The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane Versus Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum
Updated on July 21, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe serums. They have a total of 3 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, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any 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 needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 55 ingredients
What's inside
What's inside
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 55 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningPropanediol
Solvent
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventTriheptanoin
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningHexyldecanol
Emollient
Disiloxane
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying
Diheptyl Succinate
EmollientPropylene Carbonate
SolventHydroxypinacolone Retinoate
Skin Conditioning
PPG-24-Glycereth-24
EmulsifyingPhenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Honey Extract
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Algae Extract
Emollient
Zingiber Officinale Extract
Skin ConditioningOpuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Masking
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract
Skin ConditioningLecithin
Emollient
Sodium Acrylates Copolymer
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene
Emollient1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate
Skin Conditioning
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Sorbitol
Humectant
Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide
Skin ConditioningPolysilicone-11
Benzoic Acid
Masking
Dehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Sodium Phytate
Glyceryl Polyacrylate
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid
Skin ConditioningStearic Acid
Cleansing
Brassica Campestris Sterols
Emollient
Pvp
Emulsion StabilisingCapryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer
Skin ConditioningSodium Benzoate
Masking
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Potassium Phosphate
BufferingDecyl Glucoside
CleansingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Hexylene Glycol
EmulsifyingPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Triheptanoin, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Hexyldecanol, Disiloxane, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Diheptyl Succinate, Propylene Carbonate, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, PPG-24-Glycereth-24, Phenyl Trimethicone, Retinol, Ubiquinone, Honey Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Algae Extract, Zingiber Officinale Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Phospholipids, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Extract, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, 1,2-Hexanediol, 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Polysilicone-11, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Phytate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polysorbate 80, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Stearic Acid, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Pvp, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Decyl Glucoside, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Bisabolol is famous for its skin soothing properties. It does this by blocking inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.
This ingredient 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.
All these properties makes bisabolol a great skin barrier helper ingredient.
Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.
Note: Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.
Learn more about BisabololDimethyl 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 IsosorbideThis 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 RetinoateIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane 10 ingredients
Sunday Riley A+ High-Dose Retinol Serum 55 ingredients
Reviews
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