Head to head
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum.
The bottom lineCeraVe Resurfacing 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 Resurfacing 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 Resurfacing Retinol Serum carries one that is best paused in pregnancy.
Which should you pick?
Pick Resurfacing Retinol Serum if
- fine lines and firmness are the goal
- plump, lasting hydration is what you want
- 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
| Resurfacing Retinol Serum | Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Serum | Serum |
| Key actives | Niacinamide, Ceramide 3, Retinol | Niacinamide 10%, Zinc PCA, Pentylene Glycol |
| Texture | A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film. | 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 | 33 listed | 11 listed |
| Price | ~€16 | ~€6 |
What's in one but not the other
Only in Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Both share
Only in Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
The molecule doing the work
Better for…
- Dark spots & uneven toneEither works
- Fine lines & firmnessResurfacing Retinol Serum
- Breakouts & congestionEither works
- Dryness & dehydrationResurfacing Retinol Serum
- Sensitive, reactive skinNiacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€16).
Ready to pick one?
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Common questions
Is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% better for fine lines & firmness?
For fine lines & firmness, CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. CeraVe Resurfacing 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 Resurfacing 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 Resurfacing Retinol Serum carries one that is best paused in pregnancy.
Which is cheaper, CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum or The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%?
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the cheaper of the two (~€6 vs ~€16).
Can I use CeraVe Resurfacing 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 28 comparisons
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides)
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs Eucerin Anti-Pigment Dual Serum
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Eye Serum
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs Geek & Gorgeous A-Game 10
- Resurfacing Retinol Serum vs Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot Tightening 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 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