Skin Renewing Retinol Serum
Reviewed by SerumTruth Editorial · Price and formula checked 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.
- Encapsulated delivery protects and time-releases the active
- Air- or light-sensitive actives in protective, opaque packaging
- Cheap to use, about $8 a month
- No active concentrations are disclosed
- Evidence24 / 30
Strength of the research behind the key actives
- Encapsulated Retinol: strong evidence
- Niacinamide: moderate evidence
- Ceramides: moderate evidence
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
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.
Delivery tech plus packaging, and packaging only counts when actives are fragile.
- 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
Disclosure, active breadth, and current-generation or synergistic actives.
- 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
What a month of use costs: full marks at $6 a month or less, the floor at $60 a month or more.
Tap any row to see how its score was built.
Ranks #8 of 25 retinoids serums we have scored.
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What’s inside
| Active | Disclosed | Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Encapsulated Retinol | n/a | Studied |
| Niacinamide | n/a | Studied |
| Ceramides | n/a | Studied |
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
What the research says
Silicone-particle encapsulation extended retinol stability and was linked to less visible irritation than standard encapsulation in human testing.
Encapsulation and controlled release of retinol from silicone particles for topical delivery. Journal of Controlled Release, 2018. PubMed ↗
Topical 5% niacinamide was linked to more even looking skin tone, softer looking lines, and less visible blotchiness after 12 weeks.
Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance. Dermatologic Surgery, 2005. PubMed ↗
A study of the active, not this exact product. What matters for the score is whether this serum uses it at a comparable dose.
Higher-scoring alternatives
Same category, better SerumProof score. Worth a look before you buy.
Revision history
- July 11, 2026Price and formula rechecked
- July 10, 2026Review published
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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.