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Kiehl's Midnight Rec… vs Paula's Choice Clini… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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/Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
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/Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate vs Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 vs Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate at 6.4/9.8. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins for hydration.

Head to head

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Kiehl's

Midnight Recovery Concentrate

serumpremium

6.4

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Niacinamide
Retinol
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Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.

Paula's Choice

Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

serummid-range

8.9

Score comparison

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.

Kiehl's wins 0

Tied 2

Paula's Choice wins 3

9.0

Kiehl's

Paula's Choice

Ingredient face-off

0% overlap

15Kiehl's

0Shared

47Paula's Choice

Only in Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

15 unique

Squalane Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil Tocopherol Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil Geranium Maculatum Oil Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil Rosa Damascena Flower Oil+5 more

Shared ingredients

0 in common

Only in Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment

47 unique

Aqua Dimethicone Glycerin Butylene Glycol Isononyl Isononanoate Castor Isostearate Succinate Glyceryl Stearate C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate Dimethicone Crosspolymer Polysorbate 20+37 more

Why Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment comes out ahead

Where Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.8 compared to Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate's 4.3. With Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, and Sodium Hyaluronate in its top ingredients, Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment delivers stronger moisture-binding capability.

Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 7.1 here versus 2.0 for Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment brings Retinol, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate 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

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment 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 — Retinol does the heavy lifting

Value comparison

At premium pricing with a score of 6.4, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate is a decent pick. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment sits at the mid-range level with a 8.9 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict

+2.5 lead

Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.

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6.4Kiehl's

8.9Paula's Choice

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate or Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment?

Based on ingredient analysis, Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment 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 Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment?

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: Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment→

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