CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

A gentle, affordable retinol serum that smooths skin texture, evens tone, and helps mild acne with minimal irritation.

Sentiment89 mentions

47 positive25 neutral17 negative

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Reddit Rank

Score

0.62

Total Upvotes

349

Editorial Summary: CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a chill, gentle retinol that’s easy on the wallet and skin. Works slow but steady for smoothing, brightening, and mild acne. Not magic on deep scars or big pores, and some folks find it too mild or get irritation. Overall, solid starter retinol.

Pros

✓Gentle and non-irritating for sensitive skin
✓Affordable compared to similar retinol products
✓Improves skin texture and evens skin tone
✓Effective for mild acne and acne marks
✓Lightweight and easy to apply

Cons

✗Results can be slow, taking several months
✗May be too mild for some users
✗Not effective on deep scars or severe hyperpigmentation
✗Some report increased pore size or breakouts
✗Occasional irritation or redness reported

Methodology: We analyzed 89 Reddit quotes from various skincare-related subreddits collected up to mid-2024. Opinions were synthesized focusing on recurring themes about effectiveness, irritation, and value to provide a balanced consumer overview.

This analysis contributed to one of our key compilations:
Reddit Backed Starter Routine (PDF)

Asked by Redditors

How long does it take to see results?

Most users notice improvements after 2-6 months of consistent use.

Is this retinol serum suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes, it is generally gentle and well tolerated by sensitive skin.

Can it help with acne scars?

It may help with mild acne marks but is not effective on deep scars.

Does it cause skin irritation or dryness?

Some users experience mild irritation or dryness, but many find it non-drying.

Can it make pores bigger?

A few users reported increased pore size, though this is not common.

Reddit Reviews:

Calculated by the the number of posts or comments that have an opinion on this product

Now you may have noticed in my facial skin recommendation that I did not mention CeraVe as a treatment brand. I have posted numerous takedowns of CeraVe on other threads so I won't rehash them here suffice it to say that it's no longer a brand I can in good faith recommend since it's acquisition by L'Oreal.

u/LIFTMakeUpSentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 2635

It’s gentle. I’ve had no dryness from it. Cleanse face, let it dry and apply on the cerave. Then allow it to dry or it will pill.

u/THETRULYOLDLADYSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 98

If been taking cerave resurfacing retinol serum for a month but don't see a improvement yet

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely neutral Upvotes: 54

the one i had looked like the white one and i got it from a pharmacy so I'm assuming its not fake

u/smallspitefulSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 44

Absolutely recommend! I initially bought to help smooth wrinkles, but it ended up being the magic elixir for all of my skin troubles. It cleared my acne, evened out my skin tone, and shrunk the pores on my nose. I use it five to six days a week in the evening.

u/Dry_MermaidSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 42

Did not do much to my face at all. Too mild for me even as a first time user

u/Important-Wallaby-13Sentiment: likely negative Upvotes: 24

Probably one of the best starting retinols there is. The extra hydrating ingredients make it pretty easy to tolerate and it has a very nice application. Percentage doesn’t matter as much as formulation so don’t worry too much about it.

u/ClickToSeeMyBallsSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 17

Can we appreciate that CeraVe somehow made an affordable effective retinol serum while every other brand charges $60+ for the same percentages

u/echtnietbasSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 16

I’ve been using the CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum and am almost out.

u/[deleted]Sentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 11

There’s an obvious improvement on the lines on your forehead. Unfortunately it won’t work on scars.

u/shareuhanSentiment: likely positive Upvotes: 10

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