The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion for dry sensitive skin
Retinaldehyde
Bisabolol
Ergothioneine
Lactic Acid
HydroxyapatiteLow
- 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 exfoliation for dry or flaky skin due to the presence of retinal, which promotes cell turnover, but may cause dryness and irritation for your sensitive skin. Bisabolol offers some anti-inflammatory action to mitigate potential dryness.
- The retinal in this formula provides moderate treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, a visible anti-aging effect.
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
★4.3Overall 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
Why is The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion a weak match for dry sensitive skin?
This product may cause dryness and irritation for your sensitive skin because its retinal promotes fast cell turnover. A product for this skin needs nourishing and hydrating ingredients, along with soothing components that protect the moisture barrier without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this emulsion a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Retinal and Lactic Acid make this emulsion a poor fit because they promote cell turnover and exfoliation that often cause dryness and irritation on sensitive skin. A product of this type needs nourishing and hydrating ingredients like ceramides and multiple forms of vitamin C to provide safe benefits without irritation.
What does Retinal do for dry sensitive skin?
Retinal may help smooth fine lines and improve skin texture, but for dry and sensitive skin it is unlikely to be a good fit on its own. This skin type needs products that include gentle hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.
What does Bisabolol do for dry sensitive skin?
Bisabolol helps calm dry sensitive skin by easing irritation and reducing inflammation. It has a very safe profile and is unlikely to cause any unwanted reactions while keeping your skin feeling comfortable and smooth.
Where does this emulsion go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, after a soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Because it is a weak match for dry sensitive skin, this skin type needs extra soothing and hydrating ingredients to calm potential irritation.
Can I use this emulsion with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this emulsion with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first to calm and hydrate your skin before layering the treatment on top. This approach helps reduce the likelihood of irritation from the retinal while supporting your skin barrier.
How often should I use this emulsion?
Start using this treatment just once a week in the evening, as strong active ingredients like retinal may cause dryness and irritation for your sensitive skin. If your skin tolerates it well without peeling or redness, you may carefully use it more often. This skin type needs gentle soothing ingredients, deep hydration, and barrier-supporting lipids to comfortably handle active treatments.
Can this emulsion clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This emulsion is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, but the retinal may cause skin shedding and purging as it speeds up cell turnover. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like bisabolol and gentle hydrators to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
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
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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
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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