DewscopeSerums & Treatments3 min read
CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum Review: A Gentle First Retinol at $21.99?
A $21.99 encapsulated retinol with niacinamide, ceramides and licorice root, aimed at post-acne marks and rough texture. It is mild enough for a first retinol, but the strength is undisclosed and results take weeks.
Our verdict
For a first retinol, this is hard to beat on price and tolerability. The encapsulated retinol is released slowly, niacinamide and ceramides cushion the skin, and licorice root adds a gentle brightening step aimed at post-acne marks. It is not a strong product: CeraVe does not publish the retinol percentage, and marks fade over weeks, not days. Expect mild dryness while you adjust, and daily sunscreen is not optional.
Best forFirst-time retinol users with post-acne marks and uneven texture
What we liked
- $21.99 is a fraction of the price of prestige retinol serums
- Encapsulated retinol with niacinamide, ceramides and licorice root in one formula
- Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and light enough to sit under moisturizer
- Pump bottle protects the retinol better than a dropper
What held it back
- CeraVe does not publish the retinol percentage, so you cannot compare strength
- Gradual formula means marks and texture change slowly, over 8 to 12 weeks
- Some people still get dryness or flaking in the first weeks
- Not for use in pregnancy and it makes sunscreen mandatory
Retinol has a reputation problem. People hear about peeling, redness and weeks of regret, and so they never start. CeraVe's Resurfacing Retinol Serum is designed for exactly that group, and at $21.99 it asks very little of your budget. The questions that matter are whether it does enough, and how much it stings on the way.
What is in the bottle
CeraVe sells 1 fl oz for $21.99 and describes the serum as developed with dermatologists to smooth texture, reduce the look of post-acne marks and minimize the look of pores. The retinol is encapsulated, which means it is released gradually, not all at once. Around it sit niacinamide, three ceramides, sodium hyaluronate and licorice root extract, the last of which is there for brightening.
