Skin science article
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane Versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane Versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. What's insi
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane Versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Squalane
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate
Bisabolol
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bisabolol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone
Water
Propanediol
Butylene Glycol
Glycerin
Caffeine
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Larix Europaea Wood Extract
Pisum Sativum Extract
Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Glycine Soja Germ Extract
Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Apigenin
Oleanolic Acid
Arginine
Glycine
Calcium Gluconate
Zinc Chloride
Lactic Acid
Gluconolactone
Dextran
Maltodextrin
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Xanthan Gum
Pentylene Glycol
Polysorbate 20
PPG-26-Buteth-26
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Sodium Metabisulfite
Sodium Benzoate
Phenoxyethanol
Chlorphenesin
Water, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caffeine, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Calcium Gluconate, Zinc Chloride, Lactic Acid, Gluconolactone, Dextran, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Alternatives
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethyl Isosorbide (often shortened to DMI) is a sugar-derived solvent made from sorbitol. It's used to dissolve tricky ingredients and help them mix smoothly into a formula.
Many actives sit as gritty crystals when undissolved, so DMI swoops in to full dissolve them. This helps improve texture, stability, and how evenly an active is distributed.
It does have a penetration-enhancing reputation that is a bit more nuanced than marketing suggests; a cell study on human skin found that 10% DMI didn't significantly boost the permeation of Hydroquinone, Salicylic Acid, or Octadecenedioic Acid compared to controls (though it did improve their solubility in the formula itself).
Typical usage concentrations usually range from 1-10% depending on the formula's needs; this ingredient is also well tolerated at these levels.