For retinol serums in the UAE, compare The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane at AED 47 for a lower labelled concentration, CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum at AED 68 for a formula that names ceramides, and La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 at AED 95 for a retinol-and-B3 option. Choose by formula and your existing routine, not by assuming that the highest number or price must suit you best.
Quick picks
| Product | Best for | Key ingredient | Price (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane 30ML | A lower labelled concentration | Retinol 0.2% + squalane | AED 47 |
| Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane 30ML | An intermediate labelled option | Retinol 0.5% + squalane | AED 45 |
| CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 30ml | A formula with named ceramides | Encapsulated retinol + ceramides | AED 68 |
| La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Anti-Ageing Serum 30ml | A retinol and B3 combination | Retinol + vitamin B3 | AED 95 |
How we chose
- Kept the comparison to face retinol serums, without substituting retinal eye products or creams.
- Compared stated concentrations only where the product title actually supplies them.
- Included two squalane formulas and two other options so texture preferences and supporting ingredients can matter.
- Considered the cost of one appropriate bottle, rather than a collection of increasing strengths.
- Used in-stock catalog items and Cicabelle’s published authorized sourcing policy.
The Ordinary 0.2% in Squalane: a clear concentration label
Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane 30ML · AED 47
This is the option for a shopper who wants a stated lower retinol concentration within the two Ordinary formulas compared here. The catalog describes a water-free, lightweight serum with plant-derived squalane and a cosmetic focus on fine lines and signs of aging. At AED 47, its role is defined more clearly by the 0.2% label than by its price.
The description places it in an evening routine and says to use it sparingly. Follow the bottle’s full directions for introduction and storage. The caveat is that a lower percentage does not guarantee suitability for every person, and the listing does not justify calling it irritation-free.
The Ordinary 0.5% in Squalane: an intermediate alternative
Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane 30ML · AED 45
The 0.5% version is described as an intermediate water-free formula supporting the appearance of lines, texture and tone. It is a comparison option for someone already familiar with their retinol preferences and specifically considering this concentration. Its AED 45 price is slightly below the 0.2% bottle in the catalog, which shows why price is not a strength scale.
Follow the actual product label instead of increasing use because the percentage is higher. Keep it as an alternative to the 0.2% product, not a second retinol layer. The caveat is that buying it does not create a required progression plan; there is no need to climb through concentrations simply because they are available.
CeraVe Skin Renewing: compare the whole formula
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum 30ml · AED 68
CeraVe’s description names encapsulated retinol, ceramides and hyaluronic acid. It supports a cosmetic aim of smoother-looking fine lines and improved texture and radiance. This is the option to consider if those named supporting ingredients matter to your routine and you do not want to choose solely by a percentage on the front of a bottle.
Use it according to its own directions and judge how the complete routine feels, including moisturizer and daytime sunscreen. The caveat is that the product listing does not disclose a retinol concentration. Do not place it above or below the Ordinary options on a numeric strength ladder that the available information cannot support.
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3: the B3 combination
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Anti-Ageing Serum 30ml · AED 95
The Retinol B3 listing describes pure and gradual-release retinol alongside vitamin B3. At AED 95, it provides a different formula choice for someone interested in that combination. The name and description support including it in a retinol comparison, but do not establish that it is universally gentler, faster or stronger than the other bottles.
Follow the package directions, and compare it as your single retinol choice rather than combining it with another pick from the table. The caveat is again missing concentration detail. A higher purchase price does not fill that gap, and a familiar brand name is not a substitute for reading the instructions.
Read concentration without overreading it
The two Ordinary products allow a direct comparison of the retinol percentages stated in their names. That does not make percentage the only relevant part of the formula, and it does not supply percentages for the other products. Keep the distinction between information provided and information you would need to ask about.
Retinal, retinol and an eye-product format should not be merged into one shopping category merely because their names look related. This selection stays with the listed face retinol serums. If another product uses a percentage tied to a complex or delivery system, do not assume the number represents the same thing as a plainly labelled retinol concentration.
Fit the purchase into a UAE evening routine
Choose a time and storage place that let you follow the label consistently. Keep the bottle away from a sunny dressing-table window or a parked car, and check the product’s actual storage directions. Do not infer a refrigeration rule for every serum from advice you have seen about one different bottle.
If the rest of your routine is changing, avoid introducing several unfamiliar products together. That makes the effect of each change harder to judge. Keep enough budget for the moisturizer and daytime sunscreen you already rely on, rather than spending it on several retinol strengths that may sit open and unused.
For the introduction process, use the existing retinol for beginners guide. This article focuses on comparing bottles. The retinol collection and routine order guide provide related browsing and sequencing information without turning this table into a multi-retinol routine.
Where to buy authentic retinol serums in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
According to Cicabelle’s authenticity promise, every product is sourced through authorized distributors, never the grey market. Cicabelle delivers to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with prices shown in AED in all three countries. Read the authenticity promise for its sourcing statement and verification steps.
Frequently asked questions
Which serum has the lowest stated retinol percentage here?
The Ordinary Retinol 0.2% in Squalane has the lower of the two explicitly stated percentages in this selection.
Is the AED 45 option weaker because it is cheaper?
No. The AED 45 Ordinary product is labelled 0.5%, while the AED 47 version is labelled 0.2%; price does not rank concentration.
Can I use all four as a routine?
They are alternatives for choosing one retinol product, not four steps to layer. Follow the directions of the one you choose.
What percentage is CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol?
The product listing does not state it. This comparison does not invent a concentration or a numeric strength ranking.
Does this list include retinal eye products?
No. The table compares face retinol serums; eye products and retinal formulas require their own product-specific comparison.
Last updated: October 2026.