The Truth About The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

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Cerave resurfacing retinol serum review

Hello lovelies, in today’s post I will be giving my detailed review of the fairly new CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum. I got the serum In September 2020 for the first time and I have used it consistently in the past 5 months. So I guess I’m at a point where I can say for sure if the product works or doesn’t.

So grab a cup of coffee, tea, or something… and let’s dive in

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What is the Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum?

CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum is a serum by the brand Cerave. It is one of the products in their fairly new anti-acne line. Which also includes the CeraVe foaming acne cream cleanser. The Cerave resurfacing retinol serum is marketed for the treatment of acne and to fade post-acne marks. The brand has been around for ages but thanks to Tik Tok and skin influencers, who have popularized the brand, they are now the go-to brand for drugstore skincare.

The CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum is one of the two retinol serums currently being produced by the brand; the other is the CeraVe renewing retinol serum. CeraVe is a member of the L’Oréal group, and they carry out animal testing for their skincare products, so they are not cruelty-free. Like the other Cerave products, this is also fragrance-free, paraben-free, and non-comedogenic.

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Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum Ingredients

The CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum is packed with so many beneficial ingredients. The key ingredients in this serum are;

Retinol

Retinol is the star ingredient of the serum. The Cerave resurfacing retinol serum contains 0.3% encapsulated retinol. Retinol is a member of vitamin A derivatives called Retinoids. Like other retinoids, it has the ability to increase cell turnover, slow down and reverse signs of aging on the skin, treat acne and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (dark marks left after a skin irritation from acne or other causes). Despite all these incredible benefits of retinol, it is not always a jolly good fellow. Retinol can be very irritating and downright intolerable for some with very sensitive skin.

Encapsulated retinol is retinol formulated with a protective covering. This encapsulation ensures protection from air and light, easy penetration into the skin, and a gradual release of the retinol. So, encapsulation basically stabilizes the retinol and makes it less irritating to the skin.

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Ceramides

Like all Cerave skincare products, this serum also contains three essential ceramides. Ceramides NP, ceramides AP, and Ceramides EOP. Ceramides are essential for skin barrier function. They form the bulk of the lipid matrix of the skin barrier and, alongside Free fatty acids and cholesterol, prevent transepidermal water loss.

Licorice Root Extract

Licorice root extract is a fantastic ingredient for those with oily and acne-prone skin. It is an antioxidant with the added benefits of calming inflammation and improving skin discoloration. It does this without causing more irritation to the skin and so is especially good for those of us with dark skin who are more susceptible to developing rebound hyperpigmentation following the use of irritating skin care ingredients.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and is another antioxidant contained in this retinol serum. Niacinamide is anti-inflammatory so it can calm skin irritations especially when there is some form of skin barrier damage. It strengthens the skin barrier, unclogs skin pores, controls oil production, and brightens the skin. If you deal with blemish-prone skin, you definitely need this ingredient in your skincare routine.

Hyaluronic acid

This serum also contains hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is produced by the body and is important in maintaining moisture levels in the skin. As we age, the ability of the body to produce hyaluronic acid reduces. So incorporating this into your routine becomes essential. It is a humectant and so can pull moisture from the surrounding unto itself. It also has anti-inflammatory properties.

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Full Ingredient List

AQUA/WATER/EAU, PROPANEDIOL, DIMETHICONE, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, NIACINAMIDE, AMMONIUM POLYACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE, CERAMIDE NP, CERAMIDE AP, CERAMIDE EOP, CARBOMER, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, BEHENTRIMONIUM METHOSULFATE, DIMETHICONOL, LECITHIN, SODIUM CITRATE, RETINOL, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SODIUM LAUROYL LACTYLATE, CHOLESTEROL, PHENOXYETHANOL, ALCOHOL, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, TRISODIUM ETHYLENEDIAMINE DISUCCINATE, PENTYLENE GLYCOL, PHYTOSPHINGOSINE, XANTHAN GUM, POLYSORBATE 20, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN

My Experience

I got the serum about 5 months ago and before then I was using Differin gel and prior to that I had used tretinoin 0.05% for about a year. So I wasn’t entirely new to retinoids. However, I was just recovering from a damaged skin barrier, my acne was under control for the most part, but I was now left with many dark marks, congested skin, and textured skin.

The serum comes in a plastic container that is airtight and dispenses from a pump. The serum dispenses easily and is a lightweight cream. When I used it at first it felt like a moisturizer. Honestly, sometimes I don’t go over this with my evening moisturizer and I still wake up with dewy skin in the morning. That’s how moisturizing it is.

I didn’t experience any form of irritation from this serum, but then again I started off really slow with it. I used it every other day and to this day I still don’t use the serum every night. I currently alternate with my Paula’s Choice BHA exfoliant at night so that puts it at about 3 times a week.

A con about this product is that you can’t tell the amount of product left in the container. I take a pump and hope there is still some serum left.

Also Read: The Best Cerave Skincare Products For Oily and Acne Prone Skin

How to Use The Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Retinol is broken down by sunlight and so should be used at night. Your skincare routine on nights when you use retinol needs to be simple. You don’t want to use other skin actives together with this skin ingredient. You will only get your skin overly irritated and that’s not what we want.

See the Video On My Evening skincare routine with Retinoid.

Steps:

Start with double cleansing: with an oil cleanser first to remove waterproof makeup and excessive sebum from the skin, then follow up with a low Ph cleanser to get rid of dirt and pollutants from the skin.
Apply the CeraVe resurfacing retinol serum: A little of this product goes a long way. I usually apply a pea-sized amount to my forehead and cheeks and then work it in.
Follow up with a moisturizer: A moisturizer hydrates the skin, locks in moisture, and prevents water loss through the skin. For many people, retinol can be very drying and sensitizing, so this step serves as a fail-safe.

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Simple morning skincare routine for oily skin

How Does Cerave Resurfacing Retinol Serum Work

When the serum is applied to the skin, It needs to first get converted to its active form before it can bind to its receptors. So the retinol first gets converted to retinaldehyde and this, in turn, gets converted to retinoic acid.

Retinoic acid is the active form that binds to nuclear receptors. This union stimulates increased cell turnover, induces collagen production, reduces collagen breakdown, and thickens the epidermal layer of the skin.

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Cerave Resurfacing Serum Before and After

I have seen a lot of changes to my skin since incorporating this serum. My skin is a long way from how it was five months ago. I will recommend this product to anyone looking to get a retinol serum that works especially for those brand new to retinoids. My skin tone is more even and the texture of my skin is way improved, granted I didn’t notice these changes right away. It took me a good three months before I could tell there was a difference. But like the saying ”Good things take time.”