Gracie

cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream vs Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum

cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream scores 8.8/9.8 and Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum scores 9.1/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
cerave

Skin Renewing Night Cream

moisturiser
8.8
VS
Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum
Farmacy

1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum

serumpremium
9.1

Score comparison

These two are neck and neck — just 0.3 points apart.

2
3
cerave wins 2
Tied 3
Farmacy wins 0
8.8cerave
vs
9.1Farmacy

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

cerave WINS
9.8
8.6
cerave
Farmacy

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
cerave
Farmacy

Active Ingredient Strength

cerave WINS
9.8
5.9
cerave
Farmacy

Ingredient Transparency

TIE
8.5
8.5
cerave
Farmacy

Formulation Safety

TIE
9.0
9.0
cerave
Farmacy

Why these two are neck and neck

These two serums 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.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream scores 9.8 here versus 8.6 for Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum brings Ceramide Np, Tocopherol, and Retinol as actives, while cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream relies on Allantoin, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream is better if you have

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

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
  • Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Value comparison

Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum comes in at premium pricing with a 9.1 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.

8.8cerave
vs
9.1Farmacy

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream or Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum?

Based on ingredient analysis, Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream and Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum 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 Skin Renewing Night Cream and Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum?

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

We may earn a commission from purchases made through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep Gracie free and independent.