Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide vs StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum
Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide scores 9.3/9.8 and StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum scores 9.2/9.8 — a near-tie where your skin type decides the winner.
Head to head
Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide
Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum
Score comparison
These two are neck and neck — just 0.1 points apart.
Scores last verified: July 2026
Attribute battle
Hydration Efficacy
Kiehl's Since 1851 WINSIrritation Risk
TIEActive Ingredient Strength
StriVectin WINSIngredient Transparency
TIEFormulation Safety
TIEIngredient face-off
19% overlapOnly in Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide
31 unique
Shared ingredients
8 in common
Only in StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum
34 unique
Why these two are neck and neck
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.
Active Ingredient Strength is another area of separation. StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum scores 9.7 here versus 7.7 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 striVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum relies on Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Ascorbic Acid. Both approaches have merit, but the positioning and supporting ingredients make the difference.
Best for your skin type
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
StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum is better if you have
- Sensitive skin — the low-irritation formula keeps things gentle
- Targeting specific concerns like aging or uneven tone — Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate does the heavy lifting
- Anyone who prefers clean, well-vetted formulations
Value comparison
Both sit in the premium bracket, so value comes down to formulation quality. Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide gets the nod here with its 9.3 overall score — you're getting more for a similar outlay.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better: Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide or StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum?
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 Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide and StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C 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 Kiehl's Since 1851 Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides & Peptide and StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum?
The key differences are in their active ingredients and formulation approach. Check the attribute battle above for a detailed breakdown.