Head to head

CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule

Same comparison whichever way you searched it: SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule vs CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.

The bottom line

CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum does more across the board (it leads on barrier repair, brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule is the simpler, more pared-back pick.

Reach for CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if you want the actives; SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.

SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule keeps clear of pregnancy-flagged actives, while CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum carries one that is best paused in pregnancy.

CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol SerumCeraVeSkin Renewing Retinol SerumSerum · ~€18See every ingredient in Skin Renewing Retinol Serum, decoded
SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella AmpouleSKIN1004Madagascar Centella AmpouleSerum · ~€18See every ingredient in Madagascar Centella Ampoule, decoded

Which should you pick?

Pick Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if

  • dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
  • you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
  • you want more actives working at once

Pick Madagascar Centella Ampoule if

  • you are prone to fungal acne (malassezia)
  • you are pregnant or breastfeeding
  • you prefer a simpler, more minimal formula

What each delivers

HydrationBarrierBrighteningOil-controlAnti-aging
Skin Renewing Retinol SerumMadagascar Centella Ampoule
  • Hydration
    1010
  • Barrier repair
    107
  • Brightening / tone
    72
  • Oil-control & blemishes
    83
  • Anti-aging
    95

Side by side

Skin Renewing Retinol SerumMadagascar Centella Ampoule
TypeSerumSerum
Key activesGlycerin, Ceramide 3, NiacinamideGlycerin, Centella Asiatica Extract
TextureA rich, cushiony cream that sinks in slowly.A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film.
FragranceNone detectedNone detected
Fungal-acne safeNot likelyLikely
PregnancyOne cautionNo flagged actives
Ingredients37 listed7 listed
Price~€18~€18

What's in one but not the other

The two labels share 2 of the 42 ingredients between them. The actives are where they part company.

What each one adds acts on The stratum corneum, The living epidermis for CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum and Not established for SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule. That is the layer each is understood to act on, not how deep it travels.

Only in Skin Renewing Retinol Serum

Both share

Only in Madagascar Centella Ampoule

The molecule doing the work

Skin Renewing Retinol SerumGlycerin
Madagascar Centella AmpouleGlycerin

Better for…

  • Dark spots & uneven toneSkin Renewing Retinol Serum
  • Fine lines & firmnessSkin Renewing Retinol Serum
  • Breakouts & congestionSkin Renewing Retinol Serum
  • Dryness & dehydrationEither works
  • Sensitive, reactive skinMadagascar Centella Ampoule

Both sit around the same price (~€18 vs ~€18).

Ready to pick one?

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Common questions

Is CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum or SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule better for dark spots & uneven tone?

For dark spots & uneven tone, CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum does more across the board (it leads on barrier repair, brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if you want the actives; SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently. SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule keeps clear of pregnancy-flagged actives, while CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum carries one that is best paused in pregnancy.

Which is cheaper, CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum or SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule?

Both sit around the same price (~€18 vs ~€18).

Can I use CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum and SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Ampoule together?

They are both serums, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.

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