CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoidvs The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid scores 8.5/9.8 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
CLINIQUE
Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid
serumluxury
8.5
VS
The Ordinary
The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
serumbudget
8.4
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
1
4
CLINIQUE wins 1
Tied 4
The Ordinary wins 0
8.5CLINIQUE
vs
8.4The Ordinary
Scores last verified: June 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
CLINIQUE WINS
9.8
5.5
CLINIQUE
The Ordinary
Irritation Risk
TIE
9.5
9.5
CLINIQUE
The Ordinary
Active Ingredient Strength
TIE
7.2
6.9
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
19% overlap
47CLINIQUE
9Shared
31The Ordinary
Only in CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid
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 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
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 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
At luxury pricing with a score of 8.5, CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid delivers strong value. The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA sits at the budget level with a 8.4 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
8.4The Ordinary
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid or The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA?
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 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 CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid 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.
Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.
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