Is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid a dupe for Mad Hippie Super A Serum? Mad Hippie Vitamin A Serum got an upgrade. It’s now called Mad Hippie Vitamin A Super Serum and it has three forms of retinoids + bakuchiol (does the same thing).
Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane and Granactive Retinoid 5% In Squalane used to be dupes for the old serum – but now this review needs a whole new upgrade too. So let’s go there.
How does The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid compare to the new Mad Hippie Super A Serum? Let’s find out:
What Ingredients Do The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid And Mad Hippie Super A Serum Have In Common?
HYDROXYPINACOLONE RETINOATE TO FIGHT ACNE AND WRINKLES
Hydroxyopinacolone retinoate is a retinoid. Retinoids do awesome things for your skin, like:
Fight the free radicals that give you wrinkles
Boost the production of collagen, the protein that keeps your skin firm
Speed up cellular turnover (i.e., the skin’s exfoliating process), fading away dark spots and fine lines
Help treat acne
To be precise, retinoic acid does all that. That’s why retinoids must usually be converted into retinoic acid to work. The conversion for retinol, the most famous retinoid out there, takes two steps. It looks like this:
Retinol ⇒ Retinaldehyde ⇒ Retinoic Acid
Hydroxypinacolone retinoate is different. It’s an ester of all-trans direct retinoic acid, a fancy way of saying it doesn’t need to be converted into retinoic acid to work.
That’s what got it its reputation for working as well as retinol but without the side effects. But is it true?
Here’s where it gets tricky: hydroxypinacolone retinoate is so new, studies on it are done mostly by the company that makes them. They say it fights wrinkles, dark spots and acne.
The anti-acne claim is true. I’m inclined to believe it helps treat wrinkles and dark spots simply because all forms of vitamin A do – to some extent. We just don’t know if it’s as effective as retinol yet.
But, hydroxypinacolone retinoate is gentler than retinol, indeed. So if you have sensitive skin or are new to retinoids, it makes sense to go with this. You can always switch to retinol once your skin has built tolerance to it.
Related: What’s The Best Form Of Retinoid For You?
SQUALANE OIL TO MOISTURISE SKIN
Squalane makes up the base for both serums. It‘s one of the three oil that doesn’t aggravate acne – it works even for people with fungal acne.
Plus, it moisturises skin so it helps counteract some of the potentially drying effects of hydroxypinacolone retinoate. I say potential because it’s so gentle, it shouldn’t cause problems. But if you have sensitive skin, you can never tell how it’ll react. *sighs*
Related: How To Treat Fungal Acne
Want more dupes? Download your FREE “Dupes Cheatsheet”. It has 10+ affordable dupes of expensive-but-effective skincare products:
What Else Is In These Granactive Retinoid Serums?
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
Red: What is this doing here?!
MAD HIPPIE SUPER A SERUM
Water (Aqua): The main solvent in the product, it helps to dissolve other ingredients.
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: Made up of 99% water, it’s hydrating and soothing. It helps to calm down redness and irritations.
Propandiol: A solvent that enhances the penetration of active ingredients.
Glycerin: A humectant that attracts and binds water to your skin, increasing its moisture levels. Result? Softer and plumper skin.
Caprylic Capric Triglycerides: Derived from coconut oil, it gives all its moisturising benefits without clogging pores.
Retinyl Linoleate: An ester of a retinoid and linoleic acid. It takes three steps to convert it to retinoic acid, the active form that can fight wrinkles and boost production. It’s not as powerful as retinol, but it’s gentler on the skin.
Bakuchiol: A 2018 study published in the British Journal Of Dermatology shows that it reduces wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation. But it requires two daily applications to do that when retinol takes only the once. It’s gentler than retinol, though.
Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract: Also known as snow mushroom, it hydrates skin.
Polyglutamic Acid: A humectant that attracts and binds water to your skin for extra hydration.
Dimethyl Isosorbide: A solvent that helps dissolve other ingredients.
Retinol: The most common form of retinoid in skincare products, it fights free radicals, boosts collagen production, and speeds up cellular turnover (this helps fade away wrinkles and treat acne). The downside? It can be irritating and drying, especially if you’ve never used it before.
Cetearyl Alcohol: A hydrating alcohol (yes, they exist!) that makes skin softer and smoother.
Cetearyl Glucoside: An emulsifier that stabilises the formula and prevents them from separating into two gooey layers.
Phenethyl Alcohol: It masks the natural odour of the ingredients, so the serum doesn’t smell bad. Unlike other masking ingredients, this one isn’t irritating.
Caprylyl Glycol: It makes skin softer and has mild preservative properties.
Oat Beta-Glucan: It helps reduce the redness and inflammation retinoids can cause.
Ethylhexyl Glycerin: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your skincare products.
Stearyl Phosphate: An emulsifier that stabilises the formula and prevents them from separating into two gooey layers.
Stearyl Alcohol: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Fruit Extract: An antioxidant that fights free radicals.
Acetyl Glucosamine: An antioxidant that helps fight free radicals.
Sodium Hyaluronate Acid: A form of Hyaluronic Acid that attracts and binds up to 1000 times its weight in water to make skin super softer and plumper.
Xanthan Gum: It thicken the texture of skincare products.
Steam-Distilled Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil: It makes the serum smell like orange (divine!), but it can irritate sensitive skin.
Tocopherol: A form of Vitamin E, it has powerful antioxidant properties.
THE ORDINARY GRANACTIVE RETINOID 2% IN SQUALANE
C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate: An emollient that makes skin softer and smoother.
Bisabolol: The soothing ingredient in chamomile, it reduces redness and irritations.
Dimethyl Isosorbide: A solvent that helps dissolve other ingredients.
Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract: An antioxidant that helps fight wrinkles.
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil: It strengthens the skin’s protective barrier and makes skin softer and smoother.
WHICH FORMULA IS BETTER?
Mad Hippie Super A Serum has 3 forms of retinoids plus bakuchiol. These 4 musketeers boost collagen production to a whole new level, making it way more effective at treating wrinkles. It’s hydrating too.
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2/5% In Squalane is a basic formula. It only has granactive retinoid to fight wrinkles and acne. It’s suitable for people with fungal acne and sensitive skin, but it doesn’t work as well or fast.
What’s The Texture Like?
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2/5% In Squalane feels oilier and takes a little longer to absorb.
What’s The Packaging Like?
They both come in dark bottles with a dropper applicator for ease of use. You may find one prettier than the other, but they’re so similar, this isn’t a dealbreaker.
How To Use Them
Every other night, as close to clean skin as possible. If you’re using a hyaluronic acid serum, you can apply it on top of these oils. If you’re using an exfoliant or other anti-aging serum, alternate it with these at night, so your skin isn’t overwhelmed with too many actives.
New to retinoids? Start with a couple of days a week and increase frequency slowly. If you experience dryness, peeling or redness, cut back usage and work your way up more slowly. I know it’s slow, but so worth it! Irritation never looks good on your skin.
Which Of The Two Should You Go For?
This one’s easy: if you have fungal acne or sensitive skin that can’t tolerate retinol, go with The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% In Squalane. No risks of breakouts with it.
Everyone else, Mad Hippie Super A Serum has upped the anti-aging game. With 3 forms of retinoids + bakuchiol, it fights wrinkles and dark spots faster. No competition.
Price & Availability
Mad Hippie Super A Serum ($32.90): Available at Thrive Cart and Ulta
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% In Squalane ($16.70): Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Look Fantastic, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta
Is The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane A Dupe For Mad Hippie Super A Serum?
THE ORDINARY
MAD HIPPIE
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Granactive retinoid and squalane.
Granactive retinoid and squalane.
OTHER INGREDIENTS
Bisabolol to soothe redness.
Retinyl Linoleate, Retinol and Backuhiol to fight wrinkles.Hyaluronic acid to hydrate skin.A sprinkle of skin soothers to reduce redness.
TEXTURE
Oily, takes a couple of minutes to absorb.
Milky and lightweight.
PACKAGING
A bottle with a dropper applicator.
A bottle with a dropper applicator.
PERFORMANCE
Fights acne and wrinkles (but not as well as retinol).
Fight wrinkles, helps reduce wrinkles, and brightens the complexion – and does it all faster too.
IRRITATING POTENTIAL
Low.
Medium.
Nope. The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% In Squalane isn’t a dupe for Mad Hippie Super A Serum. It’s a much more basic version. But if you want a retinoid serum with Granactive Retinoid or have fungal acne, it’s a good option to consider.
Mad Hippie Super A Serum Ingredients
Water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Propandiol, Glycerin, Squalane, Caprylic Capric Triglycerides, Retinyl Linoleate*, Bakuchiol, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Polyglutamic Acid, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate*, Retinol*, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Oat Beta-Glucan, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Stearyl Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Coffea Arabica (Coffee) Fruit Extract, Acetyl Glucosamine, Sodium Hyaluronate Acid, Xanthan Gum, Steam-Distilled Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Tocopherol *form of Vitamin A
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% In Squalane Ingredients
Squalane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Bisabolol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
