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CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid vs The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness

CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid scores 8.5/9.8 and The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness scores 8.5/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.

Head to head

CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid
CLINIQUE

Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid

serumluxury
8.5
VS
The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness
The Ordinary

Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness

moisturiserbudget
8.5

Score comparison

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

1
4
CLINIQUE wins 1
Tied 4
The Ordinary wins 0
8.5CLINIQUE
vs
8.5The Ordinary

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

TIE
9.8
9.8
CLINIQUE
The Ordinary

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
CLINIQUE
The Ordinary

Active Ingredient Strength

CLINIQUE WINS
7.2
2.0
CLINIQUE
The Ordinary

Ingredient Transparency

TIE
8.5
8.5
CLINIQUE
The Ordinary

Formulation Safety

TIE
9.0
9.0
CLINIQUE
The Ordinary

Ingredient face-off

11% overlap
47CLINIQUE
5Shared
45The Ordinary

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.

CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid brings Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, and Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract as actives, while the Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness relies on Ectoin, Allantoin, and Lysine Hcl. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid is better if you have

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

The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness is better if you have

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

Value comparison

At luxury pricing with a score of 8.5, CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid is a decent pick. The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness sits at the budget level with a 8.5 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

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.

8.5CLINIQUE
vs
8.5The Ordinary

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid or The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness?

Based on ingredient analysis, CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid and The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid and The Ordinary Rice Lipids + Ectoin Microemulsion Moisturizer for Soothing Hydration & Reduced Redness?

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