Side-by-side comparison

Byoma Brightening Serum vs CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum

Both serums contain Niacinamide, but each adds something the other doesn't. Here's where they overlap and where they split.

1Shared hero active
Byoma
Brightening Serum
SerumBudgetMorning or evening
Dark SpotsDullnesssensitive

Tranexamic acid + niacinamide + ceramide serum at an unusually low price point for this combination. Genuinely effective for post-inflammatory pigmentation and melasma-prone skin — and gentler than vitamin C for many people.

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CeraVe
Resurfacing Retinol Serum
SerumMid-rangeEvening only
Rough TextureDark SpotsAgingSensitive skinDamaged barrier

Encapsulated retinol with niacinamide, ceramides and licorice root extract for post-acne marks. Low-irritation formulation — a sensible step up from a niacinamide-only routine, or a maintenance retinol for acne-prone skin that's finished with benzoyl peroxide.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

Both contain Niacinamide. Byoma Brightening Serum adds Tranexamic Acid. CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum adds Retinol and Licorice Root Extract. Pick the one whose extra matches what you're treating. Byoma Brightening Serum is the better fit for dullness and sensitive skin; CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum for rough texture and signs of aging. On price, Byoma Brightening Serum is the less expensive option (Budget versus Mid-range). Byoma Brightening Serum is flagged morning or evening; CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum is flagged evening only.

The overlap

What they share

This hero active appears in both formulas:

Niacinamide
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Byoma Brightening Serum — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Propanediol~5–25%
  • Glycerin~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • Tranexamic Acid~1.5–4%
  • Pentylene Glycol~1–2%
  • Butylene Glycol~1–2%

CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum — top of the list

  • Water~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Caprylic/Capri…~3–10%
  • Niacinamide~2–6%
  • Sodium Hydroxy…~1.5–4%
  • Cetyl Alcohol~1–2%
  • Pentylene Glycol~1–2%
  • Ceramide NP~1–2%
  • Retinol~1–2%
  • Licorice Root …~1–2%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

Byoma Brightening SerumCeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierBudgetMid-range
Best forDark Spots, Dullness, sensitiveRough Texture, Dark Spots, Aging
Usage notesMorning or eveningEvening only
Shared hero activesNiacinamide
Questions

Common questions

Is the Byoma Brightening Serum or the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum better?
It depends on what you're treating. Both contain Niacinamide; Byoma Brightening Serum adds Tranexamic Acid; CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum adds Retinol and Licorice Root Extract.
What's the difference between the Byoma Brightening Serum and the CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum?
Byoma Brightening Serum's hero actives are Tranexamic Acid and Niacinamide. CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum's are Retinol, Niacinamide, Ceramides and Licorice Root Extract. They also sit in different price tiers (Budget versus Mid-range).
Are the Byoma Brightening Serum and CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum dupes for each other?
Partly. They share Niacinamide, but Byoma Brightening Serum's Tranexamic Acid and CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum's Retinol and Licorice Root Extract aren't in the other, so they aren't full substitutes.
Can I use the Byoma Brightening Serum and CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum together?
Usually, yes. Apply the thinner texture first, then the thicker one, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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1 shared hero active

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