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cerave Moisturizing… vs The Ordinary The Res… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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cerave Moisturizing Lotion vs The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA

cerave Moisturizing Lotion scores 8.4/9.8 and The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA scores 8.4/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

cerave

Moisturizing Lotion

moisturiser

8.4

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Gracie

The Ordinary

The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA

serumbudget

8.4

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.0 points apart.

cerave wins 1

Tied 4

The Ordinary wins 0

8.4cerave

8.4The Ordinary

Scores last verified: June 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS

9.3

5.5

cerave

The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

cerave

The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

TIE

7.2

6.9

cerave

The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

cerave

The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE

8.8

9.0

cerave

The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

33cerave

4Shared

31The Ordinary

Only in cerave Moisturizing Lotion

29 unique

Aqua/Water/Eau Cetearyl Alcohol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetyl Alcohol Niacinamide Dimethicone Allantoin Potassium Phosphate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap+19 more

Shared ingredients

4 in common

Phenoxyethanol Sodium Hyaluronate Tocopherol Xanthan Gum

Only in The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA

27 unique

Glycolic Acid Aqua (Water)Sodium Hydroxide Propanediol Salicylic Acid Lactic Acid Tartaric Acid Citric Acid Panthenol Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer+17 more

Why these two are neck and neck

These two moisturisers take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.

cerave Moisturizing Lotion brings Niacinamide, Allantoin, and Ceramide Np as actives, while the Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA relies on Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Lactic Acid. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Moisturizing Lotion is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Sodium Pca
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA comes in at budget pricing with a 8.4 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.

8.4cerave

8.4The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Moisturizing Lotion or The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA?

Based on ingredient analysis, cerave Moisturizing Lotion scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Moisturizing Lotion and The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between cerave Moisturizing Lotion and The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: cerave Moisturizing Lotion→Full analysis: The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA→

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