Best Retinol Serum? 798 Reviews of Two CeraVe Serums and The Ordinary

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Review-analysis guide: 798 customer reviews read on Ulta (October 29, 2026), sorted and counted by us; product details from Amazon listings checked October 29, 2026.

By The Beauty Read · Checked October 29, 2026 · AI-assisted research and editing · Contains Amazon affiliate links

No retinol serum here won on everything. The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum (paid link) drew the most fewer-breakouts praise (63 of 200 usable reviews, 32%) but also the most irritation, purging or breakout reports (27%). The CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum (paid link) drew the fewest such reports (11% of 193), though most of its reviews are from 2015 to 2019. The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane (paid link) drew repurchase mentions from 20% of 279 and the most greasy-feel complaints (14%).

Best retinol serum: what 798 reviews say

A retinol serum is a step many people try for texture, breakouts or fine lines. We read 798 Ulta reviews of three popular picks to see how often reviewers said each one smoothed their skin, cleared breakouts or caused irritation, purging or a greasy feel: the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum and The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane. [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR] [A1] [A2] [A3]

CeraVe Resurfacing drew fewer-breakouts or clearer-skin praise from 32% of 200 usable reviews and irritation, purging or breakout reports from 27%; 18% gave one or two stars. Skin Renewing drew gentle praise (little or no irritation, or a good first retinol) from 20% of 193 and reaction reports from 11%; 12% gave one or two stars. The Ordinary drew repurchase mentions from 20% of 279 and reaction reports from 21%; 20% gave one or two stars. Smoother-texture praise was about the same for all three (21% to 18%). [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR]

Which reviews we read, and the 126 we set aside

Ulta's pages did not serve every review. They served the newest 300 of 2,276 shown for CeraVe Resurfacing (on a page Ulta titles Resurfacing Retinol Cream, though the item's directions name the serum) and 295 of 623 for The Ordinary; for Skin Renewing we read all 203 shown. We kept 672 and set aside 126. [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR]

What we set aside: 83 of the 300 reviews on the CeraVe Resurfacing page were about a different CeraVe product, an acne foaming cream cleanser. That page also repeated 13 reviews, one text 7 times in February 2023, and 4 more said the product was free, came from someone who had not used it yet or were not in English, which left 200 usable reviews. About 10 reviews on that page that talked only about acne, without naming either product, were kept. On the other two pages we set aside 8 mostly about another product or the brand in general, 1 repeat, 13 from people who had not used it yet, 2 that said the product was free and 2 not in English. In all: 91 about another product, 14 repeated, 14 not yet used, 4 free and 3 not in English. [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR]

No month looked like a sampling wave: no product had more than 19 reviews in any one month, and only 4 reviews in all said the product was free, so no month was set aside. Some cautions. 124 of Skin Renewing's 193 usable reviews are from 2015 to 2019, and many of those describe an earlier cream-serum version in a squeeze tube. 141 of CeraVe Resurfacing's 200 and 169 of The Ordinary's 279 usable reviews are from 2022 and 2023. [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR]

CeraVe Resurfacing, the post-acne pick

CeraVe's listing describes Resurfacing as a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic serum with encapsulated retinol, niacinamide, licorice root extract and three ceramides that helps skin look smoother and more even-toned, helps visibly reduce the appearance of post-acne marks and minimizes the look of pores. It says to apply it evenly to the face daily. We link the 1 oz serum shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A1]

Is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum good for acne? Its listing calls it a post-acne serum for marks and blemishes, and in 200 usable reviews, 63 (32%) said they saw fewer breakouts or clearer skin (about 10 acne-only reviews we kept from that page may be about the cleanser; without them the share would be no lower than about 28%, still the highest) and 42 (21%) said post-acne marks or dark spots look lighter, against 14% and 6% for The Ordinary. Among reviewers who said their skin is acne-prone, a small group, the order flips: 9 of 22 for Resurfacing and 13 of 22 for The Ordinary said they saw fewer breakouts or clearer skin. 41 (21%) mentioned smoother texture and 33 (17%) said they would buy it again or called it a staple. [R-ULT-CVR]

Complaints: 35 (18%) reported purging or breakouts after starting and 23 (12%) irritation such as burning, stinging, redness, peeling or flaking; together 54 (27%), the highest share of the three. 15 (8%) found it drying or tight. Fine-lines praise was rare (2%). [R-ULT-CVR]

See CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, 1 oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 1 oz serum shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Ulta titles its page Resurfacing Retinol Cream; the item's directions there name the serum.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum review: old and new reviews

CeraVe's listing describes Skin Renewing as a fragrance-free, non-comedogenic serum with encapsulated retinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and three ceramides to refine texture and diminish the look of fine lines. One bullet says to apply it in the evening and build up to daily use; the directions say to apply it in small dots and use it alone or under makeup once or twice a day. Its ingredient list names retinol. On Amazon its title reads Retinol Serum for Face with Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid, a different name from the Skin Renewing name on Ulta and in the listing description. We link the 1 fl oz serum shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A2]

Across 193 usable Ulta reviews, 47 (24%) said they would buy it again or called it a staple, 40 (21%) mentioned smoother texture, 38 (20%) called it gentle and 26 (13%) said fine lines or wrinkles look softer, the most of the three. 21 (11%) reported irritation, purging or breakouts, the fewest of the three, and 14 (7%) had a packaging problem, 10 of them in 2015 to 2019 reviews. [R-ULT-CVS]

Older reviews carry most of that. Of 124 usable reviews from 2015 to 2019, 19% praised softer-looking fine lines and 6% reported a reaction, with 8% at one or two stars. Of the 69 from 2020 on, a small sample, 23% called it gentle, but fine-lines praise fell to 4%, reaction reports rose to 19% and 20% gave one or two stars. We cannot tell the cause. [R-ULT-CVS]

See CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum, 1 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 1 fl oz serum shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Its Amazon title reads Retinol Serum for Face with Niacinamide & Hyaluronic Acid; the listing description and Ulta call it Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.

The Ordinary Retinol 0.5 in Squalane review, by the numbers

The Ordinary's listing describes Retinol 0.5% in Squalane as a moderate-strength retinol for intermediate users who have built a tolerance to lower-strength retinol, with squalane to help with dryness associated with retinol use. It says to apply a few drops in the evening, use sun protection during the day, avoid other retinoid products and refrigerate after opening. We link the 1 fl oz bottle shipped and sold by Amazon.com. [A3]

Of 279 usable Ulta reviews, 57 (20%) said they would buy it again or called it a staple, 50 (18%) mentioned smoother texture, 39 (14%) fewer breakouts or clearer skin and 40 (14%) called it gentle. 39 (14%) found it greasy or said it pills under other products, the most of the three. 59 (21%) reported irritation, purging or breakouts, and 3 said the formula changed and they like it less. [R-ULT-TOR]

See The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane, 1 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 1 fl oz serum shipped and sold by Amazon.com.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs Skin Renewing

Put CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs Skin Renewing side by side and the reviews split by goal. Resurfacing drew 32% fewer-breakouts praise against 6% and 21% lighter-marks praise against 4%. Skin Renewing drew 13% softer-lines praise against 2%, mostly in older reviews. Reaction reports ran 27% for Resurfacing and 11% for Skin Renewing, or 19% for Skin Renewing reviews from 2020 on. Smoother texture was a tie (21% each). [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS]

See CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, 1 oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 1 oz serum shipped and sold by Amazon.com. Ulta titles its page Resurfacing Retinol Cream; the item's directions there name the serum.

How each retinol serum feels, by skin type

On feel, 32 (17%) Skin Renewing, 18 (6%) The Ordinary and 10 (5%) CeraVe Resurfacing reviewers said it feels light, absorbs well or layers under moisturizer. Greasy-feel or pilling complaints were 14% for The Ordinary, 3% for Skin Renewing and 0% for Resurfacing; among 17 The Ordinary reviewers who said their skin is oily, a small group, 7 mentioned it. [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR]

Shopping for a retinol serum for sensitive acne prone skin? These groups are small. Of reviewers who said their skin is sensitive, 5 of 18 for CeraVe Resurfacing, 2 of 29 for Skin Renewing and 4 of 16 for The Ordinary reported irritation, purging or breakouts. Of those who said acne-prone, 9 of 22 for Resurfacing, 13 of 22 for The Ordinary and 4 of 8 for Skin Renewing said they saw fewer breakouts or clearer skin. [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR]

For mature skin, 5 of 13 Skin Renewing reviewers who said their skin is mature or 40+ said fine lines look softer, against 0 of 10 for Resurfacing and 1 of 6 for The Ordinary, all very small groups. [R-ULT-CVR] [R-ULT-CVS] [R-ULT-TOR]

Keep reading

• Best retinol cream: Good Molecules, Drunk Elephant and The Ordinary
• Vitamin C serum: CeraVe, La Roche-Posay and Vanicream
• Hyaluronic acid serum: INKEY, The Ordinary and CeraVe

Frequently asked questions

Which retinol serum drew the fewest reaction reports?

CeraVe Skin Renewing: 21 of 193 usable reviews (11%) reported irritation, purging or breakouts, against 21% for The Ordinary and 27% for CeraVe Resurfacing. Most Skin Renewing reviews are from 2015 to 2019, though, and among the 69 from 2020 on the share was 19%, close to The Ordinary's.

Does CeraVe retinol serum cause purging?

We cannot tell the cause, but some reviewers reported it. 35 of 200 usable CeraVe Resurfacing reviews (18%) said they had purging or breakouts after starting, against 11 of 193 (6%) for Skin Renewing. For comparison, 13% of The Ordinary reviews said the same. Neither CeraVe listing mentions purging; both call the serum non-comedogenic.

Is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum good for sensitive skin?

Among 18 reviewers who said their skin is sensitive, 11 called it gentle (little or no irritation, or a good first retinol) and 5 reported irritation, purging or breakouts. That group is small. Across all 200 usable reviews, 15% called it gentle and 27% reported a reaction. Its listing says niacinamide helps calm the skin and that it is fragrance-free.

How often to use CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum?

Its Amazon listing says to apply it evenly to the face daily, and 22 of 200 usable reviewers said they use it every night or daily. For comparison, the Skin Renewing listing says to start in the evening and build up to daily use, and The Ordinary says a few drops in the evening, with sun protection during the day.