Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Updated July 2026
A smart budget retinol that pairs the active with barrier support, so it is easier to tolerate than most, and packages it properly. The retinol level is undisclosed, which is the one real gap. For a gentle, well-cushioned way into a well-evidenced active at drugstore price, it is hard to fault.
- Evidence21 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Encapsulated Retinol: strong evidence
- Niacinamide: moderate evidence
- Ceramides: moderate evidence
- Licorice Root (Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate): limited evidence
- Score is the average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency21 / 25
Dosed at studied levels, not fairy-dusted
- Encapsulated Retinol: dosed at a studied level
- Niacinamide: dosed at a studied level
- Ceramides: dosed at a studied level
- Licorice Root (Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate): present, but below a studied dose
- Potency tracks how strongly the actives are dosed, led by the strongest, not how many there are.
- Delivery & stability20 / 20
Delivery tech + packaging that protects fragile actives
- Delivery: encapsulated (protects and time-releases the active)
- Packaging: airless, opaque
- Air- or light-sensitive actives (Encapsulated Retinol), so packaging is scored.
- Formulation4 / 10
Disclosure, active breadth, and ingredient generation
- 0 of 4 actives disclose a concentration
- 4 key actives (breadth credit caps at 3)
- Current-generation or synergistic: Encapsulated Retinol, Ceramides
- Value15 / 15
What a month of use costs vs. the category
- About $7 per month to use
- $21.99 for 30 ml, used about once a day (about 0.3 ml each time), so a bottle lasts about 3.3 months
- Frequency is set by Encapsulated Retinol, which is used no more than 7x a week, so a bottle stretches further
- Band: $6/month or less earns full marks, $60/month or more hits the floor.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Encapsulated Retinol | n/a | Studied |
| Niacinamide | n/a | Studied |
| Ceramides | n/a | Studied |
| Licorice Root (Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate) | n/a | Light |
Encapsulated retinol with niacinamide, licorice root and CeraVe’s three-ceramide barrier blend, in an opaque pump that protects the light-sensitive retinol. The retinol is delivered gently for the appearance of a smoother surface and post-blemish marks, while the ceramides and niacinamide keep the barrier looking comfortable through it. The percentage is not disclosed, but the encapsulation and opaque pump are exactly right for a fragile active.
How it’s delivered
Air- and light-sensitive actives (vitamin C, copper peptides) lose potency fast in the wrong packaging, so delivery and the bottle are scored, not just what’s on the label.
The actives, explained
Cosmetic information for general education, not medical advice. The SerumProof score reflects our reading of publicly available research and formulation disclosures. See how scoring works.