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Drunk Elephant T.L.C… vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin… — Which Is Better? | Gracie

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

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 8.9/9.8 vs Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial at 8.3/9.8. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum wins for hydration.

Head to head

✶

Drunk Elephant

T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial

exfoliantpremium

8.3

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Niacinamide
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Salicylic Acid

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✶

Kiehl's

Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

serumpremium

8.9

Score comparison

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum edges ahead, winning 1 of 5 attributes.

Drunk Elephant wins 1

Tied 3

Kiehl's wins 1

8.3Drunk Elephant

+0.6vs

8.9Kiehl's

Scores last verified: June 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Kiehl's WINS

3.6

9.6

Drunk Elephant

Kiehl's

Irritation Risk

TIE

9.5

Drunk Elephant

Kiehl's

Active Ingredient Strength

Drunk Elephant WINS

8.7

7.8

Drunk Elephant

Kiehl's

Ingredient Transparency

TIE

8.5

Drunk Elephant

Kiehl's

Formulation Safety

TIE

9.0

Drunk Elephant

Kiehl's

Ingredient face-off

12% overlap

30Drunk Elephant

5Shared

42Kiehl's

Only in Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial

25 unique

Water/Aqua/Eau Glycolic Acid Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer Salicylic Acid Tartaric Acid Lactic Acid Citric Acid Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Seed Oil Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil+15 more

Shared ingredients

5 in common

Sodium Hydroxide Niacinamide Glycerin Phenoxyethanol Caprylyl Glycol

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

37 unique

Aqua/Water Butylene Glycol Pentylene Glycol Cetyl Alcohol Isohexadecane Isononyl Isononanoate Diisopropyl Sebacate 2-Oleamido-1 3-Octadecanediol Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester+27 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 hydration efficacy, scoring 9.6 compared to Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial's 3.6. 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. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial scores 8.7 here versus 7.8 for Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum. 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 drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial relies on Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, and Lactic Acid. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is better if you have

Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Glycolic Acid does the heavy lifting
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

+0.6 lead

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial is still a solid pick.

✶

8.3Drunk Elephant

✶

8.9Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 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 T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 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 T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial 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: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial→Full analysis: Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum→

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