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Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide scores 8.9/9.8 and Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment scores 8.9/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
These two are neck and neck — just 0.0 points apart.
Scores last verified: June 2026
25 unique
14 in common
33 unique
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.
Hydration Efficacy is another area of separation. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment 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 paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment relies on Retinol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, and Palmitoyl Oligopeptide. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide is better if you have
Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment is better if you have
At premium pricing with a score of 8.9, Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide is a decent pick. Paula's Choice Clinical 1% Retinol Treatment sits at the mid-range level with a 8.9 score — the extra cost doesn't translate to better scores here.
It's a close call — both products score within 0.3 points of each other. Your choice depends on your specific skin concerns.
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.
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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