Starter Retinol Serum
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

The Inkey List

Starter Retinol Serum

The Ordinary

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

A serum built around Retinoid, for barrier repair and smoothing.

A serum built around Retinoid, for barrier repair and smoothing.

Serum
Serum
36 ingredients
33 ingredients

Brand price

USD 15.00 · checked 26 Sept 2026 · brand's site

Brand price

USD 10.89 · checked 25 Sept 2026 · brand's site

No retailer listed yet
No retailer listed yet
Brand country not recorded
Brand from Canada

At a Glance

They come out differently on Pore-clogger-free and Oil-free; those rows are shaded. Tap any answer to see why.

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Show highlights for:

  • Water

    Skin Conditioning

  • Glycerin (in both products)

    Humectant

    0 / 0

    • Possibly animal-derived
    • Hydrating

  • Dicaprylyl Carbonate

    Emollient

  • Propanediol (in both products)

    Viscosity Controlling

    0-1 / —

    • Hydrating

  • Candelilla/Jojoba/Rice Bran Polyglyceryl-3 Esters

    Cleansing

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Glyceryl Stearate (in both products)

    Emollient

    1 / 0

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • Possibly animal-derived
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Cetyl Alcohol

    Emollient

    2 / 2

    • Fatty alcohol
    • Fatty alcohols (Malassezia)
    • May Trigger Acne
    • May Worsen Irritation
    • May Worsen Keratosis Pilaris
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Cyclodextrin

    Chelating

    0-1 / —

  • Glyceryl Behenate

    Emollient

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Phenoxyethanol (in both products)

    Preservative

    0 / —

  • Aqua

    Solvent

    0 / —

  • Glycerin (in both products)

    Humectant

    0 / 0

    • Possibly animal-derived
    • Hydrating

  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (in both products)

    Occlusive

    1 / 1

  • Ethyl Linoleate

    Emollient

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Propanediol (in both products)

    Viscosity Controlling

    0-1 / —

    • Hydrating

  • Dimethyl Isosorbide

    Viscosity Controlling

    0 / —

  • Cetearyl Isononanoate

    Emollient

    • Fatty esters (glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate)
    • May Worsen Seborrheic Dermatitis

  • Bisabolol (in both products)

    Skin Conditioning

    • Redness Reducing
    • Reduces Irritation

  • Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (in both products)

    Skin Conditioning

    • Retinoid
    • Acne Fighting
    • Anti-Aging
    • Oil Control
    • Smoothing

  • Retinol

    Skin Conditioning

    • Retinoid
    • Acne Fighting
    • Anti-Aging
    • Dark Spots
    • Firming
    • Oil Control
    • Pore Refining
    • Smoothing

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

  • Glycerin

    Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care, Perfuming, Humectant, Skin Protecting, Solvent, Viscosity Controlling

    Glycerin may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.

    Learn more about Glycerin →

  • Propanediol

    Solvent, Viscosity Controlling

    Propanediol is the organic compound that conforms to the formula

    Learn more about Propanediol →

  • Glyceryl Stearate

    Emollient, Emulsifying

    Glyceryl Stearate may be plant, synthetic or animal depending on the supplier.

    Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate →

  • Phenoxyethanol

    Antimicrobial, Preservative

    Phenoxyethanol is the aromatic ether alcohol that conforms to the formula:

    Learn more about Phenoxyethanol →

  • Cetearyl Alcohol

    Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Emollient, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling

    Cetearyl Alcohol isn't fungal acne safe.

    Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol →

  • Xanthan Gum

    Binding, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning, Cleansing, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling

    Xanthan gum

    Learn more about Xanthan Gum →

  • Bisabolol

    Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Soothing

    (R*,R*)-.alpha.,4-dimethyl-.alpha.-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1-methanol; 3-Cyclohexene-1-methanol, alpha,4-dimethyl-alpha-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-, (theta,theta)-(+/-)-; 3-Cyclohexene-1-methanol, alpha,4-dimethyl-alpha-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-, (S-(theta,theta))- (levomenol)

    Learn more about Bisabolol →

  • Ethylhexylglycerin

    Deodorant, Skin Conditioning

    Ethylhexylglycerin is the organic compound that conforms to the formula

    Learn more about Ethylhexylglycerin →

  • Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate

    Skin Conditioning

    Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate is a retinoid.

    Learn more about Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate →

  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

    Fragrance, Perfuming, Occlusive, Solvent

    Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is the mixed triester of glycerin and caprylic and capric acids.

    Learn more about Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride →

Similar Comparisons

Each product against its closest dupes.