Versus

Menarini Tretinoin Gel 0.05% Versus CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum - USA

Prescription
Serum
Italian Brand Italy
American Brand United States

Updated on May 19, 2025

Overview

Cool Features

They both contain retinoid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any common allergens or fragrances

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

What's inside (and what isn't)

What's inside (and what isn't)

At a glance

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Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create a gel consistency.

A high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Don't worry, most products contain 1% or less of carbomer.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

When to use

240 Routines
1% use in am
99% use in pm
70% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
2,271 Routines
7% use in am
93% use in pm
66% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Menarini Tretinoin Gel 0.05% 11 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 3 ratings
Drying (1) Great Value (1) Works Well (1)
SailorMoon_954's avatar

SailorMoon_954

1 year ago
Review

help with my acne but drying

melisytee's avatar

melisa

2 months ago
Review

It is amazing for acne. I had forehead acne where it was cysts, comedies, fungal acne. It went all away using this. I had deep rooted scarring and hyperpigmentation marks and scars and this helped heal it all. Problem is you can burn yourself if you don’t use it sparingly, in a consistent routine. It also is very very drying so you need to moisture a lot. It also causes ur skin to flake as this Show more

#great value
#drying
#works well

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum 33 ingredients

3.5 /5
from 44 ratings
Light (13) Absorbs Well (10) No Scent (8)
CentellaAddict's avatar

CentellaAddict

1 year ago
Review

No more acne, very slow at reducing pigmentation tho

#absorbs well
#works well
SkincareSimba's avatar

SkincareSimba

1 year ago
Review

The only retinol my partner's skin can tolerate.
Their skin is extremely reactive and sensitive but this retinol has worked great.

I also use it every other day because I alternate between this retinol and A313.
It works great and is gentle enough to allow me to build tolerance without purging effects (at least on my skin and my partner's)

#great value
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent