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IOPE IOPE Retinol Ex… vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% 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 IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% at 7.9/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

IOPE

IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1%

serumpremium

7.9

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Niacinamide
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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.

IOPE wins 0

Tied 2

Kiehl's wins 3

9.0

IOPE

Kiehl's

Ingredient face-off

19% overlap

15IOPE

8Shared

42Kiehl's

Only in IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1%

7 unique

Water 2-Hexanediol Retinyl Palmitate Panthenol Allantoin Arginine Ethylhexylglycerin

Shared ingredients

8 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Retinol Ceramide Np Sodium Hyaluronate Adenosine Carbomer

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

34 unique

Aqua/Water Pentylene Glycol Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1 3-Octadecanediol Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine+24 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 IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1%'s 6.3. 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.

Ingredient Transparency is another area of separation. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 8.5 here versus 7.8 for IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1%. 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 iOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% relies on Niacinamide, Retinol, and Retinyl Palmitate. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Niacinamide does the heavy lifting
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

Both sit in the premium bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum gets the nod here with its 9.0 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+1.1 lead

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

7.9IOPE

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9.0Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% 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 IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% 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 IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1% 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: IOPE IOPE Retinol Expert 0.1%→Full analysis: Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum→

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