Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid vs RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid scores 8.5/9.8 and RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM scores 8.5/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
RETINOL SKIN CREAM
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.0 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
TIEIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
RETINOL WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
Murad WINSIngredient face-off
19% overlapOnly in Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
37 unique
Shared ingredients
11 in common
Only in RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM
46 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.
Formulation Safety is another area of separation. Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid scores 8.5 here versus 7.5 for RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid brings Retinol, Ceramide Np, and Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract as actives, while rETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM relies on Arginine, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Germ Extract, and Royal Jelly Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Propanediol
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Ingredients (Inci): Water
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid comes in at luxury pricing with a 8.5 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: Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid or RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM?
Based on ingredient analysis, Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM share ingredients?
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
What's the main difference between Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and RETINOL RETINOL SKIN CREAM?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.