Head to head
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.
The bottom lineCeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum does more across the board (it leads on barrier repair, brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes), while The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the simpler, more pared-back pick.
Reach for CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if you want the actives; The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum keeps clear of pregnancy-flagged actives, while CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum carries one that is best paused in pregnancy.
Which should you pick?
Pick Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if
- you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness
- fine lines and firmness are the goal
Pick Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum if
- you want the more affordable option
- you are prone to fungal acne (malassezia)
- you are pregnant or breastfeeding
What each delivers
Side by side
| Skin Renewing Retinol Serum | Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Serum | Serum |
| Key actives | Glycerin, Ceramide 3, Niacinamide | Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid, Lactic acid |
| Texture | A 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. |
| Fragrance | None detected | None detected |
| Fungal-acne safe | Not likely | Likely |
| Pregnancy | One caution | No flagged actives |
| Ingredients | 37 listed | 25 listed |
| Price | ~€18 | ~€10 |
What's in one but not the other
Only in Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
Both share
Only in Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
The molecule doing the work
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 skinCaffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the cheaper of the two (~€10 vs ~€18).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum or The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum 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 The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if you want the actives; The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently. The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum 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 The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum?
The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum is the cheaper of the two (~€10 vs ~€18).
Can I use CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum and The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum 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.
Compare it with…
All 46 comparisons
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Medik8 Liquid Peptides
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary GF 15% Solution
- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Medik8 Liquid Peptides
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs The Ordinary GF 15% Solution
- Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum vs Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster