Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Clinical Grade Resurfacing Liquid Peel - Step 1 Versus Kiehl's Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate
Updated on June 12, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe facial treatments. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain AHA and exfoliants
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any common allergens, parabens, silicones or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Clinical Grade Resurfacing Liquid Peel 50 ingredients
Kiehl's Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate 26 ingredients
What's inside (and what isn't)
What's inside (and what isn't)
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Clinical Grade Resurfacing Liquid Peel 50 ingredients
Kiehl's Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate 26 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Glycolic Acid
Buffering
Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract
Skin Conditioning
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingLactic Acid
Buffering
Citric Acid
Buffering
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Bromelain
Skin ConditioningMandelic Acid
Antimicrobial
Malic Acid
Buffering
Phytic Acid
Pyruvic Acid
MaskingPotassium Azeloyl Diglycinate
Skin Conditioning
Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract
Skin ConditioningSalix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Tartaric Acid
Buffering
Gallic Acid
Antioxidant
Ellagic Acid
Skin ConditioningCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate
Skin Conditioning
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract
Skin Conditioning
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingCitrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingAchillea Millefolium Extract
CleansingCamellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Linoleic Acid
Cleansing
Linolenic Acid
Cleansing
Soy Isoflavones
Skin ConditioningCopper PCA
HumectantZinc PCA
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Lecithin
Emollient
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Citrate
BufferingPolysorbate 20
Emulsifying
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Menthone Glycerin Acetal
RefreshingJasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract
Masking
Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract
AstringentVitis Vinifera Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningLavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract
Masking
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycolic Acid, Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract, Potassium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Salicylic Acid, Bromelain, Mandelic Acid, Malic Acid, Phytic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Rehmannia Glutinosa Root Extract, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Tartaric Acid, Gallic Acid, Ellagic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Hexanoyl Dipeptide-3 Norleucine Acetate, Hexylresorcinol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Achillea Millefolium Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Soy Isoflavones, Copper PCA, Zinc PCA, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glycerin, Lecithin, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Citrate, Polysorbate 20, Polysorbate 80, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Menthone Glycerin Acetal, Jasminum Officinale Flower/Leaf Extract, Eugenia Caryophyllus Flower Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
Water
Skin ConditioningAlcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingHydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Sodium Citrate
BufferingVaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningSodium Hydroxide
BufferingChenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract
Skin ConditioningSaccharum Officinarum Extract
MoisturisingGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Phytic Acid
Carrageenan
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Citrus Limon Fruit Extract
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Acer Saccharum Extract
Skin ConditioningHydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract
Abrasive
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
MaskingSodium Benzoate
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Water, Alcohol Denat., Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Sodium Citrate, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Glycerin, Propanediol, Phytic Acid, Carrageenan, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Fruit Extract, Disodium EDTA, Acer Saccharum Extract, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Adenosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbyl Glucoside
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract is more commonly known as the bitter orange. Native to Southeast Asia, this extract is commonly found in both cosmetics and foods.
The bitter orange possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties.
It can also be mildly exfoliating due to the citric acid, an AHA.
Citrus fruits are rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, and vitamin C.
Learn more about Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit ExtractCitrus Limon Fruit Extract comes from lemons. While lemon extract is exfoliating and antimicrobial, it can also cause skin sensitivity.
Lemons contains antioxidants, which may help with anti-aging. They are also rich in citric acid, an AHA.
And of course, lemons are rich in Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps with skin-brightening and increasing collagen production.
The acidity of lemons may work as an astringent for acne.
However, lemons can also cause skin sensitivity due to its limonene content. It can also increase photosensitivity, or sensitivity to the sun.
This ingredient is also used to add a lemon scent to products.
Learn more about Citrus Limon Fruit ExtractDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTAGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
Phytic Acid is a gentle AHA and antioxidant. AHAs are chemical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells. Phytic Acid has a slight and mild exfoliating effect.
The chemical makeup makes it classified as an AHA, much like lactic acid.
In some cases, it is a chelating agent. Chelating agents help prevent metals from binding to water, helping to stabilize the ingredients in a product.
An interesting fact about phytic acid is that it is considered an antinutrient. People do not have the enzyme needed to properly breakdown and digest phytic acid. When ingested, phytic acid binds to minerals and prevents them from being absorbed.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Phytic AcidPotassium Sorbate is a preservative used to prevent yeast and mold in products. It is commonly found in both cosmetic and food products.
This ingredient comes from potassium salt derived from sorbic acid. Sorbic acid is a natural antibiotic and effective against fungus.
Both potassium sorbate and sorbic acid can be found in baked goods, cheeses, dried meats, dried fruit, ice cream, pickles, wine, yogurt, and more.
You'll often find this ingredient used with other preservatives.
Learn more about Potassium SorbateThis ingredient is also called sugarcane extract. It is a moisturizing humectant and has skin soothing properties.
Similar to hyaluronic acid, sugarcane can attract moisture to your skin.
Glycolic acid is a derivative of sugarcane. While glycolic acid is an AHA with exfoliating properties, sugarcane is not an AHA.
A study from 2021 found the compounds in sugarcane extract to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. The study also suggests these compounds can inhibit skin ageing enzymes and promote collagen synthesis.
Learn more about Saccharum Officinarum ExtractSodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
It is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSodium Citrate is the sodium salts of citric acid. In skincare, it is used to alter pH levels and acts as a preservative.
Its main functions are to maintain the pH of a product and neutralize metal ions.
The acidity of our skin is maintained by our glands and skin biome; normal pH level of skin is slightly acidic (~4.75-5.5).
Being slightly acidic allows our skin to create an "acid mantle". This acid mantle is a thin barrier that protects our skin from bacteria and contaminants.
Learn more about Sodium CitrateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterIngredient Ratings
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