cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream vs Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol
cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream scores 8.8/9.8 and Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol scores 9.1/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head

Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.3 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
cerave WINSIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
cerave WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
34% overlapOnly in cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
31 unique
Shared ingredients
16 in common
Only in Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol
13 unique
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 7.8 for Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol brings Retinol, Tocopherol, and Ceramide Np 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
Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Dimethyl Isosorbide
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol comes in at luxury pricing with a 9.1 score, which is solid value at that tier.
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.


Frequently asked questions
Which is better: cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream or Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol?
Based on ingredient analysis, Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream and Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol 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 Mother Science Retinol Synergist Anti-Aging Treatment Serum with Malassezin + 0.3% Encapsulated Retinol?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.
More comparisons
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.