Index / CeraVe / Resurfacing Retinol Serum
CeraVe

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
Save to Pinterest
Retinoids
#13 in RetinoidsSee the ranking →
About this product

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a lightweight night serum with encapsulated retinol, niacinamide, licorice root extract and ceramides, designed to smooth uneven texture and fade post-acne marks and uneven skin tone.

More from CeraVe 53 products · Guru Score 91% →

Guru Score

83%

Yay

8 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

Dark spots and post-acne marks are what this serum keeps coming up for, thanks to a licorice root and niacinamide pairing that fades discoloration while ceramides look after the barrier. The encapsulated retinol releases slowly, which is why it's praised as a gentle, budget-friendly first retinol. Seasoned retinol users may find it too mild, and easing in slowly is the suggested start.
Synthesized from 8 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026

What they liked

  • Affordable for a retinol serum
  • Gentle encapsulated retinol
  • Helps with post-acne redness and hyperpigmentation

What they flagged

    Nothing. None of the experts who reviewed it raised a problem.

    Best for

    Type

    Where to buy

    Opens a store search. We may earn from these links.

    Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

    What the experts use it for.

    The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

    Dark spots and post-acne marks4 experts

    “Both of those are going to be good for dark spots and redness.”

    Dr Dray, watch at 8:04

    Skin barrier support3 experts

    “And it's got ceramides in there which are good for the moisture barrier.”

    Dr Dray, watch at 8:04

    Breakouts and acne2 experts

    “It's really affordable, [...] and this is one of the good ones, especially if you have acne-prone skin.”

    No BS Beauty, watch at 1:53

    Clogged or visible pores2 experts

    “It reduces the appearance of post-acne marks and pores, and three essential ceramides help the skin barrier and improve skin smoothness.”

    No BS Beauty, watch at 1:53

    Rough or uneven texture2 experts

    “It's going to help with brightening, and it's also going to help with texture.”

    Doctorly, watch at 3:06

    Redness1 expert

    “Both of those are going to be good for dark spots and redness.”

    Dr Dray, watch at 8:04

    Fine lines and wrinkles1 expert

    “CeraVe is a nice gentle option, good if you have some hyperpigmentation and you want to help with those dark spots and the fine lines and wrinkles, in your mid-20s and up.”

    Dr. Daniel Sugai, watch at 4:06

    Calming retinoid irritation1 expert

    “You can follow the cleanser with a gentle retinol like CeraVe resurfacing retinol or prescription tretinoin, and it's going to get that job done.”

    Doctorly, watch at 6:19

    What the gurus are saying.

    Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

    All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
    Dr. Daniel Sugai
    Dr. Daniel Sugai
    724k subs
    ✓Yay
    "CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a nice over-the-counter option combining retinol and retinaldehyde, which is much more unstable and can be hard to formulate, but CeraVe has done a good job with it."
    All 13 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
    The Best Retinoids for Beginners (Before You Try Tretinoin)
    "I had steered patients towards this direction if you have dark spots, melasma, and you want to gently work on those dark spots with a retinol. [...] This one actually is targeting dark spots more effectively with niacinamide, but also licorice root extract. I like the texture of it. I've done a compares video between the blue and the purple retinol serums, and I have to go with this one. This blue one is still one of my favorites."
    Dermatologist Explains: How to Treat Neck Wrinkles and Tech Lines
    "Something very affordable you can consider is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. This has licorice root extract, so if you have hyperpigmentation on your neck that's something you can consider."
    The Ultimate CeraVe Anti-Aging Skincare Routine- Dermatologist Reviews
    "The Skin Renewing Retinol Serum is good, it has the hyaluronic acid and encapsulated retinol, but I like the licorice root extract in the Resurfacing better, and it also has niacinamide, so having those brightening ingredients is a nice touch, and I feel like the texture is better on my skin with the Resurfacing. So I use that one more often than the Skin Renewing."
    MY THREE BEST SKINCARE TIPS as a Dermatologist
    "I also like CeraVe's Resurfacing Retinol Serum. I like that more than the Skin Renewing, the purple one."
    If I Wanted Better Skin, This Is Exactly What I’d Do
    "For beginners, you can do the [...] CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum if you have hyperpigmentation because it has licorice root extract and niacinamide."
    Dermatologist Reviews Affordable Retinols: The Best Options For Your Skin!
    "First up, CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. I like this more than their skin renewing purple serum, I like the texture more in this. If you have hyperpigmentation, go for this, because it has licorice root extract and niacinamide, both of those ingredients are great at brightening your skin, reducing dark spots. I feel like this is a great start to the world of retinol, I like this one over the purple one. Use a pea sized amount to your entire face at bedtime."
    Dermatologist Explains: THREE Tips to Optimize Your Bedtime Skincare Routine!
    "Olay and CeraVe and Rock just feel so much nicer. CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, I like that a lot."
    Dermatologist Reviews: Men’s Skincare Routine- Is there a difference between Men and Women?
    "Let's talk about CeraVe, a very affordable option. [...] I like the resurfacing Retinol Serum a lot. It has licorice root extract as well as niacinamide, and niacinamide is a jack of all trades that works on sebum but also helps brighten the skin. The licorice root extract in this is good if you have hyperpigmentation because that also works on decreasing melanin production, it helps with brightening your skin."
    Unlocking The Secrets Of Layering Skincare Serums: Dermatologist's Layering Serums 101 Guide
    "I like it mixed in with my retinol, say the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, that retinol serum is great and it has licorice root extract as well as niacinamide to help brighten the skin."
    Dermatologist Explains: Which is the Best Retinol for You!
    "They've done a great job with the retinol. CeraVe is a nice gentle option, good if you have some hyperpigmentation and you want to help with those dark spots and the fine lines and wrinkles, in your mid-20s and up. It's got licorice root extract, you've got niacinamide in this, very affordable for the youngins. You can check these out at your local store."
    Dermatologist Reviews: Holiday Skincare Picks for All Ages 2023
    "I also like CeraVe resurfacing retinol in the blue uh pump that one's a nice one but they don't disclose how much retinol is in that one"
    If Your Skin Looks Dull, Do This Drugstore Routine
    "CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum has licorice root extract that's soothing but also works on dark spots as well as niacinamide too. So those are great brightening retinoids to consider."
    Cut or Keep: The Secrets to Fixing Your Dark Spots
    "CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a nice over-the-counter option combining retinol and retinaldehyde, which is much more unstable and can be hard to formulate, but CeraVe has done a good job with it."
    No BS Beauty
    No BS Beauty
    89k subs
    ✓Yay
    "The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is $17. The star of the show is the encapsulated retinol they use. It also contains niacinamide, licorice root, and ceramides, which are in everything CeraVe does. It reduces the appearance of post-acne marks and pores, and three essential ceramides help the skin barrier and improve skin smoothness. It's really affordable, [...] and this is one of the good ones, especially if you have acne-prone skin."
    All 4 takes from No BS Beauty
    7 Best Affordable Serums That Work Better Than Luxury Brands
    "But this stuff is really wonderful and really affordable. If you're an experienced retinol user I would probably recommend something stronger, but if you're [...] newer to retinoids or looking for help with dark spots and things like that, this is a great two-in-one type serum, so worth checking out."
    Frugal Friday - Fave Retinoids From $8 to $22 - Fragrance Free! Best Affordable Retinol Serums
    "There's a lot of great retinoids out there. You don't need to break your bank to have a good retinol in your routine. At eight bucks you can buy one that's wonderful, and if you have a little bit more money, there's always nice ones out there. [...] None of them have a scent, so they're all great for sensitive skin types. With retinoids, you want to [...] acclimate slowly. You don't want to start out with too much retinoid, too strong, too fast. Your skin will not be happy."
    Oldies but Goodies - Skincare Products That Stand the Test of Time!
    "The CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum, this one's really nice. They have a couple different retinol products, this one is my favorite, especially if you suffer from hyperpigmentation issues. It can help with brightening skin up, and the retinoids in here are great for anti-aging as well. They have two different retinoid products and this is my favorite of the two, and it's really lovely."
    Best Drugstore Anti-Aging Skincare Products 💪 Affordable Ways to Fight Wrinkles 🙌 Anti Aging Week
    "The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is $17. The star of the show is the encapsulated retinol they use. It also contains niacinamide, licorice root, and ceramides, which are in everything CeraVe does. It reduces the appearance of post-acne marks and pores, and three essential ceramides help the skin barrier and improve skin smoothness. It's really affordable, [...] and this is one of the good ones, especially if you have acne-prone skin."
    208SkinDoc
    208SkinDoc
    2.11M subs
    ✓Yay
    "You can also try the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum, [...] which is available at a much lower price than the luxury retinol creams. When it comes to retinol, you do not need to pay luxury prices."
    Dr Dray
    Dr Dray
    2.69M subs
    ✓Yay
    "The resurfacing retinol serum is a great retinol that has licorice root and niacinamide. Both of those are going to be good for dark spots and redness. And the retinol is also going to be helpful for post acne marks, like dark marks and red marks. And it's got ceramides in there which are good for the moisture barrier."
    All 5 takes from Dr Dray
    Amazon Prime Day October 2023 Beauty Deals
    "L'Oreal company, they have a lot of R&D behind their retinols and I've always recommended this product. Retinol for someone who has breakout-prone skin can help in improving skin complexion. It also can help with post-acne redness and post-acne hyperpigmentation. This particular retinol formulation also has licorice and niacinamide, both of those are going to be beneficial for post-acne redness as well as post-acne hyperpigmentation."
    *BEST* Skincare For Scars: Dermatologist's Picks
    "It's not an FDA approved treatment for anything, it's a cosmetic ingredient, but with long-term consistent use it may also improve collagen production. This particular product is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum, and it has licorice root and niacinamide. Licorice root is helpful for redness, and the niacinamide is also helpful for both redness and hyperpigmentation, so this can be really helpful for overlying surface changes and possibly subtly soften the appearance of depressed scars."
    Dermatologist Shops Walmart Skincare… What’s Actually Worth It?
    "The resurfacing retinol serum is a great retinol that has licorice root and niacinamide. Both of those are going to be good for dark spots and redness. And the retinol is also going to be helpful for post acne marks, like dark marks and red marks. And it's got ceramides in there which are good for the moisture barrier."
    *NEW* SHOP WITH ME FOR DRUGSTORE SKINCARE 🛍 @DrDrayzday
    "The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is one of my favorites because it's got not only a good retinol in it, but it also has licorice root compounds and niacinamide, both of which are going to be helpful for post acne redness and post acne hyperpigmentation."
    Retinol for beginners | DERMATOLOGIST TIPS @DrDrayzday
    "I'm also a big fan of this CeraVe regenerating retinol serum. That formula has niacinamide and licorice root, both of which can help with redness and hyperpigmentation, and they also help soothe the barrier, so they kind of address any potential issues around dryness and peeling that might occur. Those ingredients help support barrier function, so I like that product for those reasons."
    Dr. Jenny Liu
    Dr. Jenny Liu
    324k subs
    ✓Yay
    "Another one I really like that [...] helps improve the concerns of skin texture and skin tone, and is also lightweight and fast absorbing, is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. It also contains licorice root, and this one is also great if you don't struggle with acne anymore. It's mostly concerned with things like pore congestion and post-acne marks, so this can be very helpful."
    All 3 takes from Dr. Jenny Liu
    Oily Skincare, tips from a dermatologist | Dr. Jenny Liu
    "Another one I really like that [...] helps improve the concerns of skin texture and skin tone, and is also lightweight and fast absorbing, is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. It also contains licorice root, and this one is also great if you don't struggle with acne anymore. It's mostly concerned with things like pore congestion and post-acne marks, so this can be very helpful."
    Amazon Prime Day 2023 | BEST OF SKINCARE Dermatologist top picks
    "First of all, why I love this one: it's just a great retinol all around. It's super gentle. It's got wonderful ingredients that can help to target uneven skin texture and skin tone. So even though it's really marketed for those with acne marks, you can certainly use it if you have uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture from sun damage. It contains encapsulated retinol, that means it's more stable and less irritating. Also contains niacinamide, which works well with your retinol."
    Lightening & Preventing DARK UNDERARMS | Dr. Jenny Liu
    "Retinol can be helpful, especially when it's formulated in a gentle way with other brightening ingredients. One of the most gentle ones I've talked about many times is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum, the one in that teal white bottle. It contains encapsulated retinol that's gentle but yet effective, as well as a liquid shoot that we now have, anti-inflammatory as well as brightening properties. So that's certainly something you can use on a nightly basis if tolerated."
    HotandFlashy
    HotandFlashy
    1.23M subs
    ✓Yay
    "Another company I really love is CeraVe, their Resurfacing Retinol Serum. This is a really good one and contains encapsulated retinol. If you're really concerned about irritation, I would go with this one because it's encapsulated, so it's going to do more of a timed release and release the retinol slower so you would have less of a reaction to it."
    Dr. Aleksandra Brown
    Dr. Aleksandra Brown
    154k subs
    ✓Yay
    "The CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum is the one I would choose for someone who's younger and acne prone, primarily concerned about post-acne marks, uneven tone, and texture. It has niacinamide fairly high on the ingredient list and also contains dipotassium glycyrrhizate, a licorice-derived ingredient, which makes sense for [...] someone who has their acne under better control but is left with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. [...] I think it's a really reasonable first retinol."
    Sponsored
    All 2 takes from Dr. Aleksandra Brown
    9 Drugstore Retinoids a Dermatologist Actually Recommends (No Prescription Needed)
    "Ceramides and niacinamide in here keep the skin barrier strong throughout, which matters a lot when you're actively treating pigmentation because compromised barrier can actually make your discoloration worse. For everyday use and an unbeatable price point, this is a really smart pick. The key ingredients here are the encapsulated retinol, niacinamide, licorice root extract, and ceramides."
    I Ranked 19 CeraVe Products as a Dermatologist (Best to Worst + The Lawsuit)
    "The CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum is the one I would choose for someone who's younger and acne prone, primarily concerned about post-acne marks, uneven tone, and texture. It has niacinamide fairly high on the ingredient list and also contains dipotassium glycyrrhizate, a licorice-derived ingredient, which makes sense for [...] someone who has their acne under better control but is left with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. [...] I think it's a really reasonable first retinol."
    Doctorly
    Doctorly
    3.59M subs
    ✓Yay
    "The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol is a very good starter retinol."
    Sponsored
    All 7 takes from Doctorly
    The ULTIMATE Normal & Combination Skincare Routine | Doctorly Routines
    "I've got the budget option, this is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. Now here's why I like it, because we're talking about mostly maintaining and preventing photoaging, this is very budget friendly. It also has multiple ingredients, so it has your retinol, your jack of all trades, niacinamide, and then licorice for the third component, and then like all CeraVe products it has ceramides in it as well. I think it delivers as a very comprehensive retinol product."
    The ULTIMATE Routine for Large Pores and Sebaceous Filaments | Doctorly Routines
    "Something like the CeraVe Resurfacing [...] Retinol, they pioneered retinol so they are the OGs in that category, but using a retinol is going to do a lot of the work that we described, so I do think it's foundational to your nighttime skincare routine if you're trying to minimize the appearance of the pores."
    Explaining the Top Skincare Ingredients: Glycolic Acid, Retinol, Arbutin, and More
    "The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol is a very good starter retinol."
    Derms Debate: Overrated vs. Underrated Skincare Ingredients
    "A good starter for people is the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol. It's a good combination of retinol and licorice root. It's going to help with brightening, and it's also going to help with texture. It's just a good product for your skin to get acclimated, and then once you start there you can expand your horizons to maybe something that's a bit more efficacious."
    BEST RETINOL FOR YOU | Doctorly Favorites
    "The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol is a great product because it uses an encapsulated form of retinol which slowly releases itself throughout the day and that makes it much more tolerable, and then it's supported by other ingredients which help to calm the skin. [...] It has licorice and niacinamide, both great complementing actives that help with hyperpigmentation and acne, and the niacinamide pretty much does a little bit of everything including collagen growth."
    Black Dots on the Nose? Here's How To Treat Sebaceous Filaments
    "You can follow the cleanser with a gentle retinol like CeraVe resurfacing retinol or prescription tretinoin, and it's going to get that job done."
    GLASS SKIN? Tretinoin & Azelaic Acid Viral Routine Debunked
    "A good option here is the CeraVe resurfacing retinol. You're not going to get the same efficacy that you would get from a tretinoin for example."

    Frequently asked.

    What is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum?

    CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a lightweight night serum with encapsulated retinol, niacinamide, licorice root extract and ceramides, designed to smooth uneven texture and fade post-acne marks and uneven skin tone.

    Is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum worth it?

    Yes. All 8 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.

    What is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum's Guru Score?

    CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 8 expert reviewers we have collected.

    Who is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum best for?

    CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is generally suited to acne-prone skin.

    What is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum good for, according to the experts?

    In their reviews, experts say CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is good for dark spots and post-acne marks (4 experts), skin barrier support (3 experts), breakouts and acne (2 experts), clogged or visible pores (2 experts), rough or uneven texture (2 experts) and redness (1 expert).

    Is CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum good for dark spots and post-acne marks?

    4 experts who reviewed CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum say it is. Dr Dray put it this way: “Both of those are going to be good for dark spots and redness.”

    Similar products worth a look.

    Other products the same gurus have weighed in on, plus more from this brand and category.

    Compare side by side →

    Spotted something on this page that doesn't look right? Let us know.

    Share this score

    Add this badge to your blog or website. It links back to this page and updates itself when the experts change their minds. Free, no sign-up.

    Then paste it into your site's HTML or embed block.

    The Extract

    All of the week's hottest skincare news, delivered straight to your inbox. The viral products, the hot takes, and top tips from the experts.

    Sign me up