The Ordinary Rétinol 1% dans du Squalane Review: a strong, greasy but effective anti-ageing punch for cheap

I’ve been using The Ordinary Rétinol 1% dans du Squalane on and off for a few weeks, and it’s clearly not a beginner product. This is the kind of thing you add when you already know how your skin reacts to weaker retinols and you want to push a bit further. It’s sold as a strong anti-ageing serum, and honestly, you can feel that strength pretty fast. The formula is oil-based, so from the first use, you can tell it’s not a light, watery serum you forget you’re wearing.

In practice, I used it mainly at night, two times a week at first, then I tried to go up to three. I’ve got combo skin that can get oily in the T-zone but is normal to slightly dry on the cheeks. No big sensitivity issues usually, but I do react if a product is too harsh. With this one, I had to be careful: it’s not something you slap on every night like a basic moisturizer. If you overdo it, your skin reminds you pretty quickly with redness or tightness.

What pushed me to test it is the price vs promise combo: high percentage of retinol, simple formula, and a small bottle that doesn’t cost too much. Compared to some fancy brands that charge three or four times more for similar claims, it looked like good value. I’ve used other The Ordinary products before, so I roughly knew the style: straightforward, not very glamorous, but usually effective if you know what you’re doing.

Overall, my first impression is pretty clear: this is a strong, greasy, no-frills anti-ageing product. It’s not pleasant like a spa product, it doesn’t feel luxurious, and if you have sensitive skin, it can go wrong fast. But if you’re looking for a punchy retinol and you’re ready to deal with the downsides, it can be interesting. Just don’t expect comfort or instant glow from day one.

In terms of value for money, this serum is hard to beat. You get a high 1% retinol in a 30 ml bottle, from a known brand, at a price that’s way below most competing anti-ageing treatments. A lot of brands charge three or four times more for similar or even weaker formulas. So if you purely look at cost per dose of active ingredient, it’s a very good deal.

But you have to factor in the hidden “cost”: the learning curve and potential irritation. If you misuse it, you can end up needing to buy extra soothing creams, repairing balms, and basically pause your whole routine for a while. It’s not a product you just throw into your routine without thinking. You need sunscreen, a decent moisturizer, and ideally some experience with milder retinols. If you’re starting from zero, there are cheaper and less risky ways to get into retinoids, even within the same brand.

Personally, I think it’s good value if you’re already used to retinol, your skin is not super sensitive, and you want something stronger without paying luxury prices. In that case, the small discomfort and the oily texture are acceptable trade-offs. If you’re just curious or you have fragile skin, it might end up being a bad deal because you won’t be able to use it regularly or you’ll give up after a few tries.

So, would I buy it again? Yes, but only as a targeted treatment phase, not as a permanent, year-round product. For the price, it’s a solid tool to have in your skincare “arsenal”, but it’s not universal. Good value for the right person, poor choice for beginners or very sensitive skin.

The design is classic The Ordinary: a small glass bottle with a pipette. It’s practical for dosing, especially with a strong active like this. You can easily control how many drops you use, and that’s important when you’re trying not to fry your skin. For me, 3 drops is the sweet spot for the face, 4–5 if I include neck and a bit of chest. The pipette picks up enough product and doesn’t drip everywhere, which is nice because the oily texture can stain pillowcases if you’re messy.

The glass feels solid, but I wouldn’t risk dropping it on tiles. It’s small enough to travel with, but because it’s glass and oil-based, I always wrap it in something in my toiletry bag. The screw cap seals well, I never had leaks, even when the bottle was lying sideways. That’s a good point because some cheaper droppers tend to let a bit of oil escape.

One thing I’m less keen on: having a very active ingredient in a bottle that you keep opening all the time isn’t ideal. You’re exposing it to air and light each time you use it, even if the glass is slightly tinted. It’s not dramatic, but with retinol, stability matters. Personally, I try to close it quickly, store it in a drawer, and not leave it on the windowsill or in a humid, hot bathroom. It’s a bit of a habit to take, but if you want to keep the product effective as long as possible, it’s worth it.

Overall, I’d say the design is practical for home use, but not ultra-robust or optimized for maximum stability. It’s fine for the price, but if you’re clumsy or you want full airtight packaging, this isn’t the best. Still, the pipette format fits well with a concentrated treatment like this, where you need to be precise and not overdo it.

Let’s be clear: this is not a light, comfy serum. The texture is basically a light facial oil. When you apply it, your face feels greasy for a while. On my combo skin, it doesn’t sink in quickly, especially on the T-zone. I only use it at night because during the day I’d look like I dipped my face in oil. If you have very dry skin, you might like that nourishing side. If you’re oily or acne-prone, it can feel suffocating.

In terms of immediate comfort, the first few minutes are fine: no burning on contact for me, just that oily film. The problem comes if you overuse it or combine it with other strong products. When I tried it three times in one week, I woke up with slightly tight, rough skin around the mouth and nose, and a bit of redness. Not full-on peeling, but enough to feel that I’d pushed too far. Going back to twice a week and adding a rich moisturizer on top solved it in a few days.

If you have sensitive skin, I’d be even more careful. I can easily imagine this causing tingling, burning, or small red patches if your skin barrier is already compromised. It’s the kind of product where you have to listen to your skin and adjust. Some evenings, if I felt a bit of sensitivity or dryness, I skipped it and just did a gentle, hydrating routine. This isn’t a daily comfort product, it’s a treatment you integrate into a broader routine.

Overall, in terms of comfort, I’d say: it’s okay if you use it properly and your skin is used to retinol, but it’s far from pleasant or weightless. The oily finish stays on the skin, and you need to accept that feeling. Personally, I tolerate it because I use it only at night and on specific days, but it’s not a texture I enjoy. It’s more something I put up with for the anti-ageing benefits.

The product is sold as fragrance free, and that’s accurate. There’s no added scent, which I appreciate for two reasons: less risk of irritation, and it doesn’t clash with other products. That said, fragrance free doesn’t mean it smells like nothing. You still get a very light odor from the oils and the base. It’s not strong, but if you put your nose close, you’ll notice a slightly fatty, neutral smell.

Once applied on the face, the smell doesn’t linger. For me, it disappears in a minute or two. It’s nothing compared to some perfumed creams that stick around for half an hour. If you’re sensitive to strong scents, this is clearly a plus. You can do your routine, go to bed, and not feel like you’re wearing perfume on your face. My partner never commented on any smell when I used it at night, which is a good sign.

Personally, I prefer this “almost no smell” style for strong actives. At least you know they didn’t try to hide a harsh formula behind a nice perfume. Here, the message is clear: this is a treatment, not a spa experience. It’s consistent with the rest of the brand: practical, clinical, not focused on sensory pleasure.

So in short, if you’re looking for a nice scent, you’ll be disappointed, but if your priority is to avoid perfumes and keep things simple, the fragrance side is handled well. It smells like a basic oil serum, nothing more, nothing less, and it doesn’t bother you once it’s on your skin.

The key point here is simple: 1% retinol in a squalane base. That’s a high percentage. A lot of brands stop at 0.3% or 0.5% because above that, irritation becomes a real issue for many people. So if you pick this one, you need to know what you’re doing. The squalane base makes the texture oily and helps buffer the irritation a bit, but it doesn’t cancel it. You still get a strong active on your skin.

The product is fragrance free and vegan, which is good if you’re trying to avoid perfume or animal ingredients. The marketing blurb mentions things like collagen, jojoba oil, vitamin C, but in reality, the star is retinol. Don’t expect a full cocktail serum that does everything at once. This is basically a strong anti-ageing treatment that targets wrinkles, fine lines, and texture. It’s not here to hydrate deeply or calm the skin; that’s your moisturizer’s job afterwards.

What I like with this kind of formula is the no-nonsense approach: few ingredients, a clear active, and not too many extras that could irritate or conflict. On the other hand, for sensitive or reactive skin, even with few ingredients, 1% retinol can be too much. I had a bit of redness around the nose and mouth when I tried to increase the frequency too fast. It calmed down when I spaced out the applications and layered a thick moisturizer on top.

If you’re new to retinol, I wouldn’t start with this. I’d begin with 0.2 or 0.3% and move up slowly. If you already tolerate lower strengths and you want to push, this formula makes sense, but you must respect it. Sunscreen in the morning is non-negotiable, and you need to skip other strong actives (acids, vitamin C, etc.) on the same night, otherwise you’re asking for peeling and irritation.

The presentation is very typical of The Ordinary. You get a small 30 ml frosted glass bottle with a white dropper, a plain label, and that’s it. No fancy design, no shiny cap, nothing that screams luxury. Honestly, it looks more like a pharmacy sample or a lab bottle than a “beauty” product. Personally, I don’t care much about that, but if you like pretty bottles on your bathroom shelf, this one is pretty basic.

On the positive side, the information on the bottle and box is clear. The retinol percentage (1%) is written, the base (squalane) is stated, and the usage warnings are there. You’re reminded it’s a powerful product and that you should start slowly and use it only at night, plus sunscreen during the day. It sounds obvious, but a lot of brands don’t insist enough on that. Here, at least, you know you’re not dealing with a gentle beginner serum.

The dropper works fine and allows you to dose the product easily. I usually use 3-4 drops for the whole face, sometimes 5 if I go down to the neck. Since the texture is oily, it spreads easily and you don’t need a lot. The bottle is small but for a retinol that you use once or twice a week, it lasts a good while. It’s not something you finish in three weeks like a basic moisturizer.

In short, the presentation is functional, not pretty. The bottle does its job, the info is clear, and the dropper is practical. If you want something that looks fancy on Instagram, look elsewhere. If you just want to know what you’re putting on your face and how strong it is, this minimalist style works fine.

On effectiveness, this serum does what you expect from a high-strength retinol, but you need to be patient and disciplined. After about 3–4 weeks of use at 2x per week, I noticed smoother skin texture, especially on the forehead and around the mouth. Small fine lines look slightly less visible when the skin is well hydrated. It’s not a miracle, but there is a real difference compared to when I don’t use retinol at all.

I also noticed that some small bumps and irregularities on the cheeks faded faster. My skin looked more uniform, and makeup applied more evenly. However, the trade-off is that if I pushed the frequency too quickly (3 times per week), I got mild irritation: redness and a bit of roughness. So the effectiveness comes with a risk: you get good results if you respect your skin’s limits, but it’s easy to overdo it and set yourself back a few days.

On deeper wrinkles, don’t expect miracles in a month. Retinol works over time. You need at least a few months of regular use to really judge. But in terms of signs that it’s doing something – slight peeling in some areas, faster renewal, smoother touch – they’re there. Compared to weaker retinols I’ve tried (0.2–0.3%), this one definitely feels stronger and faster, but less forgiving. It’s not the one I’d pick if I wanted a gentle, long-term introduction.

Overall, I’d say the effectiveness is solid for the price, as long as you already have some experience with retinol and you pair it with a good moisturizer and daily sunscreen. If you’re expecting a dramatic anti-ageing effect in two weeks, you’ll be disappointed. If you’re ready to play the long game and accept some temporary dryness or sensitivity, it does the job pretty well.