Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream versus The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane .
Last updated on January 14, 2024. Published on February 14, 2024
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 4 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain retinoid
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
General Moisturizer
All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Price
Ingredient Info
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream 40 ingredients
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Vegan
This product is vegan 🎉
Cruelty Free
This product is cruelty-free 🎉
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream 40 ingredients
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream 40 ingredients
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycerin • Diisopropyl Adipate • Pentylene Glycol • Dimethicone • Butylene Glycol • 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol • 1,2-Hexanediol • Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11 • Acetyl Tetrapeptide-9 • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer • Bisabolol • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • C13-14 Alkane • Caprylhydroxamic Acid • Carbomer • Ceramide NP • Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer • Dimethyl Isosorbide • Disodium EDTA • Glyceryl Stearate • Glycine Soja Oil • Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate • Laureth-7 • Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil • Macadamia Integrifolia Seed Oil • Mica • Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil • Peg-100 Stearate • Phytosphingosine • Polyacrylamide • Polysorbate 20 • Retinol • Sodium Hyaluronate • Tromethamine • Zingiber Officinale Root Extract • Parfum • Tocopherol • CI 77491
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.
Within a product, Caprylic Triglyceride can thicken the product and make spreadability easier by dissolving clumping compounds. An added benefit of Caprylic Triglyceride is its antioxidant properties.
Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid. Caprylic Triglyceride has not been found to be toxic for human use in concentrations under 50%.
While there is an assumption Caprylic Triglyceride can clog pores due to it being derived from coconut oil, there is no research supporting this.
Learn more about Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideElizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane contains this as ingredient number 5.
Bisabolol is pimarily used to add fragrance to a product. However, it is also famous for helping soothe skin.
Bisabolol comes from German chamomile essential oil. Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Bisabolol helps soothe skin. It does this by blocking the inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
Bisabolol also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.
Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.
Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Learn more about BisabololElizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream contains this as ingredient number 13.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane contains this as ingredient number 3.
Dimethyl Isosorbide is a solvent and helps deliver actives into your skin. It is created from sorbitol.
As a solvent, dimethyl isosorbide helps dissolve other ingredients. This helps ensure even distribution of an ingredient. It may also be used to decrease the thickness of a product.
Studies show dimethyl isosorbide is able to penetrate skin to deliver other ingredients into the skin, making them more effective.
Learn more about Dimethyl IsosorbideElizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream contains this as ingredient number 20.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane contains this as ingredient number 4.
This ingredient is a retinoid. It usually goes by a more common name: "Granactive".
Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR) belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes retinol and tretinoin.
Retinoids have been proven to:
So what is the difference between all the retinoids? Most retinoids need to go through a conversion line to become effective on skin. The ending product is retinoic acid. Retinoic acid is AKA tretinoin.
HPR is an ester of tretinoin. Emerging studies suggest HPR to have an added benefit that other retinoids don't have: Low irritation.
A study from 2021 found HPR to have the greatest stability when exposed to light and temperature out of all the commercial retinoids.
A note about naming: The name "Granactive" is the trade name and the name most commonly used on packages.
Granactive is the name of the mixture - about 90% solvent and 10% HPR. A product with 5% granactive has 0.5% HPR.
Learn more about Hydroxypinacolone RetinoateElizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream contains this as ingredient number 24.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane contains this as ingredient number 7.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream 40 ingredients
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream 40 ingredients
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol + HPR Rapid Skin Renewing Water Cream 40 ingredients
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
AshN.
(Tried May 2023) Another retinoid in The Ordinary's lineup that I enjoyed using. As far as efficacy, it's the strongest of the three formulations....
(Tried May 2023) Another retinoid in The Ordinary's lineup that I enjoyed using. As far as efficacy, it's the strongest of the three formulations. This is what I upgraded to after using The Ordinary's Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion. I experienced no irritation with this product despite it's strength and I liked how radiant my skin felt the next morning. Very affordable for the amount and how long it lasts. The only thing I disliked with this formulation is that it's more similar to an oil rather than a serum.
YuxuanP
This serum is really greasy and not easy to absorb, but for its price point I think the skin feel is just what it is. I personally would not...
This serum is really greasy and not easy to absorb, but for its price point I think the skin feel is just what it is. I personally would not repurchase
Alternatives
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