Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Anti-aging
- Moisturizing
- Anti-oxidation
Doesn't work for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
- Evens skin tone
- Anti-blemish
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: high
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"The Ordinary - GRANACTIVE RETINOID SERUM 5% IN SQUALANE" is effective for: Anti-aging, Evens skin tone and Anti-blemish
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- this product contains an effective form of Retinoids (vitamin A): hydroxypinacolone retinoate 0.15% - 0.65%. Retinoids are potent multitasking actives. They work to improve and prevent early signs of aging, reduce hyperpigmentation (age spots and post-acne marks), and prevent inflamed blemishes and clogged pores. The downside of Retinoids is that they can be irritating. If you are not already using a Retinoid in your routine, it is best to start slowly and apply the Retinoid product only a few times per week. If your skin tolerates it well, you can gradually increase the frequency to daily.
About the brand
According to Cruelty-Free Kitty "The Ordinary" is cruelty free and so is its parent company.
Price
The product retails for 2999.99KSH in Kenya, from 12.40$ up to 22.00$ in the United States, from 18.50CA$ up to 37.95CA$ in Canada, at around 24.07A$ in Australia and from 12.40£ up to 100.00£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Works for
Does not work for
Anti-oxidation
This product contains antioxidants (tocopherol) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Revitalise the skin for a fresher-looking appearance with The Ordinary Retinoid 5% In Squalane, a high-strength yet low-irritation serum that works to soften the look of fine lines and other unwanted signs of ageing.
Source: SpaceNK
This product contains tocopherol. This ingredient help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they might be able to prevent early signs of aging (like fine lines and wrinkles), at least to some extent. These ingredients will not be able to "reverse" signs of aging.
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Moisturizing
What does the product description say?
Enriched with a 5% concentration of an advanced retinoid active complex called Granactive Retinoid, the lightweight serum improves the moisture balance and elasticity of the skin that leads to a firmer, younger looking complexion.
Source: Recreate Yourself
This product can help soften the skin and reduce its moisture loss with emollients and occlusives: helianthus annuus seed oil, simmondsia chinensis seed oil.
Keep in mind that this product does not contain effective ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. This is why an additional product with humectants like glycerin or hyaluronic acid can be helpful (apply it before this product for the best results).
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
Plant oil that due to the high content of linoleic acid can support skin's barrier function and reduce moisture loss
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Anti-blemish
What does the product description say?
Antioxidant ingredients shield against daily UV damage, guard against external aggressors, and help to even out areas of discoloration and blemishes.
Source: Lookfantastic CA
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low.
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
Combat signs of ageing with the Granactive Retinoid Serum 5% in Squalane from The Ordinary ; a water-free solution proven to revitalise skin and soften the appearance of fine lines and uneven pigmentation.
Source: Recreate Yourself
Effective ingredients missing or their concentration is too low
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
Starring retinoid active technology, the Granactive Retinoid Serum 5% in Squalane (30ml) is a water-free solution working to exfoliate and renew the look of skin.
Source: Cultbeauty
This product does not contain effective exfoliating ingredients. It might be able to deliver physical exfoliation, that is scrub off some of the dead cells on the surface of the skin. We do not recommend physical exfoliation, because it is not uniform (some bits of skin can get exfoliated too much while others not at all). It can also traumatize the skin and aggrevate acne and other skin conditions.
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Moisturizing | |
| Exfoliation | |
| Evens skin tone | |
| Anti-blemish |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 30/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
User reviews (0)
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Ordinary GRANACTIVE RETINOID SERUM 5% IN SQUALANE | Current | $15.00 | |
 Antipodes Divine Avocado & Rosehip Face Oil | 52% | $12.74 |
Key Actives
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
Plant oil that due to the high content of linoleic acid can support skin's barrier function and reduce moisture loss
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
Potential irritants
Plant oil that due to the high content of linoleic acid can support skin's barrier function and reduce moisture loss
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
Fragrance with sweet balsamic smell. Help to preserve products and dissolve other ingredients. Could trigger allergic reactions and be irritating
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
Softens the upper layer of skin and helps restore the healthy skin barrier. Has shown to help calm down inflammation in skin. It is a stable oil, meaning that it retains its properties even when exposed to air.
A plant oil that helps soften the upper layer of the skin
Plant oil that due to the high content of linoleic acid can support skin's barrier function and reduce moisture loss
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
A preservative. Can be used to mask unpleasant smell. Can be irritating
Fragrance with sweet balsamic smell. Help to preserve products and dissolve other ingredients. Could trigger allergic reactions and be irritating
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
Ingredient list view
Unknown, Simmondsia chinensis seed oil, Macadamia integrifolia seed oil, Rosa rubiginosa seed oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl benzoate, Benzyl salicylate, Citral, Citronellol, Eugenol, Farnesol, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Limonene, Linalool
- Fatty acids profile of oil from nine varieties of Macadamia nut
- Vitamin E in dermatology
- Vitamin E and Skin Health
- Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for Neonatal Skin Care
- Topically Applied Sunflower Seed Oil Prevents Invasive Bacterial Infections in Preterm Infants in Egypt
- Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin
- Impact of topical oils on the skin barrier: possible implications for neonatal health in developing countries
- Annex I: Clinical evidence regarding sensitisation to individual fragrance chemicals and to natural extracts