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Drunk Elephant T.L.C… vs The Ordinary Retinol… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
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/The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane

Head to head

Drunk Elephant

T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

serum

8.4

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

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The Ordinary

Retinol 0.5% in Squalane

serumbudget

6.2

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Score comparison

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Drunk Elephant wins 3

Tied 2

The Ordinary wins 0

8.4Drunk Elephant

+2.2vs

6.2The Ordinary

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Drunk Elephant WINS

7.4

3.8

Drunk Elephant

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Drunk Elephant

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

Drunk Elephant WINS

7.8

3.4

Drunk Elephant

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

Drunk Elephant WINS

8.5

6.0

Drunk Elephant

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Drunk Elephant

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

0% overlap

34Drunk Elephant

0Shared

9The Ordinary

Only in Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

34 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Glycolic Acid Butylene Glycol Glycerin Sodium Hydroxide Lactic Acid Salicylic Acid Tartaric Acid Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Juice Extract Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice+24 more

Shared ingredients

0 in common

Only in The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane

9 unique

Squalane Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Retinol Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone Bht Tocopherol

Why Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum comes out ahead

Where Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 7.8 compared to The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane's 3.4. Its formula features Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Salicylic Acid in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum scores 7.4 here versus 3.8 for The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum brings Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Salicylic Acid as actives, while the Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane relies on Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, and Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Glycolic Acid does the heavy lifting

The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane comes in at budget pricing with a 6.2 score, which is reasonable for what you get.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+2.2 lead

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

8.4Drunk Elephant

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6.2The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum or The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane?

Based on ingredient analysis, Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum and The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum and The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum→Full analysis: The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane→

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