The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion for oily skin
Granactive Retinoid
Retinol
Glycerin
Ethyl Linoleate
Hydroxypinacolone RetinoateHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this formula leverages hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol to regulate oil production and promote skin renewal, effectively addressing oily shine.
- Bisabolol and Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract further enhance its benefits by soothing your skin and minimizing potential irritation.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find this product to be an excellent beginner-friendly retinoid, particularly for sensitive and acne-prone skin, due to its gentle, non-irritating formula. It is frequently noted for improving skin texture, brightness, and fine lines over time. Some users observe that results may be slower or less dramatic compared to stronger retinol treatments, and a few mention a short shelf life and packaging concerns.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Did not irritate my sensitive skin.”
- “One of the easiest retinoids I've tried... doesn't sting.”
- “Perfect for beginners with sensitive, oily and acne prone skin.”
- “No harsh peeling or burning feeling.”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Felt a change in the texture of my skin from the very first use.”
- “Skin looks brighter, pores appear tidier.”
- “Leaves my skin feeling plump the next day and a lot smoother.”
- “My skin is smoother and less wrinkled.”
Lightweight consistency Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs well and is much less oily than retinol in squalane.”
- “Lightweight, milky texture disappears in seconds.”
- “Applies as lightly as an emulsion and doesn't feel rich.”
- “Glides on and vanishes, so layering... is effortless.”
Reduces acne Sometimes Noted
- “Helps prevent and fight acne breakouts.”
- “Noticed a visible change in dark spots.”
- “Less breakouts when using this serum.”
- “Helped with pigmentation texture issues.”
Short shelf life Sometimes Noted
- “Once opened, this formula should be refrigerated and used within a three-month period.”
- “Hard to use up within the recommended timeframe.”
- “Potency gradually decreasing over time.”
- “Expires in 3 months.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Formula is very runny so fiddly to handle.”
- “Dropper picks up a bit too much product.”
- “Annoyed with dropper bottles... product is slightly exposed to air.”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “Don't expect quick, dramatic results, as this seems to be a gentle formula.”
- “Needs patience for deeper lines.”
- “Dramatic wrinkle reduction takes time.”
- “Not as effective as retinol in terms of results.”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like vitamins.”
- “Has an interesting smell to it.”
- “Not a fan of fragrance or scent of this product.”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, sephora.com.au, theordinary.com, influenster.com, retinol.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion a great fit for oily skin?
This formula is a great fit because it uses hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol to control oil production and renew your skin, which helps reduce oily shine. Soothing ingredients like bisabolol and tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract help keep your skin calm and lower the chance of irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol make this a great fit because they help control oil and keep skin clear. Bisabolol and tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract also help calm your skin and may keep irritation away.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2020
What does Granactive Retinoid do for oily skin?
Granactive Retinoid helps manage oily skin by regulating sebum and reducing blemishes without causing excessive dryness or irritation. It works well to clear up acne while keeping your skin calm and smooth.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2020Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2001
What does Retinol do for oily skin?
Retinol helps oily skin by keeping pores clear and balancing sebum production, which may reduce shine and breakouts. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or peeling in the beginning, starting slowly is recommended.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Using it at night provides extra safety around sun exposure, while soothing components help keep oily skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is meant for your evening routine, starting at once a week so your skin can adjust. As your skin gets used to it, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it helps balance oil production and renew the skin without heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. It is well-suited for your skin type and includes calming components to minimize irritation, though you may experience mild initial purging as your skin adjusts to the renewal process.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2020
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Combined probiotic supplementation and topical azelaic acid with hydroxypinacolone retinoate reduced non-inflammatory lesions from 11.5 to 7.3 and decreased microscopic acne features measured by reflectance confocal microscopy and dynamic optical coherence tomography in 20 patients over 12 weeks.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023A new topical gel formulation reduced total acne lesions by 80% and GAGS scores by 78% after 8 weeks in 22 female patients with mild facial acne without impairing skin barrier function or causing side effects.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2020Hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinyl propionate at a 5:9 weight ratio synergistically enhanced antiaging gene expressions in vitro and improved skin wrinkles, smoothness, transepidermal water loss, and elasticity in 42 Chinese urban women over an 8-week period without adverse reactions compared to retinol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023A topical serum containing hydroxypinacolone retinoate and peptides used twice daily for 16 weeks achieved parity or statistically significantly better improvement in facial aging parameters compared to a single fractional CO2 laser treatment in women with moderate global photodamage.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015A 12-month maintenance treatment with a combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol glycospheres resulted in a relapse rate of 15.38% in 39 patients with moderate facial acne following oral isotretinoin therapy.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2017Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Topical application of linoleic acid achieved an almost 25% reduction in the overall size of follicular casts and microcomedones over a 1-month treatment period in patients with mild acne compared to no change at placebo-treated sites.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998A lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate reduced Leeds grading, total, inflammatory, and noninflammatory lesion counts, and sebum production compared with a placebo in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Liposomal formulation of linoleic acid significantly enhances its skin whitening effect compared to non-liposomal forms in UV-stimulated guinea pig and human skin.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2004Cotreatment with vitamin C and retinol derivatives (RP/HPR) at a 40:3 weight ratio inhibited UV-induced aging-associated gene transcription and SASP release while improving skin recovery in women.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Hyaluronic acid-modified nanoemulsions enhanced cell uptake, deep skin penetration, and reduced irritation of hydroxypinacolone retinoate compared to conventional cationic nanoemulsions and free HPR.
ACS Applied Bio Materials, 2026Encapsulation of retinyl propionate and hydroxypinacolone retinoate into supramolecular nanoparticles yields high stability, low irritation, sustained release, and effective anti-wrinkle efficacy.
Pharmaceutics, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Ethyl Linoleate, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Bisabolol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Retinol, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Glyceryl Stearate, Ceteareth-12, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Chondrus Crispus, Xanthan Gum, Acacia Senegal Gum, Cetyl Palmitate, Sucrose Laurate, Polysorbate 20, Isoceteth-20, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Behentrimonium Chloride, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Disodium Edta, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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