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The Inkey List
Starter Retinol Serum

Versus

The Ordinary
Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Product category and function

Starter Retinol Serum

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Retinoid Serums/Creams	Retinoid Serums/Creams
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Ingredient highlights

Starter Retinol Serum

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Ingredient info	Ingredient info
Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free vegan cruelty-free	Alcohol-free Paraben-free SLS-free Mica-free Fragrance-free vegan cruelty-free

Full ingredient list

Starter Retinol Serum

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

No. of common ingredients = 0
Water (aqua/eau), glycerin, dicaprylyl carbonate, propanediol, candelilla/jojoba/rice bran polyglyceryl-3 esters, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, cyclodextrin, glyceryl behenate, phenoxyethanol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, sodium stearoyl lactylate, cetearyl alcohol, squalane, phospholipids, xanthan gum, bisabolol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, polysorbate 60, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium phytate, glucosylrutin, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycolipids, citric acid, sorbitan isostearate, polysorbate 80, glycine soja (soybean) sterols, retinal, sucrose laurate, tocopherol, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, 1,2-hexanediol, hydroxyacetophenone, inulin lauryl carbamate. 13	Aqua (water), glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, ethyl linoleate, propanediol, dimethyl isosorbide, cetearyl isononanoate, bisabolol, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol, tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract, inulin lauryl carbamate, glyceryl stearate, ceteareth-12, ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, carrageenan, xanthan gum, acacia senegal gum, cetyl palmitate, sucrose laurate, polysorbate 20, isoceteth-20, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, hydroxymethoxyphenyl decanone, behentrimonium chloride, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, disodium edta, dehydroacetic acid, benzoic acid, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin

No. of common ingredients = 0

Total Number of ingredients = 36

Total Number of ingredients = 33

Water (aqua/eau), glycerin, dicaprylyl carbonate, propanediol, candelilla/jojoba/rice bran polyglyceryl-3 esters, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, cyclodextrin, glyceryl behenate, phenoxyethanol, hydroxyethyl acrylate/sodium acryloyldimethyl taurate copolymer, sodium stearoyl lactylate, cetearyl alcohol, squalane, phospholipids, xanthan gum, bisabolol, glycine soja (soybean) oil, polysorbate 60, ethylhexylglycerin, sodium phytate, glucosylrutin, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycolipids, citric acid, sorbitan isostearate, polysorbate 80, glycine soja (soybean) sterols, retinal, sucrose laurate, tocopherol, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, 1,2-hexanediol, hydroxyacetophenone, inulin lauryl carbamate.

Aqua (water), glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, ethyl linoleate, propanediol, dimethyl isosorbide, cetearyl isononanoate, bisabolol, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol, tasmannia lanceolata fruit/leaf extract, inulin lauryl carbamate, glyceryl stearate, ceteareth-12, ceteareth-20, cetearyl alcohol, carrageenan, xanthan gum, acacia senegal gum, cetyl palmitate, sucrose laurate, polysorbate 20, isoceteth-20, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, hydroxymethoxyphenyl decanone, behentrimonium chloride, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, disodium edta, dehydroacetic acid, benzoic acid, ethylhexylglycerin, phenoxyethanol, chlorphenesin

Notable ingredients

Starter Retinol Serum

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Anti-acne: Retinal

Soothing: Bisabolol

Skin brightening: Retinal

Anti-acne: Retinol

Soothing: Bisabolol, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract

Skin brightening: Retinol

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Ingredients with their functions

Starter Retinol Serum

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Water (aqua/eau)

Also-called: Aqua, Aqua/Water, Water/Aqua/Eau, Aqua/Water/Eau | Function: Skin conditioning, Solvent

Water serves as a fundamental component in skincare products, often listed as the first ingredient, which means it's the most abundant. It acts as a solvent, helping to dissolve other ingredients and facilitate the application and absorption of products.

Glycerin

Also-called: Glycerol | Function: Skin-identical ingredient, Viscosity controlling, Skin protecting, Skin conditioning, Humectant/Moisturizer, Solvent