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rhode Barrier Restor… vs Summer Fridays Midni… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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rhode Barrier Restore Cream vs Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum

rhode Barrier Restore Cream scores 8.5/9.8 vs Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum at 8.2/9.8. rhode Barrier Restore Cream wins for hydration.

Head to head

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rhode

Barrier Restore Cream

moisturisermid-range

8.5

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Summer Fridays

Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum

serumpremium

8.2

Score comparison

rhode Barrier Restore Cream edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

rhode wins 2

Tied 2

Summer Fridays wins 1

9.0

rhode

Summer Fridays

Ingredient face-off

21% overlap

23rhode

7Shared

34Summer Fridays

Only in rhode Barrier Restore Cream

16 unique

Water/Aqua Shea Butter Cetearyl Olivate Sorbitan Olivate Ceramide Np Ceramide Ap Ceramide Eop Phytosphingosine Cholesterol Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate+6 more

Shared ingredients

7 in common

Glycerin Squalane Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Cetearyl Alcohol Niacinamide Sodium Hyaluronate Tocopherol

Only in Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum

27 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Glyceryl Stearate Se Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Propanediol Sorbitan Stearate Sclerotium Gum Retinyl Linoleate Retinol Centella Asiatica Extract Bisabolol+17 more

Why rhode Barrier Restore Cream comes out ahead

Where rhode Barrier Restore Cream really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.0 compared to Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum's 7.9. With Glycerin, Phytosphingosine, and Cholesterol in its top ingredients, rhode Barrier Restore Cream delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. rhode Barrier Restore Cream scores 6.4 here versus 5.9 for Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

rhode Barrier Restore Cream brings Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, and Ceramide Ap as actives, while summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum relies on Retinyl Linoleate, Retinol, and Centella Asiatica Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

rhode Barrier Restore Cream is better if you have

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

Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum is better if you have

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

Value comparison

At mid-range pricing with a score of 8.5, rhode Barrier Restore Cream delivers strong value. Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum sits at the premium level with a 8.2 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+0.3 lead

rhode Barrier Restore Cream edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum is still a solid pick.

✶

8.5rhode

8.2Summer Fridays

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: rhode Barrier Restore Cream or Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum?

Based on ingredient analysis, rhode Barrier Restore Cream scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do rhode Barrier Restore Cream and Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum share ingredients?

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

What's the main difference between rhode Barrier Restore Cream and Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum?

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

Full analysis: rhode Barrier Restore Cream→Full analysis: Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum→

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