Retinal 0.2% Emulsion

The Ordinary

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

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.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Emulsion
Ingredients
32
Low-risk
25
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
Canada

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 6/5
Good for dry skin
Isohexadecane Butylene Glycol Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Hexyldecanol Sodium Lactate Lactic Acid
Caution for dry skin
Maltodextrin Stearic Acid Sodium Hydroxide Isoceteth-20 Polysorbate 60
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin No data
Sensitive Skin 2/6
Good for sensitive skin
Ascorbyl Palmitate Ergothioneine
Caution for sensitive skin
Stearic Acid Ascorbyl Palmitate Butylene Glycol 4-t-Butylcyclohexanol Lactic Acid Phenoxyethanol

Ingredients list

32 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (6)
All32 Skin Conditioning26 Fragrance7 Solvent6 Emulsion Stabilising6 Viscosity Controlling5 Humectant4 Masking4 Buffering Agent3
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
1
Water
(Solvent)
1
B
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
(Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
1
Propanediol
(Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
Pentylene Glycol
(Skin Conditioning, Solvent)
1
Hydroxyapatite
(Abrasive, Bulking Agent, Oral Care Agent, Emulsion Stabilising)
5
6
Retinal
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
(Skin Conditioning)
1
4-t-Butylcyclohexanol
(Masking, Perfuming)
1
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Ergothioneine
(Antioxidant)
1
A
Biosaccharide Gum-1
(Skin Conditioning)
Bisabolol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing)
Brassica Campestris Sterols
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient)
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic)
1
A
Butylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Solvent, Viscositydecreasing Agent, Humectant, Masking, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
1
B
Isohexadecane
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
1
Hexyldecanol
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Humectant, Solvent)
1
A
Maltodextrin
(Absorbent, Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Binding)
1
A
Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum
(Adhesive, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Viscosity Controlling)
1
A
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
Bad for Oily Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
B
Isoceteth-20
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
3
B
Polysorbate 60
(Emulsifying, Surfactant)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
1
A
Ascorbyl Palmitate
(Antioxidant, Masking)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
TOCOPHEROL
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
4
B
Lactic Acid
(Exfoliant, Fragrance, Humectant, Ph Adjuster, Skin Conditioning Agent Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Buffering Agent)
Bad for Sensitive Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
3
B
Sodium Lactate
(Buffering Agent, Exfoliant, Humectant, Keratolytic)
3
B
Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent)
1
A
Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning)
4
A
Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative)
Paraben
Paraben
2
A
Chlorphenesin
(Cosmetic Biocide, Antimicrobial, Preservative)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Retinal
Skin Conditioning
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant

Benefits

Good for dry skin

Concerns

Contains paraben
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
May not suit sensitive skin

Ingredients explained

Water
Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Solvent
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B EmollientSkin conditioning
Propanediol
Solvent, Viscosity decreasing agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 SolventViscosity decreasing agentViscosity controlling
Pentylene Glycol
Skin conditioning, Solvent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioningSolvent
Hydroxyapatite
Abrasive, Bulking agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 AbrasiveBulking agentOral care agentEmulsion stabilising
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
4-t-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking, Perfuming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 MaskingPerfuming
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Ergothioneine
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Skin conditioning
Bisabolol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioningSoothing
Brassica Campestris Sterols
Skin conditioning, Skin conditioning emollient
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Skin conditioningSkin conditioning emollient
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfumingSkin conditioningTonic
Isohexadecane
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Skin conditioningEmollientSolvent
Hexyldecanol
Skin conditioning, Emollient
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioningEmollientHumectantSolvent
+ 10 more — see the full ingredients list above
Retinal
Skin conditioning
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 5–6 Skin conditioning
Butylene Glycol
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSkin conditioningSolventViscositydecreasing agentHumectantMaskingViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Stearic Acid
Fragrance, Sufactant
Potentially comedogenic - can block poresRead moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A FragranceSufactantEmulsifyingSurfactantsurfactant-cleansing agent is included as a function for the soap form of stearic acid.Emulsion stabilisingMaskingRefatting Bad for Oily SkinFungal-acne trigger
Polysorbate 60
Emulsifying, Surfactant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B EmulsifyingSurfactant Fungal-acne trigger
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Antioxidant, Masking
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A AntioxidantMasking Fungal-acne trigger
Lactic Acid
Exfoliant, Fragrance
Skin irritation can occur at high concentrationRead moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR B ExfoliantFragranceHumectantPh adjusterSkin-conditioning agent -humectantSkin conditioningBuffering agent Bad for Sensitive Skin
Phenoxyethanol
Fragrance, Preservative
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 4 CIR A FragrancePreservative Paraben

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Evening: Use at night — start 2–3× a week and build up as your skin tolerates it.
  • 2 Wear SPF the next day: Acids and retinoids increase sun sensitivity — daily sunscreen is a must while using this.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Officially notified as a cosmetic in Malaysia (NPRA). Government registration record.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding

Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.

Often avoided
Retinoids (Vitamin A) (Retinal)

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.

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Retinoids (Vitamin A) 0.01–1%

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

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

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

AHA (acid exfoliant) 5–10% (OTC)

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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