Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (25 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion is a emulsion. Our analysis of its 32 ingredients (25 low-risk) rates it Excellent (96/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning) |
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Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent) |
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Hydroxyapatite
(Abrasive, Bulking Agent, Oral Care Agent, Emulsion Stabilising) |
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Retinal
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
(Skin Conditioning) |
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4-t-Butylcyclohexanol
(Masking, Perfuming) |
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Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Ergothioneine
(Antioxidant) |
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Biosaccharide Gum-1
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing) |
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Brassica Campestris Sterols
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient) |
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Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Isohexadecane
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
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Hexyldecanol
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant, Solvent) |
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Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding) |
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Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
(Adhesive, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Stearic Acid
(Fragrance, Sufactant, Emulsifying, Surfactantsurfactant Cleansing Agent Is Included As A Function For The Soap Form Of Stearic Acid., Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Refatting) |
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Isoceteth-20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Polysorbate 60
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning) |
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Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent) |
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Topical retinoids (retinol, retinaldehyde, retinyl esters) are widely advised against in pregnancy as a precaution. The strongest evidence is for ORAL retinoids; topical absorption is low, but most clinicians err on the side of caution.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most studied between 0.1% and 1%. Higher is not automatically better — irritation climbs with dose, so a well-formulated lower strength is often the sweet spot.
Retinal
L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.
Ascorbyl Palmitate
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Lactic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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