Choosing a smoothing serum for your skincare routine usually comes down to one question: do you want to focus on blemish-prone oiliness or on retinol-powered anti-aging? The two serums here take different routes. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% targets brightness, oil, and visible pores. The Skin Renewing Retinol Face Serum pairs retinol with aloe, jojoba oil, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. Both are lightweight facial serums, but they are designed for different skincare concerns.
Quick verdict
If your main concern is oily, congested skin and you want a serum that visibly smooths and brightens, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% is the clear choice. If you are more focused on the appearance of fine lines and want moisturizing support along with retinol, the Skin Renewing Retinol Face Serum is the better fit.
At a glance
| Serum | Price | What it targets | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% | USD 7.69 | Brightness, oil control, less visible pores | |
| Skin Renewing Retinol Face Serum | USD 10.00 | Retinol renewal, smoothing, hydration |
Where each serum wins
Where The Ordinary wins: The 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc PCA formula is built for blemish-prone skin. It is a lightweight water-based serum meant to reinforce the skin barrier, control oil, improve radiance, and reduce the look of pores. This makes it the better everyday partner if shine and congestion top your list.
Where the retinol serum wins: The Skin Renewing formula is built around retinol plus aloe, jojoba oil, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. It is positioned as an anti-aging serum that also hydrates, and its feature list is free of alcohol, parabens, mineral oil, perfume, and silicone. If you want one step that combines retinol renewal with moisturizing ingredients, this is the serum that goes there.
Product notes
Skin Renewing Retinol Face Serum
At USD 10.00 for a 1oz pump bottle, this serum is the higher-priced option in this pairing. It combines retinol with aloe, jojoba oil, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid in a lightweight formula meant to refresh a daily skincare routine and support a smoother, more refined-looking complexion. If you want one serum that brings anti-aging and hydration together, this is the one. It is also alcohol-free, paraben-free, mineral-oil-free, silicone-free, and perfume-free, with a pump bottle that gives controlled amounts. The trade-off is price: at USD 10.00, it is USD 2.31 more than The Ordinary serum, so it only makes sense if retinol and those extra moisturizers are worth the extra cost.
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%
At USD 7.69, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Smoothing Serum is the lower-priced option here. It is a lightweight water-based serum formulated with 10% niacinamide and 1% zinc PCA to improve skin radiance, smooth texture, reinforce the skin barrier, and reduce the look of pores. The zinc is especially useful for blemish-prone skin because it helps control oil. The instructions call for a few drops in the morning and evening and a patch test before use. The trade-off is that its strengths are oil control, brightness, and pore visibility, while the retinol serum takes the anti-aging route. If your routine is more about congestion and shine than wrinkles, this is the one that targets those concerns directly.
Final choice by use case
- For blemish-prone, oily skin: The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Smoothing Serum gets the nod.
- For anti-aging with hydration: The Skin Renewing Retinol Face Serum is the better match.
- For a streamlined routine: The Ordinary serum is lightweight and water-based; the retinol serum covers both renewal and moisture.
- For a smaller spend: The niacinamide serum is the lower-priced option.
