The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane Versus Nø Cosmetics ø renew today

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane Versus Nø Cosmetics ø renew today Detailed comparison of The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane versus Nø Cosmetics ø renew today. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Squalane and Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate and Retinol to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. Squalane C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Bisabolol Dimethyl Isosorbide Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bisabolol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Undecane Tridecane Retinol Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Beta-Carotene Glycine Soja Oil Tocopherol Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Squalane, Undecane, Tridecane, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Beta-Carotene, Glycine Soja Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Be the first to review 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. Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (aka Granactive Retinoid or HPR) is a retinoid that is part of the same vitamin A family as retinol. It is an ester of retinoic acid that binds directly to your skin's retinoic acid receptors so it doesn't need your skin to convert it through several steps before it can do anything. In practice, this means it does the classic retinoid jobs in a formula: The best part is that it can do all this with noticeably less redness, flaking, and stinging than traditional retinoids. That gentle reputation is backed by lab work as well; a 2018 study on skin models found that HPR triggered higher retinoid-gene activity than retinol, retinal, or retinyl propionate at the same concentrations while being less irritating to cells. It also boosted procollagen production to levels similar to retinoic acid itself. A 2023 study showed HPR works synergistically with retinyl propionate to switch on collagen-building pathways and a 2025 clinical serum study in women with mild photoaging saw improvements in wrinkles and elasticity (though that formula also contained retinol, peptides, and Silybin). One naming quirk worth mentioning: You'll likely see this ingredient sold under the trade name "Granactive Retinoid", which is actually only 10% HPR blended with 90% Dimethyl Isosorbide solvent. This means a 5% Granactive Retinoid really only means about 0.5% HPR. Finished products typically land somewhere between 0.05-1% and it's happiest formulated at a mildly acidic to neutral pH (~5.5-6.5). Another perk is that this is one of the more light- and temperature-stable retinoids which is a nice bonus for shelf life. Jojoba oil is one of the most well-studied plant-derived ingredients in cosmetics. It is an emollient with a special structure. Because it is made up of 97-98% wax esters, it closely mirrors the linear monoesters found in human sebum. This makes it skin compatible, non-greasy, and lightweight. Unlike other plant oils, jojoba wax doesn't easily penetrate skin. It mostly works in the uppermost layers as