Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid vs The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid 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
Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
Murad WINSIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
The Ordinary WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
The Ordinary WINSIngredient face-off
17% overlapOnly in Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
40 unique
Shared ingredients
8 in common
Only in The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
24 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.
Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA scores 6.9 here versus 5.1 for Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid. 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 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
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
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, Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid 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
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 The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA?
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 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 Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Firming & Smoothing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid 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.