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Good Molecules Niaci… vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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Good Molecules Niacinamide 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 Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum at 7.1/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

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Good Molecules

Niacinamide Serum

serumbudget

7.1

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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.

Good Molecules wins 0

Tied 2

Kiehl's wins 3

9.0

Good Molecules

Kiehl's

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

10Good Molecules

5Shared

42Kiehl's

Only in Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum

5 unique

Water (Aqua)Betaine Allantoin Xanthan Gum Ethylhexylglycerin

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Niacinamide Pentylene Glycol Glycerin Sodium Hyaluronate Phenoxyethanol

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

37 unique

Aqua/Water Butylene Glycol Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1 3-Octadecanediol Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Adenosine+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 active ingredient strength, scoring 7.8 compared to Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum's 3.6. Its formula features Niacinamide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, and Adenosine in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 9.6 here versus 6.0 for Good Molecules Niacinamide 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 good Molecules Niacinamide Serum relies on Niacinamide and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Good Molecules Niacinamide 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 budget pricing with a score of 7.1, Good Molecules Niacinamide 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

+1.9 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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7.1Good Molecules

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9.0Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Good Molecules Niacinamide 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 Good Molecules Niacinamide 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 Good Molecules Niacinamide 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: Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum→Full analysis: Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum→

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