The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, High-Strength Retinol...
Good for: Buyers willing to read the details before deciding
Watch out for: No major red flags detected
Last analyzed: February 2026
Total Reviews
14,779
On Amazon
Verified
100%
Good
Amazon Rating
4.6
Original rating
Savinoo Rating
3.9
Adjusted rating
Our Recommendation
BE CAUTIOUS - Read individual reviews carefully, especially 1-star and 3-star reviews, before purchasing.
Analysis Summary
- MEDIUM RISK (Score: 70/100) The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, High-Strength Retinol... has some concerning review patterns. Major Issues Found: 81% of reviews are either 5-star or 1-star, with only 19% in between.
- Real products usually have more balanced ratings. Positive Indicators: 100% of reviews are from verified purchases, which is good..
Customer Reviews from Amazon
Most Helpful Review
"Been using this for awhile and just found out that you are suppose to put this in the fridge after you open it! Had no idea until just now doing research on the toxicity of my skin care routine. This also scored a 48/100 on the the toxicity ingredients scale... not the worst but also not the best. Hope this helps someone, especially those who don't read the fine print LIKE I DID!!!EDIT- I found out that The Ordinary products rank lower on the toxicity list because they sell lots of different kids of acid and serums for your skin but don't want you to not use them together on your skin. There are certain acids and serums you should NOT use together during your skin care routine! Doing so can cause severe burning, irritation, redness, breakouts, etc... And this brand does not warn you about combining them or not, it's up to the user to figure that out. So PLEASE do not use stuff like Azeliac acid, hyaluronic acid, retinol, glycolic acid, or any and all other acids during your skin care routine BEFORE researching what you can and can not use together FIRST! It could severely damage your skin and potentially cause a significant amount of pain!"
iteachhair
This stuff really is Amazing I wish I had taken a before picture so you…
This stuff really is Amazing I wish I had taken a before picture so you could see the diffrence on 72 yr old skin - it didn't rid wrinkles so much but smooth the complexion better than any thing I have used and I've used it alllisa s
This face oil is amazing! It’s helped my skin incredibly, and it arrived in perfect…
This face oil is amazing! It’s helped my skin incredibly, and it arrived in perfect condition. Highly recommend!lila campbell
Love how this makes my skin feel!!! It takes a bit for your skin to…
Love how this makes my skin feel!!! It takes a bit for your skin to get used to it, so moisturize like crazy over top of it, but that's ANY retinol product. This brand is my favorite and this product is definitely my new regular!i
Tried various retinol products, and I keep going back to this. It just makes my…
Tried various retinol products, and I keep going back to this. It just makes my skin super smooth and soft. Highly recommendedjessica roscoe
Hoping this will help w the little wrinkles I have at the very top of…
Hoping this will help w the little wrinkles I have at the very top of my neck. Either way, makes the skin very glowy!teedagreen
Exceeded expectations, a little goes a long way, it's strong so start out slow, once…
Exceeded expectations, a little goes a long way, it's strong so start out slow, once a wk, twice a week and so on and try it a few hours before bed. Once opened, be sure to store it in the refrigerator or it will not last long. The instructions that state this are so small, I believe a lot of people miss it and are disappointed it stops working. I like that it is like an oil, it helps to smooth it over face and neck, I wait about 5 mins before putting a moisturizer on. I have only been using it 3 weeks, but I can see a difference in fine lines and dark spots. I don't use it every day, just three time a week.What Customers Talk About
Commonly Praised
Commonly Complained
Review Quality Analysis
Review quality helps identify authentic customer feedback. Longer, detailed reviews (50+ words) typically indicate genuine experiences, while high percentages of short reviews (under 20 words) may suggest incentivized or fake feedback.
Average Words
43
Moderate detail
Long Reviews
10%
⚠ Low detail
Short Reviews
15%
✓ Low brief reviews
Review Length Distribution
Authentic vs Brief Reviews
Average Word Count Gauge
Benchmark: 30 words = moderate, 50+ words = detailed & authentic
43
avg. words per review
Interpretation: Review quality appears within normal range for this product category.
Review Velocity
Review velocity tracks how quickly reviews are posted. Steady, gradual accumulation is natural, while sudden spikes or bursts (20+ reviews in a single day) may indicate incentivized campaigns or coordinated activity.
Average Per Day
0.46
Natural pace
Max in One Day
3
Normal range
Variable Velocity Pattern
Review posting rate varies over time. This may be linked to promotions, product launches, or seasonal events.
Rating Breakdown
This chart shows how customers rated The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, High-Strength Retinol.... Products with authentic reviews typically show a bell curve with most ratings in the 3–4 star range. A heavily polarized distribution — many 5★ and 1★ with few middle ratings — can be worth investigating further.
Key Findings
81% of reviews are either 5-star or 1-star, with only 19% in between. Real products usually have more balanced ratings.
These findings suggest this is a trustworthy product.
Looks legit — check on AmazonReady to buy The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, High-Strength Retinol...?
Our analysis is based on 14,779 reviews.
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How does this compare?
This product scores 70/100 — above average among analyzed products.
Check on Amazon