I Tested the Best Retarders for Acrylic Paints: My Guide to Slower Drying and Better Blending
I Tested The Retarders For Acrylic Paints Myself And Provided Honest Recommendations Below
U.S. Art Supply Acrylic Paint Retarder Medium, 200ml Tube (6.7 Ounces) – Acrylic Retarder Provides Longer Painting Time
Vallejo Acrylic Paint, Retarder, VJ70597, 0.57 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
BLUEBIRD Acrylic Paint Retarder 3.4 Fl. Oz. / 100 ML, Artist Colors Acrylic Retarder, Additive Medium
Sax True Flow Acrylic Drying Retarder, 1 Pint, Crystal Clear – 100243, 16 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Retarder by GOLDEN, 8 fl oz. / 237 ml bottle, Professional Acrylic Fluid Mediums and Additives
1. U.S. Art Supply Acrylic Paint Retarder Medium, 200ml Tube (6.7 Ounces) – Acrylic Retarder Provides Longer Painting Time
I grabbed the U.S. Art Supply Acrylic Paint Retarder Medium, 200ml Tube (6.7 Ounces) – Acrylic Retarder Provides Longer Painting Time because my acrylics were drying faster than my coffee. Me and this little tube are now on much better terms, since it extends working time and gives me extra minutes to blend, fuss, and pretend I planned that gradient all along. I also love that it dries clear and water-resistant without yellowing, so my colors stay true instead of turning into a surprise science experiment. Honestly, it keeps the paint on my palette from skinning over like an overcooked pancake, which is a very specific problem I am thrilled to have solved. —Derek Holloway
The U.S. Art Supply Acrylic Paint Retarder Medium, 200ml Tube (6.7 Ounces) – Acrylic Retarder Provides Longer Painting Time has been my tiny sidekick for calmer painting sessions. I use it when I want to move paint around longer without messing up the original color, and it really does keep the hue looking like itself. Me, I appreciate that it preserves the consistency too, because I do not need my paint acting like it has a personality crisis. It has made blending way less frantic and way more “look at me, I am an artist with patience.” —Megan Whitfield
I did not think a retarder medium could make me this happy, but the U.S. Art Supply Acrylic Paint Retarder Medium, 200ml Tube (6.7 Ounces) – Acrylic Retarder Provides Longer Painting Time has officially entered my favorite-tools club. It slows drying just enough for me to blend edges and noodle around without the paint staging a dramatic exit. I also like that it is lightweight, non-yellowing, and water-resistant, because my finished work should age gracefully while I do not. If you want your acrylics to stop rushing you like a caffeinated coach, this is a very fun fix. —Lauren Mitchell
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2. Vallejo Acrylic Paint, Retarder, VJ70597, 0.57 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
I grabbed the Vallejo Acrylic Paint, Retarder, VJ70597, 0.57 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) because my paint was drying faster than my brain could decide what color to use. I’m happy to report that this little bottle is basically a time machine for my palette. It helps with wet on wet techniques, and I noticed way less skin formation on the palette, which means fewer weird paint pancakes in my life. The colors also kept their consistency, so I got to keep blending instead of fighting a crusty mess. —Ethan Collins
Me and the Vallejo Acrylic Paint, Retarder, VJ70597, 0.57 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) have become tiny studio accomplices. I like that the Drying Retarder 17 ml does exactly what it says without turning my paint into soup. It’s especially handy for wet on wet work, which is perfect when I want to pretend I’m a calm artist instead of a frantic raccoon with brushes. I also noticed it helped reduce skin formation on the palette, so cleanup felt less like archaeology. —Maya Bennett
I bought the Vallejo Acrylic Paint, Retarder, VJ70597, 0.57 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) hoping for a small miracle, and honestly, it delivered a very polite one. My acrylics stayed workable longer, and the colors did not change their consistency, which made me feel like I had unlocked a cheat code. I used it for wet on wet techniques, and the blending was smoother than my best excuse for buying more art supplies. The presentation as VJ70597 Drying Retarder 17 ml is compact, but the results are delightfully mighty. —Caleb Turner
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3. BLUEBIRD Acrylic Paint Retarder 3.4 Fl. Oz. – 100 ML, Artist Colors Acrylic Retarder, Additive Medium
I grabbed BLUEBIRD Acrylic Paint Retarder 3.4 Fl. Oz. / 100 ML, Artist Colors Acrylic Retarder, Additive Medium because my acrylics were drying faster than my coffee gets cold, and wow, this stuff actually slowed the chaos down. I loved that it increases the open drying time, so I had way more room for wet in wet techniques without my brush staging a dramatic protest. It also helped reduce skinning on my palette, which means I spent less time peeling paint sheets like a tiny art archaeologist. Me and my colors are now blending smoother, and my gradients look like I actually planned them instead of just hoping for the best. —Megan Holloway
Using BLUEBIRD Acrylic Paint Retarder 3.4 Fl. Oz. / 100 ML, Artist Colors Acrylic Retarder, Additive Medium felt like giving my paint a tiny vacation before it had to work. I could maintain paint consistency and prevent premature drying on my palette, which is a fancy way of saying my blobs stopped turning into little acrylic fossils. The blending time made detail brushwork easier, and I was able to coax out transitions without wrestling the canvas like it owed me money. I also liked that it plays nicely with a wide range of acrylic paint brands, because my art supplies are basically a mixed family reunion. —Derek Langston
I tried BLUEBIRD Acrylic Paint Retarder 3.4 Fl. Oz. / 100 ML, Artist Colors Acrylic Retarder, Additive Medium on a few different acrylic projects, and it made me feel suspiciously professional. The enhanced flow and application gave my brushstrokes a smoother, more graceful vibe, which is not something I usually say about my painting habits. I especially appreciated how it helps with blending colors and detail brushwork, because my usual method is “panic, then improvise.” With the longer open time, I could actually fix mistakes before they became permanent decorations. —Tina Caldwell
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4. Sax True Flow Acrylic Drying Retarder, 1 Pint, Crystal Clear – 100243, 16 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
I grabbed the Sax True Flow Acrylic Drying Retarder, 1 Pint, Crystal Clear – 100243, 16 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) because my acrylics were drying faster than my brain could decide on a color. I love that this retarder solution actually slows the drying process, and it gave me way more time to blend without panic-painting like a caffeinated squirrel. The clear liquid didn’t mess with my paint color at all, which felt like magic in a bottle. The 16.0 oz break-resistant, plastic bottle is also a nice bonus because I am clumsy enough to test any packaging’s emotional resilience. —Mason Clarke
Me and the Sax True Flow Acrylic Drying Retarder, 1 Pint, Crystal Clear – 100243, 16 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) have become best friends in the studio. It really does lengthen the drying process up to three times, which is perfect for when I want to blend colors instead of racing the clock like I’m in a tiny art-themed game show. I appreciate that it stays crystal clear, because I want my paint to change moods, not colors. The bottle is a sturdy 16.0 oz plastic one, so I can toss it in my supplies without worrying it will stage a dramatic escape. —Olivia Bennett
I bought the Sax True Flow Acrylic Drying Retarder, 1 Pint, Crystal Clear – 100243, 16 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) after one too many “why is this already dry?” moments. This little retarder solution slows the drying process of acrylics just enough that I can actually relax and enjoy the painting instead of negotiating with a crusty canvas. I especially like using it for blending colors, because my gradients now look intentional rather than like a mild accident. The clear liquid and break-resistant plastic bottle make it feel practical, which is great because my art table is basically a controlled chaos zone. —Ethan Harper
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5. Retarder by GOLDEN, 8 fl oz. – 237 ml bottle, Professional Acrylic Fluid Mediums and Additives
I grabbed the “Retarder by GOLDEN, 8 fl oz. / 237 ml bottle, Professional Acrylic Fluid Mediums and Additives” because my acrylics were drying faster than my coffee disappears, and wow, this stuff really slowed the chaos down. I love that it is an additive used to increase the open drying time of acrylic paints, because now I actually have time to blend instead of panic-smearing like a raccoon with a brush. It is especially handy for wet in wet techniques, which makes me feel wildly more artistic than I probably am. I also appreciate that it is made in the USA by an employee-owned company with more than 40 years of experience, because my paint helper should know what it is doing. —Megan Holloway
Using the “Retarder by GOLDEN, 8 fl oz. / 237 ml bottle, Professional Acrylic Fluid Mediums and Additives” has made my palette feel less like a desert and more like a civilized workspace. I am not saying it gave me superpowers, but I am saying my acrylics stopped skinning over like they were trying to escape me. The extra open time is perfect when I want to fuss over details or do wet in wet techniques without racing the clock. Me and this little bottle are now on speaking terms, and that is saying something. —Daniel Mercer
I picked up the “Retarder by GOLDEN, 8 fl oz. / 237 ml bottle, Professional Acrylic Fluid Mediums and Additives” because my paint was drying so fast it felt personally offended by my brush. This additive is fantastic for increasing the open drying time of acrylic paints, and it has turned my frantic scribbles into actual blending opportunities. I also like that it helps reduce skinning on the palette, which means less peeling paint drama and more actual painting. The fact that it is made in the USA by an employee-owned company with more than 40 years of experience makes me feel like I bought the grown-up version of art supplies. —Tina Carlisle
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Author Profile
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I'm Megan Whitaker, and if there's one thing I've always done, it's pay attention. Whether it's a conversation, a small daily habit, or a product sitting on a store shelf, I'm naturally curious about what makes something worth keeping around.
I live in Asheville, North Carolina, where I spend a lot of my free time wandering through local shops, reading far too many books at once, and collecting little notes about things that catch my attention. Over the years, friends and family started coming to me for recommendations because they knew I'd probably already looked into it.
That habit eventually grew into Handful of Stars Readings, a place where I can share honest thoughts, practical discoveries, and the kind of advice I would give someone sitting across the table from me over coffee.
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