Skin1 product guide
SkinMedica costs less in both pairs here: Retinol Complex 0.5 is $80 against SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 at $90, while Rejuvenative Moisturizer is $60 against Triple Lipid Restore at $155. The retinols differ in supporting ingredients; the moisturizers differ in their lipid blend, scent ingredients and package size.
For retinol, SkinMedica 0.5 offers niacinamide, squalane and ceramide NP; SkinCeuticals 0.5 pairs its stated 0.5% retinol with bisabolol and boswellia. For daily moisture, Rejuvenative is the lower-cost cream with shea butter and vitamin derivatives. Triple Lipid Restore makes sense when its stated 2:4:2 ceramide, cholesterol and fatty-acid blend is the feature you want.
USD prices checked October 24, 2026, before tax and shipping. Unit price = listed price ÷ package ounces.
| Product | US retailer | Size | Price | Price per ounce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5 | Dermstore US | 1 fl oz | $80.00 | $80.00/fl oz |
| SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 — current formula | SkinCeuticals US | 1 fl oz | $90.00 | $90.00/fl oz |
| SkinMedica Rejuvenative Moisturizer | Dermstore US | 2 fl oz | $60.00 | $30.00/fl oz |
| SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 | Dermstore US | 1.6 fl oz | $155.00 | $96.88/fl oz |
The middle strength for an established retinol routine; includes niacinamide, squalane and ceramide NP.
Consider: At $80 for 1 fl oz, it costs $10 less than SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5.
Use: Apply at night after cleansing and before moisturizer, avoiding eyes. SkinMedica starts new retinol users at twice weekly, 2–3 days apart, then increases frequency only as tolerated. Use daytime sunscreen. Do not use while pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy.
A stated 0.5% pure-retinol night cream with bisabolol and boswellia in the current US formula.
Consider: The current official list includes denatured alcohol. At $90 for 1 fl oz, it costs $10 more than SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5.
Use: At night, apply a pea-sized amount to clean, dry skin, avoiding eyes; let it absorb before other skincare. Begin once or twice weekly, increasing only as tolerated. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen in daytime. SkinCeuticals says not to use while pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy.
A $60 daily moisturizer with shea butter, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate and vitamin C/E derivatives.
Consider: Lists fragrance, linalool and geraniol. Its retinyl palmitate is separate from the Retinol Complex treatment range.
Use: Massage a small amount over the face twice daily after cleansing and treatment products. Neck and chest may also be included. Avoid eyes.
A moisturizer built around the stated 2% ceramides, 4% cholesterol and 2% fatty-acid ratio.
Consider: The $155 jar costs $95 more than Rejuvenative Moisturizer. It contains lavender, rosemary and peppermint oils, with linalool and limonene.
Use: Warm a small amount between fingertips, then apply gently to face, neck and chest twice daily. In the morning, apply after antioxidant serum and before sunscreen.
Choose the two options you are weighing. Read the ingredients below or compare how the products fit your routine here.
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Full published ingredient list
Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Niacinamide, Polyacrylate-13, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Squalane, Retinol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Magnolia Grandiflora Bark Extract, Tocopherol, Tocotrienols, Ceramide NP, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Polysorbate 20, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Laureth-23, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Dicaprylyl Ether, Lauryl Alcohol, Polyisobutene, Dextran, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.
Full published ingredient list
Aqua / Water / Eau, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Alcohol Denat., Dipropylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Acrylamide/Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isohexadecane, Retinol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Isopropyl Myristate, Sodium Citrate, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Polysorbate 80, Dimethiconol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Bisabolol, Bht, Sorbitan Oleate, Citric Acid, Propyl Gallate.
SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 — current formula — manufacturer source
Full published ingredient list
Aqua/Water/Eau, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diglycerin, Isostearyl Behenate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopherol, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Tocotrienols, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Algin, Bisabolol, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Retinyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Caprylyl Methicone, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Disodium EDTA, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Fragrance (Parfum), Linalool, Geraniol.
Full published ingredient list
Aqua/Water/Eau, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Glycerin, Cholesterol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ceramide 3, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Unsaponifiables/Sunflower Seed Oil Unsaponifiables, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Polyacrylate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Nylon-12, Lauryl PEG-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Dimethicone/PEG-10/15 Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Propylene Carbonate, Disodium EDTA, Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Adenosine, Dipropylene Glycol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil/Lavender Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil/Rosemary Leaf Oil, T-Butyl Alcohol, Mentha Piperita Oil/Peppermint Oil, Sodium Citrate, Linalool, Isobutane, Ceramide EOP, BHT, Tocopherol, Limonene.
SkinMedica Retinol Complex 0.5 lists soybean oil, niacinamide, squalane, glycerin and ceramide NP. The current SkinCeuticals formula begins with water, propanediol, dimethicone and cetearyl ethylhexanoate, followed by denatured alcohol; it also includes bisabolol and boswellia. Neither full list includes parfum/fragrance.
The $10 price gap is small compared with the moisturizer gap. Ingredient preferences and an existing retinol routine are more useful ways to choose between these bottles. SkinMedica has a lower 0.25 starting option, covered in the strength guide below.
Rejuvenative combines shea butter and humectants with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate. Triple Lipid Restore states a 2% ceramide, 4% cholesterol and 2% fatty-acid ratio. The lipid blend is the clearest reason to consider its higher price.
Rejuvenative lists parfum, linalool and geraniol. Triple Lipid Restore lists lavender, rosemary and peppermint oils. If avoiding scent ingredients is your priority, the moisturizer alternatives linked below offer different ingredient profiles.
Both retinols are 1 fl oz, so their bottle prices are also their price per fluid ounce: $80 and $90. Rejuvenative’s current tube is 2 fl oz at $60, or $30 per fluid ounce. Triple Lipid Restore is 1.6 fl oz at $155, or $96.88 per fluid ounce. Rejuvenative offers more volume for $95 less per container.
Use one retinol product for this step. Both brands place it at night before moisturizer, direct users to build frequency gradually, and recommend daytime sunscreen. SkinCeuticals specifies a pea-sized amount on clean, dry skin.
Both brands advise against their retinol products during pregnancy, breastfeeding or when planning pregnancy. Rejuvenative is a daily moisturizer with retinyl palmitate; it is a different product from Retinol Complex.