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Dr. Althea Gentle Vi… vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C 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 Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C Serum at 7.2/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

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Dr. Althea

Gentle Vitamin C Serum

serum

7.2

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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.

Dr. Althea wins 0

Tied 2

Kiehl's wins 3

9.0

Dr. Althea

Kiehl's

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

16Dr. Althea

5Shared

42Kiehl's

Only in Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C Serum

11 unique

Water Propanediol 2-Hexanediol Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Tromethamine Xanthan Gum 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Disodium Edta Allantoin+1 more

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Pentylene Glycol Caprylyl Glycol Adenosine

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

37 unique

Aqua/Water Glycerin Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1 3-Octadecanediol Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Ceramide Np+27 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 Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C Serum's 5.6. 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 4.6 for Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C 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 dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C Serum relies on Niacinamide, Adenosine, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C 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

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum comes in at premium pricing with a 9.0 score, which is solid value at that tier.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.8 lead

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

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7.2Dr. Althea

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9.0Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C 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 Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C 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 Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C 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: Dr. Althea Gentle Vitamin C Serum→Full analysis: Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum→

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