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Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 9.0/9.8 vs the ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane at 6.2/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for hydration.
Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum takes this one, winning 3 of 5 attributes.
Scores last verified: April 2026
40 unique
7 unique
Where Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum really shines is hydration efficacy, scoring 9.6 compared to the ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane's 3.8. 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 3.4 for the ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane. 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 the ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane relies on Retinol, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract, and Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum is better if you have
the ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane is better if you have
At premium pricing with a score of 9.0, Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum delivers strong value. the ordinary Retinol 0.5% in Squalane sits at the budget level with a 6.2 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.
Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins this comparison with a meaningfully stronger ingredient profile and overall score.
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.
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.
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© 2026 Gracie. All rights reserved. Data sourced from Open Beauty Facts (ODbL) and EU CosIng.