Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Updated July 2026
A second CeraVe retinol, this one pointed at fine lines, with proper encapsulation and barrier support at a drugstore price. The undisclosed strength is the catch, but on delivery and value it is very easy to recommend.
- Evidence24 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Encapsulated Retinol: strong evidence
- Niacinamide: moderate evidence
- Ceramides: moderate evidence
- Score is the average of the key actives’ evidence grades.
- Potency25 / 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
- 3 of 3 actives proven. Full marks need at least 3, so thinner formulas are discounted.
- 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 3 actives disclose a concentration
- 3 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 $8 per month to use
- $25 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.
Tap any row to see how its score was built.
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no cost to you. It never changes our score.
What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Studied dose? |
|---|---|---|
| Encapsulated Retinol | n/a | Yes |
| Niacinamide | n/a | Yes |
| Ceramides | n/a | Yes |
Encapsulated retinol with niacinamide, three ceramides and hyaluronic acid in an opaque white pump, delivered gradually via the MVE system for a gentler onset. The barrier support is built in, so it tends to be easy to tolerate. The percentage is undisclosed. This is a different product from the Resurfacing Retinol Serum, aimed at the appearance of fine lines rather than post-blemish marks.
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.