The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane Versus The Ordinary Multi-Peptide Serum for Hair Density
This anti-aging treatment is formulated around Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and Squalane to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
SolventButylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
HumectantCaffeine
Skin ConditioningBiotinoyl Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3
Skin ProtectingLarix Europaea Wood Extract
HumectantPisum Sativum Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
AstringentTriticum Vulgare Germ Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycine Soja Germ Extract
EmollientTrifolium Pratense Flower Extract
AstringentCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialApigenin
AntioxidantOleanolic Acid
Skin ConditioningArginine
MaskingGlycine
BufferingCalcium Gluconate
HumectantZinc Chloride
AntimicrobialLactic Acid
BufferingGluconolactone
ChelatingDextran
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentHydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningDimethyl Isosorbide
SolventPolysorbate 20
EmulsifyingPPG-26-Buteth-26
Skin ConditioningPEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
EmulsifyingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingSodium Metabisulfite
AntioxidantSodium Benzoate
MaskingPhenoxyethanol
PreservativeChlorphenesin
AntimicrobialWater, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caffeine, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3, Larix Europaea Wood Extract, Pisum Sativum Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract, Glycine Soja Germ Extract, Trifolium Pratense Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Apigenin, Oleanolic Acid, Arginine, Glycine, Calcium Gluconate, Zinc Chloride, Lactic Acid, Gluconolactone, Dextran, Maltodextrin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Polysorbate 20, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dimethyl Isosorbide (often shortened to DMI) is a sugar-derived solvent made from sorbitol. It's used to dissolve tricky ingredients and help them mix smoothly into a formula.
Many actives sit as gritty crystals when undissolved, so DMI swoops in to full dissolve them. This helps improve texture, stability, and how evenly an active is distributed.
It does have a penetration-enhancing reputation that is a bit more nuanced than marketing suggests; a cell study on human skin found that 10% DMI didn't significantly boost the permeation of Hydroquinone, Salicylic Acid, or Octadecenedioic Acid compared to controls (though it did improve their solubility in the formula itself).
Typical usage concentrations usually range from 1-10% depending on the formula's needs; this ingredient is also well tolerated at these levels.
Learn more about Dimethyl Isosorbide