Have you heard? Revolution has come up with a skincare line that’s almost an exact dupe of The Ordinary.
Just look at the packaging. Revolution’s a little fancier, but you can’t miss the resemblance. Even the product names are pretty much identical.
What about the formulas? We love The Ordinary because their stuff works. You can copy the look, but if the goodies inside don’t deliver the same results, you’re another copycat heading towards oblivion.
Let’s start off this showdown with The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane VS Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum:
- What Do The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane & Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum Have In Common?
- What Else Is In The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane & Revolution 0.2% Retinol Serum?
- What’s The Texture Like?
- What’s The Packaging Like?
- How To Use Them
- Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
- Price & Availability
- Is Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum A Dupe For The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane?
What Do The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane & Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum Have In Common?
RETINOL TO FIGHT WRINKLES AND PREMATURE AGING
You’d be forgiven for thinking 0.2% retinol is a pittance. Like, that’s so small, why would you even advertise it?! Don’t skincare goodies work only when you use 10% or something high like that?
Most of the time, yes. But, there are exception. Retinol is one of them. This form of vitamin A is so powerful, it gives you results even at incredibly low concentrations.
Go too high with retinol and you’ll have to deal with irritation, peeling, flaking and all that jazz. FYI, powerful means harsh in skincare. The best away to use powerful actives without experiencing side effects is to start small.
Both The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane and Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum have 0.2%, the right concentrations for beginners. It’s high enough to slow down the aging process and low enough not to irritate skin (unless yours is super sensitive and can’t tolerate retinol at all).
Here’s how retinol keeps your skin young:
- It has antioxidant properties that destroy free radicals before they give you wrinkles and dark spots.
- It accelerates cellular turnover (i.e. the skin’s natural exfoliating process), reducing the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles.
- It boosts the production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm.
Retinol is the real deal. Forget the hype about peptides, EGF and snail slime. Vitamin A (retinol included) is the ONLY thing proven to reduce wrinkles so far. If you’re serious about antiaging and you’re 25+, you need this.
Related: What Strength Of Retinol Is Right For You?
What Else Is In The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane & Revolution 0.2% Retinol Serum?
SQUALANE OIL VS COCONUT OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Both The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane and Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum are oil-based. The reason is simple: oils are moisturising and counteract the drying effects of retinol.
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane has made the better choice here. Squalane is one of only 3 oils that is safe for everyone, including fungal acne sufferers.
Non-comedogenic, Squalane is a natural component of your skin’s natural barrier. This means your skin instantly recognises it as a friend. It sinks in quickly and moisturises well – without irritation.
Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum went with coconut oil, grape oil, sweet almond oil and vegetable oil. All these oils are super moisturising BUT the chance you’ll get a breakout is higher.
It’s not a given. Dry skin can use oils safely without getting a single zit. But coconut oil (the main oil in the serum) is known for breaking out oily skin. If that’s you, avoid it.
Related: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Squalane In Skincare
What’s The Texture Like?
They’re both oil-based, so they feel more like an oil than a serum on your skin. They sink in fairly quickly, unless you apply too much.
What’s The Packaging Like?
They both come in see-through bottles with a dropper applicator for ease of use.
How To Use Them
At night, after serums but before moisturiser.
Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
If you have dry skin, Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum is well worth a try. It’s the most moisturizing of the two.
Anyone else, stick to The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane. The extra oils in Revolution could break out skin that produces a little too much oil.
Related: The Complete Guide To The Ordinary Retinoid Skincare Products
Price & Availability
Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum: $8.00/£6.00 at Revolution Skincare
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane: £4.25 at Asos, Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty and Feel Unique
Is Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum A Dupe For The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane?
I wouldn’t say that Revolution 0.2% Retinol Smoothing Serum is an exact dupe for The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane, but it’s close enough. It’s more moisturizing, so dry skin will like it a lot more. For oilier skin types, The Ordinary is the best choice.
Revolution 0.2% Retinol Seum Ingredients:
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Olus (Vegetable) Oil, Retinol, Polysorbate 20, BHT, BHA.
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% In Squalane Ingredients:
Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, BHT.
I recently read that retinol can darken skin by stimulating melanin which conflicts with reports that it fights pigmentation by increasing skin turnover. I am thinking of staying away from it since I am trying to reduce pigmentation. But it’s effects on wrinkles make it really tempting.
Sally, where did you read it? It’s the first time I hear of it!