Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum vs The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum scores 8.8/9.8 vs The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA at 8.4/9.8. Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum wins for hydration.
Head to head
Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum
The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
Score comparison
Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
Summer Fridays WINSIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
The Ordinary WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
24% overlapOnly in Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum
26 unique
Shared ingredients
8 in common
Only in The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA
24 unique
Why Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum comes out ahead
Where Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 7.9 compared to The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA's 5.5. With Glycerin, Propanediol, and Sodium Hyaluronate in its top ingredients, Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.
Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA scores 6.9 here versus 5.9 for Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum brings Retinyl Linoleate, Retinol, and Centella Asiatica 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
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
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 premium pricing with a score of 8.8, Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum 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
Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA is still a solid pick.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum or The Ordinary The Resurface & Hydrate Set with Hyaluronic Acid Serum + AHA?
Based on ingredient analysis, Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum 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 Summer Fridays Midnight Ritual Retinol Renewal Serum 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.