Gracie

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ scores 9.3/9.8 vs Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum at 8.9/9.8. innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ wins for active ingredients.

Head to head

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​
innisfree

Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​

serummid-range
9.3
VS
✶
Kiehl's

Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

serumpremium
8.9

Score comparison

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ edges ahead, winning 2 of 5 attributes.

3
2
innisfree wins 0
Tied 3
Kiehl's wins 2
9.3innisfree
+0.4vs
8.9Kiehl's

Scores last verified: July 2026

Attribute battle

Hydration Efficacy

Kiehl's WINS
8.6
9.6
innisfree
Kiehl's

Irritation Risk

TIE
9.5
9.5
innisfree
Kiehl's

Active Ingredient Strength

Kiehl's WINS
6.4
7.8
innisfree
Kiehl's

Ingredient Transparency

TIE
8.5
8.5
innisfree
Kiehl's

Formulation Safety

TIE
9.0
9.0
innisfree
Kiehl's

Why innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ comes out ahead

Where innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ really shines is active ingredient strength, scoring 6.4 compared to Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum's 7.8. Its formula features Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate in high positions, signalling meaningful concentrations.

Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum scores 9.6 here versus 8.6 for innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​. That difference comes down to how each formula is built — the ingredient list tells the story.

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ brings Niacinamide, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate as actives, while kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum relies on Niacinamide, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, and Adenosine. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.

Best for your skin type

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ is better if you have

  • Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
  • Dry or dehydrated skin that craves moisture, thanks to Glycereth-26
  • 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

At mid-range pricing with a score of 9.3, innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ delivers strong value. Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum sits at the premium level with a 8.9 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.

Our verdict

✶ Our verdict
+0.4 lead

innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ edges ahead with a slightly stronger formulation, but Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum is still a solid pick.

9.3innisfree
vs
✶
8.9Kiehl's

Frequently asked questions

Which is better: innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ or Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum?

Based on ingredient analysis, innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ scores higher overall. See the full score breakdown above for details on each attribute.

Do innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ 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 innisfree Daily Korean Gentle Retinol + Salicylic Acid Soothing Toner Pads for Acne-Prone Skin​ 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.