without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
What does Retinol do for dry sensitive skin?
Retinol is often too strong for dry sensitive skin because it may cause scaling and stinging, so a product of this type needs gentle soothing ingredients and extra moisture to keep the skin calm and smooth.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Toxicology Letters, 2003
What does Squalane do for dry sensitive skin?
Squalane helps keep dry sensitive skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture and calming irritation without causing flare-ups. It is unlikely to cause redness or discomfort, making it a gentle choice that supports the skin barrier. This type of skin needs ingredients that deeply hydrate and soothe, such as plant oils and antioxidants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017Molecules, 2009
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Because this product has a weak fit and may worsen dry and sensitive skin, this type of skin needs soothing oils and rich hydrators to stay comfortable.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
This product is a weak match for your dry and sensitive skin because retinol may worsen dryness and irritation, so adding vitamin C could increase that risk. To safely manage dryness, a product of this type needs extra moisture-attracting ingredients and soothing oils.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is unlikely to fit your dry sensitive skin well because retinol may worsen dryness and irritation, even though oils like squalane and jojoba seed oil provide hydration. A product of this type needs plenty of soothing hydration-boosting ingredients to keep dry and sensitive skin calm and comfortable.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment may cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin because reviewers complain about this issue and the formula contains oils. A product for this skin needs to avoid heavy pore-clogging ingredients while using gentle hydrating ingredients that do not trigger irritation.
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, 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 dry 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 A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
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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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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