Serum comparison

Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane

For acne-prone skin, The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane scores higher (50% vs 83% clean). For fungal acne, The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane is the safer pick.

	Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum	The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
Clean score	50%	83%
Pore-clogging	Acne-safe	Mild risk
Fungal acne	Not fungal-acne safe	Fungal-acne safe
Ingredients rated 3+	0	0
Recognised ingredients	4 / 19	3 / 8
Type	leave-on	leave-on

Only in Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: rated 0/5, fungal-acne trigger
Lecithin: rated 0/5, fungal-acne trigger

Only in The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane

Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil: rated 2/5

Frequently asked questions

Which is better for acne-prone skin, Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum or The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane?

For acne-prone skin, The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane scores higher (50% vs 83% clean). For fungal acne, The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane is the safer pick.

Do Minimalist Alpha Arbutin 2% Face Serum and The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane have similar ingredients?

They have very different formulas.

Both scans use each brand's official ingredient list. See the product pages for sources and dates.

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