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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion versus Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream .

Published on March 24, 2022

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Serum Canadian Brand Canada
Serum South Korean Brand South Korea

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Shop

Buy Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion

Starts at $11.39
Shop

Buy Snail Solution Cream

Starts at $26.73

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid (2)

Benefits

Hydrating
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (2)
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying (2)
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Eczema (2)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Niacinamide
Ceramides (2)
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (6)
Good For Oily Skin
Redness Reducing (4)
Reduces Irritation (5)
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores (2)
Anti-Aging (3)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (4)
Acne Trigger (2)
Irritating
Rosacea (2)
Eczema
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

1
What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 1.

Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.

2
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 2.

Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.

3
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 13.

Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream contains this as ingredient number 26.

4
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 16.

Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream contains this as ingredient number 7.

5
What it does:
Community Rating: Disliked

Disodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.

It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.

Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.

Learn more about Disodium EDTA

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 28.

Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream contains this as ingredient number 25.

6
What it does: Preservative
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 32.

Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream contains this as ingredient number 40.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

33% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
48% are disliked or very disliked
9% have no rating yet
37% are loved or liked
12% have mixed ratings
47% are disliked or very disliked
5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion 33 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1) Light (1) No Scent (1) Works Well (1)
AshN.'s avatar

AshN.

3 months ago · Dry Skin
Review

(Used from 2019-2022) This was my very first introduction to using retinoids in my evening routine. With this product I felt that my skin texture...

(Used from 2019-2022) This was my very first introduction to using retinoids in my evening routine. With this product I felt that my skin texture and complexion was smoother and brighter. Very gentle formulation, so I felt no irritation at any point. As with most of The Ordinary's products, they make for a great budget buy. Only moved on from this product because I felt that my face was getting too used to it, and I stopped noticing large changes in improvement. Definitely would recommend for beginners looking to add a gentle retinoid to their routine.

Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream 43 ingredients

Snail Solution Cream hasn't been rated yet.
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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 27 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 14 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Nature Republic Snail Solution Cream.

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