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Kiehl's Midnight Rec… vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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 Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate at 6.4/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

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Kiehl's

Midnight Recovery Concentrate

serumpremium

6.4

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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.

Kiehl's wins 0

Tied 2

Kiehl's wins 3

6.4Kiehl's

+2.6vs

9.0Kiehl's

Scores last verified: April 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Kiehl's WINS

4.3

9.6

Kiehl's

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Kiehl's

Active Ingredient Strength

Kiehl's WINS

2.0

7.8

Kiehl's

Ingredient Transparency

Kiehl's WINS

7.5

8.5

Kiehl's

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Kiehl's

Ingredient face-off

2% overlap

15Kiehl's

1Shared

42Kiehl's

Only in Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

14 unique

Squalane Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil Geranium Maculatum Oil Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil Rosa Damascena Flower Oil Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil+4 more

Shared ingredients

1 in common

Tocopherol

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

41 unique

Aqua/Water Glycerin Butylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol Niacinamide Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1+31 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 Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate's 2.0. 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 4.3 for Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. 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 kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate relies on Tocopherol. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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

+2.6 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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6.4Kiehl's

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9.0Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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 Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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 Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate 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: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate→Full analysis: Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum→

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