CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid vs Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide scores 9.3/9.8 vs CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid at 8.5/9.8. Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide wins for active ingredients.
Head to head
Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid
Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide
Score comparison
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
CLINIQUE WINSIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
Kiehl's Since 1851 WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
15% overlapOnly in CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid
40 unique
Shared ingredients
7 in common
Only in Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide
32 unique
Why Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide comes out ahead
Where Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 7.7 compared to CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid's 7.2. Its formula features Niacinamide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, and Adenosine in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.
Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid scores 9.8 here versus 9.4 for Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide brings Niacinamide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, and Adenosine as actives, while cLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid relies on Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, and Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Butylene Glycol
- Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Ascorbyl Glucoside does the heavy lifting
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide 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
At luxury pricing with a score of 8.5, CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid is a decent pick. Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide sits at the premium level with a 9.3 score — the higher investment pays off in formulation quality.
Our verdict
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid is still a solid pick.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid or Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide?
Based on ingredient analysis, Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.
Do CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid and Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide share ingredients?
Yes, they share common ingredients. Check the ingredient face-off section above for a detailed comparison.
What's the main difference between CLINIQUE Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Anti-Aging Serum with 1% Retinoid and Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.