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IOPE The Vitamin C 1… vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum at 7.7/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

IOPE

The Vitamin C 13 Serum

serumpremium

7.7

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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.

IOPE wins 0

Tied 2

Kiehl's wins 3

9.0

IOPE

Kiehl's

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

13IOPE

5Shared

42Kiehl's

Only in IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum

8 unique

Water Ascorbic Acid 2-Hexanediol Panthenol Allantoin Tocopheryl Acetate Tromethamine Ethylhexylglycerin

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Glycerin Butylene Glycol Niacinamide Sodium Hyaluronate Carbomer

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

37 unique

Aqua/Water Pentylene 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 hydration efficacy, scoring 9.6 compared to IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum's 6.9. 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 5.4 for IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 iOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum relies on Ascorbic Acid, Niacinamide, and Allantoin. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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

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

+1.3 lead

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

7.7IOPE

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9.0Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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 IOPE The Vitamin C 13 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: IOPE The Vitamin C 13 Serum→Full analysis: Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum→

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