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The Ordinary

Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion.

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
Retinoids

About this product

A lightweight emulsion serum delivering 2% granactive retinoid, designed to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and acne while offering a creamy, hydrating texture.

Type

RetinoidsCream

Key actives

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Full ingredients

Guru Score

81%

Approved

7 experts · Strong agreement
7Gurus
7Approved
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What the gurus are saying

This emulsion sinks in beautifully without greasiness, making it one of the most comfortable ways to use granactive retinoid at this strength. Gurus praise it as less irritating than traditional retinols yet faster-acting, and particularly effective for fine lines, acne, and inflammation. One important note: the label says 2%, but the active retinoic acid ester concentration is actually 0.2%, so it reads as a beginner's formula. That means those new to retinoids or anyone with a sensitive skin barrier may want to start here, while experienced retinoid users might seek something stronger. Apply it after water-based serums due to its thicker texture, and use it in the evening since sunlight breaks down retinoids.
Synthesized from 7 expert reviews · most recent take June 2026

Where to buy

How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.
Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
54k subs
✓Approved
"The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid is a 2%, and it is another over the counter retinoid I really like for the neck."
All 3 takes from Darnell Cox | 50+ Healthy Aging Expert
All of your pressing questions answered in today’s Instagram live show!
"We've got The Ordinary, which is a 1% in squalane, so it's not as irritating."
All of your pressing questions answered in today’s Instagram live show!
"We've got The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, so it's not as irritating."
Your neck is snitching on you
"The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid is a 2%, and it is another over the counter retinoid I really like for the neck."
Mad About Skin
Mad About Skin
723k subs
✓Approved
"The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is great because that emulsion adds to the hydration of the serum. So this is great if you have very dryness prone skin and it's just a more affordable option. Such a wonderful product and definitely one that I think could be a great budget friendly place to start with granactive retinoid."
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All 12 takes from Mad About Skin
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"Am I surprised the Granactive Retinoid in squalane was discontinued? Absolutely not. They were greasy, you didn't have a great application, and I think there's just better products out there. Ultimately I think this fell for the fact that The Ordinary themselves just have a better product, and this is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion, a rich creamy emulsion that sinks in. Why would you buy the one in squalane, which is greasy and difficult to sink in, when you can get the exact same strength at the exact same price in a rich creamy emulsion that's just going to be a dream to apply? Buy this, forget the one in squalane, not worth it, but this 2% Emulsion is an absolute game changer."
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"The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is perfect for people that want granactive retinoid but in a really light emulsion type viscosity. It's not thick. It's not heavy. It's just a really nice emulsion serum. This is also super affordable. So, if you don't want to break the bank and you want a super affordable granactive retinoid, I think the ordinary is where it's at."
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"The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is great because that emulsion adds to the hydration of the serum. So this is great if you have very dryness prone skin and it's just a more affordable option. Such a wonderful product and definitely one that I think could be a great budget friendly place to start with granactive retinoid."
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"It has a very similar texture to The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid Emulsion if you've tried that you'll know exactly what this texture is like. The pink doesn't stain the skin or anything, it disappears without a trace. As you work it in you can see it disappears, there's no tackiness, there's no stickiness, there's no residue, definitely one of those products that just disappears."
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"The Ordinary is a firm favorite of mine. I love the brand, I love the price point, I love their formulations, but I actually think the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is the best of their retinoid collection. It sinks in like that, whereas I think some of their other retinoids are a bit greasy. Not with this one. It adds an element of hydration, and that 2% I think is a really great all-around strength of granactive retinoid. Even if you just start and end with this Granactive Retinoid Emulsion, you'll be getting great results. Your skin will love it, and I truly believe that this is a universal product that will work almost for everyone."
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"The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is a beautiful rich emulsion that sinks into the skin so well and will give you really good effects. It's less sensitizing than traditional retinols, and early studies into granactive retinoid show it can be much more effective than retinol anyway, so this could be a much less sensitizing and more effective option. Some studies on granactive retinoid have shown how effective it is in terms of minimizing inflammation caused by acne breakouts and persistent breakouts, so if you're particularly acne prone, granactive retinoid could work really well for you. Whether you're new to retinoids or you're an advanced retinoid user, this could be a really great result, and it's a great affordable option."
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"The Ordinary do a Granactive Retinoid Emulsion which I think is a really nice affordable option if your budget won't stretch to other options. I don't think it's quite as well formulated but it's a fraction of the cost. Granactive retinoid is very similar to retinol in terms of giving very gentle yet enhanced performance versus retinol."
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"One of my favorite of the granactive retinoids is this one by The Ordinary. This is their 2% Emulsion, great performance, less sensitivity, and I actually found this worked really really well on my acne prone skin."
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"The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid is a high potency retinoid, not quite the strength of other options but over time you'll get very similar results. It's a much more basic formulation, doesn't have some of the calming and soothing ingredients, but it's 10 pounds. If you're on a budget, the Ordinary Granactive Retinoid is a great option. You might just have to have a little patience because you will have to wait to see those results a little bit longer than you would with other products, but it's worth it because you're saving some of your hard-earned coin. It's one of my favorites. I think Granactive would work for everyone, it doesn't matter what level of skin sensitivity you have, it'll work great for dryness prone skin types, oily acne prone skin types, and everything in between. It's a universal product."
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"Granactive retinoid is fabulous at reducing acne-causing bacteria but still giving great anti-aging benefits. It's a newer generation retinoid, so it won't give you a whole lot of sensitivity, but it definitely packs a punch for fighting acne, fine lines, and wrinkles. I love this."
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"It's so good if you use this in your skincare routine you'll definitely notice that everything's smoother"
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"Granactive retinoid is great because it's less sensitizing than retinol and studies have shown it can be particularly effective on acne prone skin because it actually reduces the rate of acne causing bacteria and can minimize inflammation associated with it. My favorite 2% actually comes from The Ordinary. It's a super lightweight emulsion that glides onto the skin and feels great if you've got particularly oily and acne prone skin because it sinks in and doesn't clog the pores. This I absolutely love, and I think for anyone that's using a 1% retinol and wants an equivalent in granactive retinoid, this 2% Emulsion by The Ordinary is the one that I'd go for."
Sincerely Miss Ash
Sincerely Miss Ash
195k subs
✓Approved
"I really loved the 2% Emulsion because of that creamy milky consistency it just felt so comforting on the skin it was also very moisturizing and a great step up from the retinol category. With this one this would be more for frequent users this has that moderate strength. Even with the 2% Emulsion you still want to apply this after water-based serums because this has that thicker texture to it."
Cassandra Bankson
Cassandra Bankson
2.45M subs
✓Approved
"This is the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion and with retinoids you can usually find them in creams or as these yellow formulas or in oil but it's hard to find a retinoid that really works for oily skin that absorbs well but is still creamy. This Is The Answer especially for the price. The Ordinary does retinoids really really well and they also give you options on the percentages. This has Granactive Retinoid as well as retinol and look at this creamy texture. It works on dry skin, it works on oily skin, it works on combo skin. I love this especially if someone has fine lines and wrinkles or if someone has acne prone skin and blackheads, this works really well for both. You can use this morning or evening but sun does break down retinoid so evening is probably going to be your best bet. This formula is tried and true and if you haven't gotten your hands on this, probably one of the best bang for your buck options just because retinoids have been proven time and time again in medicine and medical studies to be so effective for skin for skin cell renewal."
All 3 takes from Cassandra Bankson
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"The Granactive Retinoid is one of them and this one is fantastic for fine lines and wrinkles in skin. Retinoids work deep down in the skin to literally plump up those beautiful juicy skin cells stimulating those fibroblasts getting them to produce more collagen and elastin to literally help plump up your skin and actually help with those fine lines and wrinkles. If you're looking for fine line and wrinkle care retinoids are your best bet. I'm using it on my own skin and I recommend it to others all the time."
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"One of my favorite retinoids if you want a gentle but effective creamy retinoid serum, this is it. It works so well and if it's in stock, get it because it goes out of stock so soon."
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"This is the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion and with retinoids you can usually find them in creams or as these yellow formulas or in oil but it's hard to find a retinoid that really works for oily skin that absorbs well but is still creamy. This Is The Answer especially for the price. The Ordinary does retinoids really really well and they also give you options on the percentages. This has Granactive Retinoid as well as retinol and look at this creamy texture. It works on dry skin, it works on oily skin, it works on combo skin. I love this especially if someone has fine lines and wrinkles or if someone has acne prone skin and blackheads, this works really well for both. You can use this morning or evening but sun does break down retinoid so evening is probably going to be your best bet. This formula is tried and true and if you haven't gotten your hands on this, probably one of the best bang for your buck options just because retinoids have been proven time and time again in medicine and medical studies to be so effective for skin for skin cell renewal."
Dr. Somji Skin
Dr. Somji Skin
358k subs
✓Approved
"The Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion was previously another product that has both the granactive retinoid in it and retinols in it, so it's more for patients with oily skin. It's creamier in texture and it's better for beginners, that's what I would start as a beginner. If you're a fan of squalane and you've had squalane before and you know you like the benefits that squalane gives and you've got an impaired skin barrier, then I would start up with Granactive 2% in squalene, and that doesn't have any retinol in it, it just has a granactive retinoid in it. Because the granactive retinoids are more close to retinoic acid, it's much more likely that you will get a better result with the granactive range than you would with the retinol range."
No BS Beauty
No BS Beauty
89k subs
✓Approved
"In terms of retinoids they have several different retinoids that I've repurchased and the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is one of them. I've repurchased both of these a few times and they're really wonderful. If you're using your evening routine it doesn't become as big of a deal because you're going to sleep usually after you do your evening routine."
All 2 takes from No BS Beauty
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"In terms of retinoids they have several different retinoids that I've repurchased and the Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is one of them. I've repurchased both of these a few times and they're really wonderful. If you're using your evening routine it doesn't become as big of a deal because you're going to sleep usually after you do your evening routine."
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"This one's great for people that have sensitive skin types or haven't used a lot of retinoids before. It doesn't have a super long ingredient list, which is nice, and it's got a couple of antioxidants and retinoids that help with aging. If you're new to retinoids, it's nice. If you're experienced with using lots of retinoids, then I would probably pass on it and get something else."
Dr. Shereene Idriss
Dr. Shereene Idriss
1.71M subs
✓Approved
"Granactive retinoids are a class of retinoic acid, so it's a cousin of the prescription. It's stronger than retinol and it works faster because it automatically works within your cell, but it is less irritating. So it is an interesting one to try if you've never been able to tolerate a retinol or a retinoid or a retinal ester. You may be able to tolerate this one."
All 2 takes from Dr. Shereene Idriss
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"Granactive retinoids are a class of retinoic acid, so it's a cousin of the prescription. It's stronger than retinol and it works faster because it automatically works within your cell, but it is less irritating. So it is an interesting one to try if you've never been able to tolerate a retinol or a retinoid or a retinal ester. You may be able to tolerate this one."
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"The Ordinary has their Granactive Retinoid and I'm mentioning this one last because when you look at the label on the Granactive Retinoid you are going to think that it comes at 2%, but it doesn't. This is an emulsion at 2% and the active form of the retinoic acid ester in here comes at 0.2%. So it is like a beginner's retinoid."
Common questions

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion?

A lightweight emulsion serum delivering 2% granactive retinoid, designed to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and acne while offering a creamy, hydrating texture.

Is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion worth it?

Yes. All 7 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 81%.

What is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion holds a Guru Score of 81%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 independent expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion best for?

The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion is generally suited to acne-prone skin and mature skin.

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