As a dermatologist, it’s my job and life’s passion to help my clients look and feel their best through skincare.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to try almost every type of anti-aging technique and product out there on myself and my hundreds of clients, but there has always been one consistent winner...
My favorite topical anti-aging product? Hyaluronic acid serums!
Today I’m going to break down 2 of my “holy grail” hyaluronic acid serums - Lancôme’s Advanced Génifique Serum and Naked & Thriving’s Renew Resurfacing Night Serum - to help you decide which one is best for you.
The Products
First up is Lancôme’s Advanced Génifique Serum - a popular hyaluronic acid from the L’Oréal-owned brand. I’ve been a fan of this serum for years now, but, a few months ago, I was introduced to a new contender that has quickly achieved the prime place on my skincare shelf!
Our challenger is the Renew Resurfacing Night Serum from Naked & Thriving. This independent brand focuses on crafting effective skincare products from natural plant-based ingredients. I have fallen head over heels for this “miracle” serum - I can’t wait to share it with you!
So let’s see how they compare:
Best for…price? Naked & Thriving
First and foremost, we have to consider the price. Both products are of a similar price point, fitting into the “premium” skincare category, however, Advanced Génifique is nearly 15% more expensive than Renew.
Advanced Génifique is $78 for 1 fl oz, whereas Renew is $68 for the same amount of product. Meaning that Renew is $10 better value for your money.
If $68 is too much of an upfront cost for you, both brands offer smaller, travel-size versions of their serums for a reduced price.
Lancôme’s travel size is $52 for 0.67 fl oz. Naked & Thriving’s travel-size Renew is $28 for 0.33 fl oz.
Best for…established history? Lancôme
If you’re someone who finds a well-established brand name more trustworthy, you may be unsure of Naked & Thriving.
Lancôme was founded back in 1935 and has decades of established history (including some not-so-flattering choices you can read about below) and a customer base to back it. While older does not necessarily mean better to me (I love being able to support new, independent brands) this might be something of consideration for you.
Best for…ingredients? Naked & Thriving
To me, this is the most important factor to consider when purchasing any skincare product. The ingredients are what actually have an impact on your skin’s health and appearance.
Both of the serums we’re comparing today contain the same active ingredient - hyaluronic acid! So let’s first compare their unique hyaluronic acid formulations. Both use the same form of hyaluronic acid - sodium hyaluronate. This is listed as the 4th ingredient in Renew, and the 11th ingredient in Advanced Génifique.
These serums also have some bonus anti-aging ingredients to aid the hyaluronic acid. Advanced Génifique contains brightening vitamin C and probiotics that are designed to help protect and nourish the skin.
Renew contains alpha-hydroxy acids derived from fruit. These are gentle exfoliants that have been shown to help remove dead cells from the surface of the skin for a brighter, smoother appearance. It also contains sugar-derived glycolic acids that are known to help enhance cell turnover and boost collagen production. Finally, it contains ferulic acid, in my opinion, one of the best anti-aging ingredients available which is utilized to target the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Another important thing to mention is the suitability of the ingredients for different skin types. Those with sensitive skin should be aware that Advanced Genifique contains a number of ingredients that could potentially be irritating, such as limonene, citronello, and undisclosed fragrance.
The alpha-hydroxy acids in Renew could also be a potential irritant to the most sensitive of skin types so I would recommend patch testing first before using a new product. Overall, however, Renew’s ingredients are all-natural, coming from mostly organic and botanical sources. Their ingredient lists are short, simple, and easy to understand, which I love!
As someone who prefers to use natural products on my skin, I love Naked & Thriving’s commitment to creating gentle-but-effective plant-based formulas. Plus, I find it is a bit more forgiving on my sensitive skin than Advanced Génifique.
Best for…ethics? Naked & Thriving
Another important factor to consider is the ethical concerns when buying skincare. Many skincare consumers nowadays are careful to only buy products that have not been tested on animals.
If this is you, you’ll be pleased to know that Naked & Thriving products are Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free - plus, all their products are vegan!
Lancôme is owned by L’Oréal, which has been included on PETA’s list of companies that test on animals for many years and do not have a cruelty-free certification.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Naked & Thriving's Renew Serum is my top pick for a hyaluronic acid serum - winning in all but one category! Both serums are great ways to introduce hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine, but my number one recommendation is Naked & Thriving’s Renew Resurfacing Night Serum!
