Retinal 0.2% Emulsion
A high-strength retinaldehyde treatment that helps improve the look of wrinkles, dark spots, uneven tone, and texture.
A strong advanced retinoid for experienced users who want faster visible age-support than entry-level retinol products — but it demands the same respect as prescription-strength actives.
Retinaldehyde products from other brands cost 5–15x more. The Ordinary is offering a 0.2% retinaldehyde emulsion — a genuinely advanced retinoid step — at a price point accessible to most skincare budgets. For anyone who has been considering the step up from retinol but couldn't justify the cost, this formula makes the upgrade attainable.
Evening only — after cleansing and any water-based serums, before moisturizer. Start 1 night per week, build to 2–3, and only go nightly once your skin has demonstrated full adaptation.
Retinol users who feel they have hit a plateau with their current retinoid strength and want to step up without going to prescription tretinoin. Also experienced skincare users who understand the concept of vitamin A potency ladders and want to upgrade efficiently.
Introducing too fast. Retinaldehyde at 0.2% moves quickly and can overwhelm a skin barrier that hasn't adjusted to the increased cell-turnover rate. Peeling, redness, and sensitivity are all signs you are moving faster than your skin can handle.
Stop immediately and focus on barrier repair — ceramides, squalane, allantoin. Do not reintroduce retinal until the skin is fully calm and recovered, then restart at a lower frequency.
- A ceramide-based moisturizer applied immediately after for barrier buffering during the adjustment period
- SPF 30+ every morning — non-negotiable with any retinoid use
- Hyaluronic acid serum applied before the retinal emulsion for extra comfort during adaptation
Best For
- Experienced retinoid users
- Wrinkles
- Texture
- Dark spots
- Uneven tone
- Stronger anti-aging routines
How to Use
Apply in the evening after water-based serums and before heavier moisturizers. Start 1–2 nights per week and build slowly. Always use SPF 30+ the following morning.
Key Ingredients
Retinaldehyde stimulates collagen synthesis, accelerates epidermal cell turnover, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, fades dark spots and hyperpigmentation, and improves skin texture. It delivers these effects faster than retinol because less metabolic conversion is required to reach bioactive retinoic acid at the skin level.
Softens and conditions the skin, reinforces the moisture barrier, and provides a lightweight emollient feel without greasiness.
Draws moisture to the skin, helps maintain hydration, and reinforces the skin barrier.
Ingredients to Note
May be a concern for some skin types. Tap to learn more.
Full Ingredient List
About This Product
The Ordinary Retinal 0.2% Emulsion uses retinaldehyde — the form of vitamin A that sits one conversion step above retinol and one step below retinoic acid (tretinoin) in the retinoid potency ladder. Retinaldehyde (retinal) is converted to retinoic acid at the skin level significantly faster than retinol, giving it meaningfully stronger activity per percentage point. At 0.2%, this is approximately equivalent in skin-level activity to a retinol product at around 1% — making it a serious anti-aging and resurfacing step. The emulsion format buffers some of the irritation that comes with pure retinaldehyde while still delivering real visible improvement to fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture, and dark spots over consistent use.