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Garnier Brightening… vs Medicube Deep Vita A… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Garnier Brightening serum vs Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores 8.9/9.8 vs Garnier Brightening serum at 7.7/9.8. Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

Garnier

Brightening serum

serum

7.7

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Ingredients

Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Medicube

Deep Vita A Retinol Serum

serum

8.9

Score comparison

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Garnier wins 0

Tied 2

Medicube wins 3

9.0

Garnier

Medicube

Ingredient face-off

17% overlap

33Garnier

9Shared

53Medicube

Only in Garnier Brightening serum

24 unique

Alcohol Denat Peg/Ppg/Polybutylene Glycol-8/5/3 Sodium Glycerin Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid Isononyl Isononanoate Ascorbyl Glucoside Citrus Limon Fruit Extract / Lemon Fruit Extract Potassium Hydroxide 2-Mercaptonicotinoyl Glycine Hyaluronate Sodium Thiosulfate+14 more

Shared ingredients

9 in common

Water Glycerin Dipropylene Glycol Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Silica Adenosine Hydrogenated Lecithin Xanthan Gum

Only in Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum

44 unique

Propanediol 2-Hexanediol Coco-Caprylate/Caprate Squalane Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate Dimethyl Isosorbide Pentylene Glycol Panthenol Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

Why Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum comes out ahead

Where Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.8 compared to Garnier Brightening serum's 7.2. With Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, and Glycerin in its top ingredients, Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Irritation Risk is another area of separation. Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores 9.5 here versus 7.6 for Garnier Brightening serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum brings Niacinamide, Allantoin, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate as actives, while garnier Brightening serum relies on Niacinamide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Citrus Limon Fruit Extract / Lemon Fruit Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Garnier Brightening serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycerin
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Dipropylene Glycol
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.2 lead

Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

7.7Garnier

8.9Medicube

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Garnier Brightening serum or Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum?

Based on ingredient analysis, Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Garnier Brightening serum and Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum share ingredients?

Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.

What's the main difference between Garnier Brightening serum and Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum?

The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.

Full analysis: Garnier Brightening serum→Full analysis: Medicube Deep Vita A Retinol Serum→

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