Head to head
CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum.
The bottom lineCeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum does more across the board (it leads on hydration, anti-aging), while The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the simpler, more pared-back pick.
Reach for CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if you want the actives; The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 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
- plump, lasting hydration is what you want
- fine lines and firmness are the goal
- you want more actives working at once
Pick Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 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 | Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Serum | Serum |
| Key actives | Glycerin, Ceramide 3, Niacinamide | Niacinamide 10%, Zinc PCA, Pentylene Glycol |
| 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 | 11 listed |
| Price | ~€18 | ~€6 |
What's in one but not the other
Only in Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
Both share
Only in Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Dark spots & uneven toneEither works
- Fine lines & firmnessSkin Renewing Retinol Serum
- Breakouts & congestionEither works
- Dryness & dehydrationSkin Renewing Retinol Serum
- Sensitive, reactive skinNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€18).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better for fine lines & firmness?
For fine lines & firmness, 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 hydration, anti-aging), while The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if you want the actives; The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 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 Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€18).
Can I use CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum and The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% 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 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
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- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
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- Skin Renewing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
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- 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
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening Booster
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Medik8 Liquid Peptides
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Torriden DIVE-IN Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs iUNIK Beta Glucan Power Moisture Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Anua Niacinamide 10% + TXA 4% Serum
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs The Ordinary GF 15% Solution
- Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Booster