TheOrdinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion Reviews

Name: Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
Brand: TheOrdinary
Rating: 4.55 (31 reviews)

4.55

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11 Reviews

y@120402
Apr 26, 2025
Dry SkinSensitive Skin
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Pros
My sensitive skin gets very red when I use retinol. The retinoids have no irritation at all. There's no dramatic improvement, but it seems to be effective if used consistently. I'm currently using my second bottle.
Cons
While it may not be as effective as retinol, it seems suitable for first-time users as it is not overly irritating.

가다마라
Dec 13, 2024
Oily SkinAcne Skin
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Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
The Ordinary oil formulation is difficult to use as it feels sticky and is hard to absorb for those with oily skin. However, the emulsion version absorbs well and has a clean finish. It is also not overly irritating, so it would be a good option for oily skin types who want to start using retinol.
Cons
The fact that it needs to be refrigerated is quite inconvenient. Without a cosmetic refrigerator... As a The Ordinary product, the scent has an honest chemical smell. And since it's not available in Olive Young, offline testing is difficult. This was one of the more highly-rated The Ordinary products, but it seems to be not very well-known, which is a shame.
Tip
Store in the refrigerator if possible, avoiding direct sunlight.

으아아쥬금
Jan 2, 2024
Dry SkinSensitive SkinAcne Skin
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Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
Retinoids have effects similar to retinol but are less irritating, so I tried using them and my skin seems to have gained some strength. However, the effects are not dramatically impressive.
Cons
I used it because they said it's non-irritating, but there is a slight stinging sensation. It doesn't last long, and my skin also feels a bit oily.

에일
Dec 3, 2023
Combination SkinAcne Skin
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Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
The Granactive Retinoid was the best alternative for me, who suffered from skin irritation while using a 1% retinol product. Compared to retinol, it has almost no irritation, but the skin texture immediately becomes smoother, and since it is an emulsion type, it is absorbed without any stickiness, and it also helps control excessive sebum, in addition to actually helping with blemish care. If you have aversion to retinol or experience side effects, I recommend trying it.
Cons
While it may be a bit disappointing in terms of effectiveness compared to the original retinol, it is undoubtedly superior among the wrinkle improvement products available on the market.
Tip
I think it is the best choice for those who are worried about side effects of existing retinol, have experienced side effects, or are new to it.

멜랑콜리최
Oct 3, 2022
Dry SkinSensitive Skinproduct.Atopy Skin
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Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
The real advantage is that the stabilized ingredients containing retinoids in retinol have less skin irritation. I'm also using a 5% squalane product, and for some reason, the 2% emulsion type seems to be more effective.
Cons
The big downside of using retinol products is that they can cause dryness. I thought it would only be dry for the first three days or so, but yes, it does get dry. Before using retinol, the skin - moisturizer combo was enough, but after using it every night for a week, two skin and moisturizers in the morning are not enough. I feel tightness and dryness quickly... I've added an extra moisturizing essence.
Tip
Ah, I've been using high-concentration products for a long time, so I didn't have an adjustment period. I'm alternating between using the 2% emulsion and the 5% squalane.

꾸꾸르피부
Aug 31, 2022
Dry SkinSensitive Skin
Review under verification
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Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
It's only been a few days of use, so I'm not sure if there's a big difference yet. However, it didn't seem to be too irritating. This is the first time I've used a retinol product, so I was a bit worried. On the first day, I mixed it with a soothing cicapair lotion or ampoule and used about 3 drops. There were no side effects, so I tried using about 5 drops and it was fine as well. If I use it consistently, I hope it will improve.
Cons
It has a rubbery clay-like smell.. I'm getting a bit of acne, but I'm not sure if it's because of this product or the mask. I wonder if this is something that should go away instead of appearing..?
Tip
Make sure to properly hydrate with cicapair products first, and apply this in small amounts.

ccgo414
Mar 3, 2022
Combination SkinAcne Skin
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Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
This is really great! I bought this product from Olive Young today after running out of my retinol product. I had previously used ROC products directly imported from overseas, but they were not as good as the entry-level Dr. Different product. I was worried this one might not suit me either, but there was no irritation, and when I woke up, my pores were somewhat refined, so I was very satisfied using it. Apparently, the ingredients are more stable and effective than retinol. The Ordinary brand has various retinol and retinoid products in different concentrations, but I chose an emulsion product because I personally dislike the feel of products with squalane. The texture is less oily than squalane-based products, but it leaves a glow on the face after application. If you want a product that is not at all oily and absorbs quickly, this may not be a good match. The texture is a runny, watery formula in a dropper bottle, so it can sometimes drip down to the bottom. The color is the typical yellow of retinol products, and the fragrance is close to unscented, so even those new to retinol products can use it without any issues.
Cons
None. The only inconvenience is that it seems to only be available for online purchase, and when I tried to repurchase, it was sold out, so I had to wait a few days to buy it.
Tip
Use only at night and sunscreen is essential during the day.

박케찹
Jan 27, 2022
Dry Skin
Review under verification
The content is currently being reviewed by the Hwahae operations team, and the verification will be completed by the next business day (excluding weekends and holidays) from the date the review was written.
Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
My skin has become so smooth and soft after using this product. I can feel the difference every time I cleanse my face. It has greatly improved my skin texture and refined my pores. The day after using it, my skin is so smooth and supple without any flakiness, making my cleansing routine feel great. It's not as drying as I had worried, given that retinol products are known to be drying and irritating. The initial slight irritation only lasted the first day I used it, and I haven't experienced any since. My blemishes have been quickly cleared up. Even though I didn't have much trouble with acne when I was a student, I would still get the occasional breakout as an adult, which was stressful. But since using this, I haven't had a single blemish.
Cons
The 3-month expiration date means I have to use it up quickly, leaving me with little room for flexibility. I haven't seen a significant effect on my enlarged pores and blackheads yet. The blackheads do seem to have reduced a bit, but since I'm using other products as well, I can't fully attribute that to this one.
Tip
I'm using it twice a week, and be sure to apply sunscreen the next day. It's best to use it with a soothing product as well.

면쯔바이
Jan 20, 2022
Oily SkinAcne Skin
Review under verification
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Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
This product has made me completely obsessed with retinoids. First of all, the effects are so immediate. As soon as I apply it, my skin becomes smooth the next day. The day after using this product, I feel so happy when washing my face in the morning... And there's no irritation at all. Retinol is a typical ingredient that can be irritating, right? This retinoid product is developed to minimize irritation, and I've never experienced any irritation while using it. Retinol is one type of retinoid, and there are other retinoid ingredients like tretinoin (Retin-A ointment) and adapalene (Differin gel), but those need to be prescribed. Retinol is relatively less irritating (though the effects are also less dramatic) so it can be used in cosmetics. (However, retinol is still the strongest ingredient among cosmetic ingredients.) The Ordinary's Granactive Retinoid (HPR) seems to be even less irritating than retinol products. The texture is also quite nice. The Ordinary has a squalane formula and this emulsion formula, and I didn't like the slippery feel of the squalane formula I used before. But this product spreads lightly, is hydrating, and absorbs quickly. Considering the overall irritation, efficacy, and price, this is an excellent product for retinol beginners. (I've now moved on to the Paula's Choice Resist Retinol Serum (0.1% retinol), and I'll try it out and compare it to this product.)
Cons
While focusing on cost-effectiveness, the product stability has suffered a bit. I know it's recommended to refrigerate after opening and the shelf life is 3 months. It's an excellent value product that showed remarkable skin improvement with very low irritation, but the stability issues are why I'm considering switching to the Paula's Choice 0.1% retinol serum.. However, I still think this is the best product for retinoid beginners to try.
Tip
- Retinoids layer well with niacinamide. - When using retinoids, be sure to focus on extra hydration on the day you use it and the following day. If you're also using AHA, BHA, etc., leave more time in between. - It's best to apply retinoids at night due to photosensitivity. Make sure to diligently apply sunscreen the next day.

배쥬쥬쥬
Feb 21, 2021
Oily SkinAcne Skin
Review under verification
The content is currently being reviewed by the Hwahae operations team, and the verification will be completed by the next business day (excluding weekends and holidays) from the date the review was written.
Reviewed by The Hwahae Testers
This review was written by The Hwahae Testers who received the product for free and evaluated it with a sense of representing Hwahae. The review is completely unbiased and honest, with no guidelines or restrictions. Reviews by The Hwahae Testers undergo the same strict verification process as regular reviews, and if they don't meet our standards, revisions will be requested.
Pros
I can really see an improvement in my acne scars. It's less irritating than retinol. When I use retinol products, my acne and peeling get much worse, but this product didn't cause any of that. For an Ordinary product, the texture and moisturizing properties are great! On non-drying days, I don't even need to use a separate moisturizer. And the price, well, you already know it's amazing...
Cons
It has a smell like fried cooking oil mixed with a hint of lightly burnt black pepper. I feel like I might have eaten it instead of putting it on, the taste is so strong on my tongue. The scent made me take off a star.
Tip
Hold your breath and apply it