This Affordable Retinol Serum Has Over 17,000 Reviews—Here’s Why People Are Obsessed with it

With 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon—from more than 17,000 reviewers—the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a must try for skin smoothing.

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If you have acne scarring or hyperpigmentation, the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is a product you absolutely have to try. As part of CeraVe’s family of acne-targeted products, this serum is designed especially to help even out post-acne scarring (though it’s beneficial for your skin for other reasons, too). The $25 product is overwhelmingly loved by Amazon shoppers—there are more than 17,000 reviews that are nearly all positive—and is a gentle way to incorporate a retinol product into your skincare routine.

North Carolina-based dermatologist Dr. Scott Paviol told Reader’s Digest that retinol is best used as a part of your whole skincare routine. “I always recommend starting your day with a vitamin C/E serum and a moisturizer with sunscreen. This a.m. routine blocks damage from the sun that occurs in your typical day. Then at night, you can apply your retinol product followed by your nighttime moisturizer.”

Ready to give this wonder serum a try? Here’s everything you need to know about how it works and how to use it.

Why retinol is so good for your skin

Skincare ingredients can be tricky to figure out, especially because there are so many to familiarize yourself with. The CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum combines two of the most powerful and useful ingredients: retinol and ceramides. Retinol, in particular, does a few key things for your skin. Dr. Paviol put it simply: “Retinol works by increasing skin cell turnover and building collagen, giving your skin a fresh, bright appearance.”

Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, can be found in several skincare products that specifically target dark spots and dull skin, and combined with ceramides (which are fat molecules that lock moisture in and keep toxins out), the retinol in the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum can help give you brighter, smoother skin.

Cerave Retinol Serum For Post Acne Marks And Skin Texturevia amazon.com

So how does it work?

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is simple to use. Spread it all over your clean and dry face (avoiding your eyes) once daily. Dr. Paviol suggests using a product like this at night as part of your before-bed skincare routine. “Retinols are best applied at night as the compound is inactivated by light,” he notes.

Once applied, the retinol, along with other ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide, a B vitamin that can soothe skin and protect cells from damage, come together to help reduce the appearance of pores and lighten dark spots, especially those caused by acne scars.

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is actually one of those universal products that can be beneficial for so many people. Though CeraVe is often thought of as a brand to target acne (which it does), this serum can help anyone who has scarring on their skin or wants to minimize pores.

Developed with the help of dermatologists, the retinol serum can iron out unnevenness while ridding the skin of impurities. The powerful skincare ingredients also trap moisture while blocking out toxins, all while reinforcing the skin barrier to leave skin in better condition than you started with.

It’s affordable

Some retinol products on the market have a triple-digit price tag, but the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is way more affordable—in the range of $25 for one ounce. The price does vary based on where you buy it and when, but CeraVe is known for keeping its products both high quality and super affordable, making them accessible to customers who want to have a targeted skincare regimen and care about skin health.

What Amazon shoppers had to say

The CeraVe family of products is well-loved across the board, so it’s not surprising that the more than 17,000 reviews on Amazon for the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum are overwhelmingly positive. Here’s what a few Amazon verified purchasers had to say.

An Avid Book Lover, “This is a well-priced positive addition to my anti-aging skin care regime. I can really notice the difference on my neck where there is so much discoloration on the sides.”

Jimmy C., “I tried so many products, trust me, don’t buy the others. This one is working perfectly.”

Amazon customer, “Product is great for helping to minimize pores and dark spots. Glides on smoothly without any greasy residue. Offers the quality and performance you expect from CeraVe.”

Josie Santos, “I suffered from terrible acne for my entire adult life and after undergoing a very harsh treatment with my dermatologist, the acne disappeared but I was left with deep scars, dry skin (it was oily before), ultra sensitivity to pretty much anything and dermatitis. I decided to make the switch to Cerave and now I couldn’t be happier with the results!”

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Source: Acne scarring and hyperpigmentation have met their match.Dr. Scott Paviol

Hedy Phillips
Hedy Phillips is a lifestyle writer covering beauty, shopping and pop culture. She devotes 99% of her time to snuggling with her cats and 100% of her money to following Harry Styles around on tour. She's always on the lookout for another slice of New York pizza, and she's never met a Starbucks drink she doesn't like.