Drunk Elephant Amino Rain™ Glasswater Serum scores 8.7/9.8 and Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 8.9/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Drunk Elephant
Amino Rain™ Glasswater Serum
serumpremium
8.7
VS
✶
Kiehl's
Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum
serumpremium
8.9
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.2 points apart.
4
1
Drunk Elephant wins 0
Tied 4
Kiehl's wins 1
8.7Drunk Elephant
vs
8.9Kiehl's
Scores last verified: June 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
TIE
9.6
9.6
Drunk Elephant
Kiehl's
Irritation Risk
TIE
9.5
9.5
Drunk Elephant
Kiehl's
Active Ingredient Strength
Kiehl's WINS
4.2
7.8
Drunk Elephant
Kiehl's
Ingredient Transparency
TIE
8.5
8.5
Drunk Elephant
Kiehl's
Formulation Safety
TIE
9.0
9.0
Drunk Elephant
Kiehl's
Ingredient face-off
10% overlap
42Drunk Elephant
4Shared
42Kiehl's
Only in Drunk Elephant Amino Rain™ Glasswater Serum
These two serums take different paths to a similar destination. Both formulas include solid hydrating ingredients, and the overall scores reflect that — the gap here is genuinely slim.
Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum brings Niacinamide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, and Adenosine as actives, while drunk Elephant Amino Rain™ Glasswater Serum relies on Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Allantoin, and Panax Ginseng Root Extract. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
Drunk Elephant Amino Rain™ Glasswater 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
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 8.9 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.
Our verdict
✶ Our verdict
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
8.7Drunk Elephant
vs
✶
8.9Kiehl's
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Drunk Elephant Amino Rain™ Glasswater 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 Drunk Elephant Amino Rain™ Glasswater 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 Drunk Elephant Amino Rain™ Glasswater 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.
Honest skincare intel. No jargon, no gatekeeping — just the ingredients decoded.
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