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Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum scores 8.3/9.8 and SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence scores 8.3/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
These two are neck and neck — just 0.0 points apart.
Scores last verified: June 2026
35 unique
31 unique
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.
Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence scores 8.8 here versus 8.5 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 sK-II GenOptics Spot Essence relies on Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, and Inositol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum is better if you have
SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence is better if you have
At premium pricing with a score of 8.3, Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum is a decent pick. SK-II GenOptics Spot Essence sits at the luxury level with a 8.3 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
Based on ingredient analysis, Farmacy 1% Vitamin A Retinol Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.
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© 2026 Gracie. All rights reserved. Data sourced from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL) and EU CosIng.