# The Ordinary Retinol 1%: the detail that changes the routine A guide to The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, including strength, evening use, storage after opening and the details to check before buying. Canonical: https://massoedition.com/journal/the-ordinary-retinol-1-in-squalane/ Author: MASSO Editors Format: Guide Published: 2026-09-05T18:00:00.000Z Updated: 2026-09-05T18:52:36.206Z Affiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from purchases through our shopping links, at no additional cost to you. [![The Ordinary Retinol 1% in Squalane, 30 ml in an owner-supplied photograph with champagne-gold water](https://massoedition.com/images/products/ordinary-retinol-1-gold.webp)](https://go.shopmy.us/p-84366873) Owner-supplied photograph with AI-assisted background and colour treatment. The pool water was changed to champagne gold. Image provenance: edited. ## At a glance - Formula: Water-free retinol serum, 1% strength - Timing: Evening; follow the current brand directions - After opening: The brand specifies refrigeration and use within three months The small percentage on this amber bottle deserves more attention than the bottle itself. Our photograph shows Retinol 1% in Squalane, the higher-strength option in this particular The Ordinary range. A familiar-looking label can make it easy to order a different strength without noticing. ## What the 1% means here The Ordinary describes a water-free serum containing 1% retinol and squalane. The brand positions it as an experienced-user formula and advises beginning with its lower strengths. A higher number is not, by itself, a reason to move up. For a reader choosing between bottles, the useful question is whether this specific strength already has a place in their routine. This researched guide identifies the product; it is not a personal tolerance test. ## The practical detail: storage The current brand instructions specify refrigeration after opening and use within three months. In a travel bag, that matters as much as the compact 30 ml size. Think through where an opened bottle will live, particularly if you regularly change accommodation. Writing an opening date on the box is a simple way to make that instruction visible. Our poolside editorial photograph is a composition, not a suggestion to leave the product in the sun. ## Read the directions before adding a step The brand directs evening application of a few drops, daytime sun protection and patch testing. It warns about irritation, advises against combining this formula with other retinoids, direct acids or direct vitamin C, and recommends avoiding retinoids during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Stop if irritation occurs and follow the product’s advice about seeking medical guidance. Keep those directions with the bottle so they are easy to revisit. The strength, storage conditions and opening date are three details worth checking together. ## Where to look next If your next decision is moisturizer texture, compare our notes on [Beta Glucan’s gel format](/journal/the-ordinary-natural-moisturizing-factors-beta-glucan/) and [the richer PhytoCeramides cream](/journal/the-ordinary-natural-moisturizing-factors-phytoceramides/). They answer a different question: what kind of finish you want from the moisturizing step. ## Shopping [The Ordinary — Retinol 1% in Squalane, 30 ml](https://go.shopmy.us/p-84366873) (affiliate link) The link opens The Ordinary’s US listing for the 1% serum, 30 ml. This is a different strength from Retinol 0.5% in Squalane. ## Sources - The Ordinary: Retinol 1% in Squalane, 30 ml: `https://theordinary.com/en-us/retinol-1-in-squalane-serum-100441.html`