Versus

The Ordinary Retinol 1% In Squalane Versus Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Serum
Facial Treatment
Canadian Brand Canada
American Brand United States

Updated on August 23, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free and reef safe . 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, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens, silicones 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

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
A-Passioni Retinol Cream

Water

Skin Conditioning

Glycerin

Humectant
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Coco-Caprylate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Stearic Acid

Cleansing
2-3 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Coconut Alkanes

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glyceryl Stearate

Emollient
1 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Niacinamide

Smoothing
Niacinamide IconGood for Oily Skin IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconHelps reduce irritation IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride

Masking

Cetearyl Alcohol

Emollient
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pentylene Glycol

Skin Conditioning

Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil

Emollient
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Retinol

Skin Conditioning
Retinoid IconGood for Oily Skin IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps fight Acne IconHelps brighten skin IconMay worsen Rosacea Icon

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Emollient
0-2 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

Humectant
Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil

Masking
1-2 / 0 Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate

Emollient

Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract

Humectant

Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract

Astringent

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate

Antioxidant
Vitamin C IconAntioxidant IconHelps reduce Skin Redness IconGood for Skin Texture IconGood for Minimizing Pores IconHelps brighten skin Icon

Chrysin

Skin Conditioning

Persea Gratissima Oil

Skin Conditioning
0-3 / 0 Oil IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Linoleic Acid

Cleansing
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Linolenic Acid

Cleansing
Fragrance IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Ceramide NP

Skin Conditioning
Ceramide IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation IconHelps with Anti-Aging Icon

Xanthophylls

Skin Conditioning

Phytosphingosine

Skin Conditioning
Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps reduce irritation Icon

Phytosterols

Skin Conditioning

Jojoba Esters

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice

Skin Conditioning

Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate

Skin Conditioning

Oryza Sativa Extract

Absorbent
Helps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Dark Spots IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Glycine Soja Oil

Emollient
3 / 0 Oil IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil

Masking
0-2 / 0 Oil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12

Skin Conditioning
Peptide IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Cetyl Palmitate

Emollient
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Trehalose

Humectant

Lauric Acid

Cleansing
4 / 1 May worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Humectant
Hyaluronic Acid Icon

Olea Europaea Fruit Oil

Masking
0-2 / 0 Fragrance IconOil IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Glucosamine Hcl

Tocopheryl Acetate

Antioxidant
0 / 0 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant Icon

Coco-Caprylate/Caprate

Emollient
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Pisum Sativum Extract

Skin Conditioning

Tocopherol

Antioxidant
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing Icon

Bambusa Vulgaris Leaf/Stem Extract

Humectant

Phenoxyethanol

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Caprylyl Glycol

Emollient

Carbomer

Emulsion Stabilising
1 / 0

Trideceth-6 Phosphate

Emulsifying

N-Hydroxysuccinimide

Skin Conditioning

Ceteareth-20

Cleansing
2 / 3 May worsen Oily Skin Icon

Sodium Hydroxide

Buffering

Laureth-23

Cleansing
3 / 0

Steareth-20

Cleansing
2 / 1

Propanediol

Solvent

Chlorhexidine Digluconate

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Polysorbate 20

Emulsifying
0 / 0 Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Chlorphenesin

Antimicrobial
Preservative Icon

Potassium Sorbate

Preservative
Preservative Icon

Ethylhexylglycerin

Skin Conditioning

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Masking, Skin Conditioning

This ingredient is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

It helps thicken a product's formula and makes it easier to spread by dissolving clumping compounds.

Caprylic Triglyceride is made by combining glycerin with coconut oil, forming a clear liquid.

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 Triglyceride
Emollient, Skin Conditioning

This oil comes from the seeds of the desert shrub called Jojoba. It is more commonly known as jojoba oil, a non-comedogenic oil.

Jojoba oil does not contain fragrance and has many fatty-acids, making it a great soothing ingredient.

It also contains Vitamin E, a great moisturizing ingredient. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant and protects your skin against oxidative damage.

This ingredient humectant properties, meaning it helps draw moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

While jojoba has antibacterial properties, it is only able to kill some strains of bacteria.

Studies also show it helps in wound healing. In fact, Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns for centuries.

Fun fact: Jojoba oil similar to natural human skin sebum, so it has a great effect on dry skin. It is also promising with helping to regulate sebum production.

Due to its fatty acid content, Jojoba oil may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning

Retinol is a gold-standard ingredient for anti-aging. It is a form of Vitamin A and belongs to the class of retinoids that also includes tretinoin.

Why is retinol famous?

It has the most scientific studies backing up its skin benefits out of all the non-prescription ingredients.

Retinol is proven to:

This is why retinol is effective at removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, treating acne, and reducing the appearance of pores.

Studies show retinol is less effective when exposed to UV. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent (similar to Vitamin C).

Using retinol or any retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few months. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.

We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.

Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.

Read about Tretinoin

Learn more about Retinol

When to use

253 Routines
8% use in am
92% use in pm
62% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
142 Routines
7% use in am
93% use in pm
59% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

The Ordinary Retinol 1% In Squalane 8 ingredients

4.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Great Value (2) Hydrating (2) Oily (2)
Twili's avatar

Liv

3 months ago
Review

I find retinols dry out parts of my combo skin so I’m really glad this doesn’t do that. While yes it does have an oily texture this does absorb over time and helps with the moisture absorbency in my opinion. This works really well

#great value
#hydrating
#absorbs well
#oily
featherstone's avatar

flora

7 months ago
Review

Brightened my skin and maintained hormonal acne, would visibly treat my larger spots overnight! Also was nicely hydrating when I forgot my moisturiser

Definitely not good for fungal acne, didn’t know I had FA and that this was contributing to it- would continue to use if that wasn’t the case :P

#great value
#hydrating
#oily

Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream 63 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 2 ratings
Expensive (1) Great Value (1) Light Scent (1)
Laeros's avatar

Ambra

1 month ago
Review

I used it, I loved it and never bought it again because it is so expensive 🫠 but ~a year later and countless other, less expensive, retinol serums that didn’t deliver (and some that straight up lied on the packaging abt the %s), I think I’m gonna crack again… my skin texture and tone was improved and fine lines and mini wrinkles really minimised. I personally never experienced irritation and only Show more

#great value
#expensive
#light scent
#works well