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AXIS-Y Dark Spot Cor… vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 9.0/9.8 vs AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum at 7.4/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

AXIS-Y

Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum

serummid-range

7.4

Buy at Olive Young

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Niacinamide
Retinol
Hyaluronic Acid
Salicylic Acid

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Kiehl's

Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

serumpremium

9.0

Score comparison

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

AXIS-Y wins 0

Tied 2

Kiehl's wins 3

9.0

AXIS-Y

Kiehl's

Ingredient face-off

14% overlap

13AXIS-Y

6Shared

42Kiehl's

Only in AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum

7 unique

Water 2-Hexanediol Tranexamic Acid Panthenol Allantoin Arginine Ethylhexylglycerin

Shared ingredients

6 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Sodium Hyaluronate Adenosine Carbomer

Only in Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

36 unique

Aqua/Water Pentylene Glycol Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1 3-Octadecanediol Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Ceramide Np+26 more

Why Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum comes out ahead

Where Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.6 compared to AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum's 6.0. With Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, and Pentylene Glycol in its top ingredients, Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 7.8 here versus 4.9 for AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum brings Niacinamide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, and Adenosine as actives, while aXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum relies on Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose 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
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

At mid-range pricing with a score of 7.4, AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum is a decent pick. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum sits at the premium level with a 9.0 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.6 lead

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

7.4AXIS-Y

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9.0Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum or Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum?

Based on ingredient analysis, Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum and Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose 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 AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum and Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum?

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

Full analysis: AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum→Full analysis: Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum→

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