The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane for dry skin
Retinol
Squalane
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract
Jojoba Seed Oil
BhtCaution
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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 significant hydration for your dry skin due to squalane and jojoba seed oil, which provide emollience, but the retinol may cause dryness and irritation for this skin type.
- The retinol offers a moderate anti-aging effect by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, though its concentration may be too potent for sensitive dry skin.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThis water-free serum is widely praised by users with dry or mature skin for its ability to deeply hydrate while delivering potent anti-aging benefits, such as reduced fine lines and smoother texture. Its oil-based squalane formula is frequently described as heavy or greasy, making it a polarizing choice for those with oily or acne-prone skin who often struggle with absorption.
Highlights
Highly affordable Mostly Mentioned
- “Can't beat the price”
- “High potency at a low price”
Greasy/oily finish Mostly Mentioned
- “Face feels like an oil slick”
- “Doesn't fully absorb”
- “Too greasy for oily skin”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “Wake up to smoother skin”
- “Gives the skin a glow”
- “Texture is much softer”
Moisturizing base Often Mentioned
- “Never feels dry”
- “Squalane keeps it moisturizing”
- “Great for dry skin types”
Effective anti-aging Sometimes Noted
- “Fewer fine lines”
- “Visible plumping effect”
- “Cheeks looked fuller”
Irritation & sensitivity Sometimes Noted
- “Left skin dry and itchy”
- “Caused red patches”
- “Too strong for beginners”
Short shelf life Rarely Noted
- “Have to keep in fridge”
- “Goes bad fast”
- “Only lasts 3 months”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like cooking oil”
- “Faint earthy scent”
- “Off-putting tomato extract smell”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.uk, cultbeauty.co.uk, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because while squalane and jojoba seed oil provide significant hydration, the 1% retinol concentration is strong and may cause dryness and irritation for dry skin. To fit dry skin well, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients, skin barrier support, ceramides, niacinamide, and powerful hydration without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a poor fit for dry skin?
Retinol is too potent for dry skin because it may cause dryness and irritation, even though squalane and jojoba seed oil provide significant hydration. A treatment for dry skin needs soothing and hydrating ingredients like propolis, niacinamide, ceramides, or peptides to nourish the skin and support its barrier without the risk of irritation.
What does Retinol do for dry skin?
Retinol is a poor fit for dry skin because it frequently causes scaling, stinging, and dryness. To care for dry skin properly, a product needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and keep the skin barrier calm and smooth.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Squalane do for dry skin?
Squalane helps keep dry skin soft and smooth by acting as a hydrating agent that locks in moisture and prevents water loss. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect the skin from damage while improving overall hydration.
Advances in Food and Nutrition Research, 2012Molecules, 2009
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. A product for this skin needs plenty of hydrating and soothing ingredients to prevent dryness and irritation.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
You should use vitamin C in your morning routine and this treatment at night, as applying them together may increase the likelihood of irritation on dry skin. A product of this type needs soothing and deeply hydrating ingredients like squalane and jojoba seed oil to keep dry skin soft and comfortable.
How often should I use this treatment?
This treatment is best used in the evening as part of a PM routine, but it may cause dryness and irritation for dry skin. To help this skin type, a product of this type needs extra soothing oils and rich moisturizers to keep the face soft and comfortable.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This product may cause irritation and dryness on dry skin because retinol is potent, while its heavy oils can leave a greasy finish. To work well on dry skin, a product of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid to calm the skin and prevent flaking.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2019Topical 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, 2017Silicone 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, 2017Topical application of all-trans-retinol induced epidermal thickening and increased retinoid binding protein expression similar to all-trans-retinoic acid in normal human skin, but without causing significant erythema or measurable retinoic acid levels.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1995Squalane 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 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, 2010Clay 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, 2025
Ingredients
Squalane, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract, Jojoba Seed Oil, Bht, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract
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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