Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide versus Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol .
Published on November 23, 2022
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 14 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, retinoid and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Facial Treatment
Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.
Price
Ingredient Info
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol 49 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol 49 ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol 49 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Pentylene Glycol • Niacinamide • Cetyl Alcohol • Isohexadecane • Isononyl Isononanoate • Diisopropyl Sebacate • 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol • 4-T-Butylcyclohexanol • Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester • Adenosine • Ceramide NP • Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine • Lauroyl Lysine • Octyldodecanol • Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Hydroxide • Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate • Retinol • Tocopherol • Dicaprylyl Ether • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Behenyl Alcohol • Caprylyl Glycol • Carbomer • Cetearyl Alcohol • Cetearyl Glucoside • Glycine Soja Oil • Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil • Hydroxyethylcellulose • Lecithin • Phenethyl Alcohol • Poloxamer 188 • Polycaprolactone • Sorbitan Laurate • Steareth-100 • CI 40800 • Chlorphenesin • Phenoxyethanol
Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether • C12-20 Acid Peg-8 Ester • Glycerin • Niacinamide • Phenyl Trimethicone • Caprylic/Capric/Myristic/Stearic Triglyceride • Algae Extract • Dimethicone • Hydroxyethyl Urea • Cetyl Alcohol • Retinol • Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract • Mangifera Indica Seed Butter • Coffea Arabica Seed Oil • Sodium Hyaluronate • Caffeine • Ascorbic Acid • Urea • Butylene Glycol • Squalane • Trehalose • Triticum Vulgare Germ Extract • Tocopheryl Acetate • Peg-100 Stearate • Linoleic Acid • Glyceryl Stearate • Hordeum Vulgare Extract • Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 • Sorbitol • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer • Tocopherol • Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer • Behenyl Alcohol • Sodium PCA • Sodium Hydroxide • Caprylyl Glycol • Carbomer • Triacetin • Polyquaternium-51 • Xanthan Gum • BHA • Disodium EDTA • Sodium Metabisulfite • Chlorphenesin • Potassium Sorbate • Phenoxyethanol
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. 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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 1.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 2.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 5.
Butylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 3.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 21.
Niacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamideKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 5.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 6.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Its main roles are:
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 6.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 12.
Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.
Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.
Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.
These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 20.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 17.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 21.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 38.
Retinol is a form of Vitamin A and proven to help with anti-aging.
It promotes collagen production, increases new cell turnoever, and protects your skin as an antioxidant.
Retinol boosts collagen production and increases cell turnover. This makes retinol effective in removing wrinkles, fading dark spots, and reducing the appearance of pores.
Retinol is less effective when exposed to sun. Be sure to look for appropriate packaging to keep your retinol potent.
Using retinol and retinoids will increase sun-sensitivity in the first few weeks of use. Though studies show retinoids increase your skin's natural SPF with continuous use, it is best to always wear sunscreen and sun-protection.
We recommend speaking with a medical professional about using this ingredient during pregnancy.
Retinol may cause irritation in some people, so be sure to patch test. Experts recommend 'ramping up' retinol use: start using this ingredient once a week and work up to using it daily.
Read about Tretinoin
Learn more about RetinolKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 23.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 13.
Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 24.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 34.
A type of fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils and therefore do not have the same drying or irritating effect as traditional alcohols.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
Behenyl Alcohol is usually derived from the fats in vegetable oils.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 27.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 36.
Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 28.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 39.
Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.
Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 29.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 40.
Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.
Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.
Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.
Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.
Learn more about ChlorphenesinKiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 42.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 47.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide contains this as ingredient number 43.
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol contains this as ingredient number 49.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol 49 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol 49 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Great retinol for beginners
This is a product with a low dose of retinol, which makes the product suited to apply in the eye area as well. A lot of my earlier products containing retinol were serums, while this is more of a cream. It...
Great retinol for beginners
This is a product with a low dose of retinol, which makes the product suited to apply in the eye area as well. A lot of my earlier products containing retinol were serums, while this is more of a cream. It makes it more hydrating, but without an additional moisturiser it is still drying me out.
Although the percentage of retinol is low, your skin has to adjust to the retinol, using it every other day. Combining it with a moisturiser and a good hydration serum in the morning makes this a great product for your skin.
I highly recommend combining this with Missha Time Revolution Night Repair. It did wonders for my skin!
Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol 49 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 19 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide.
See 19 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 17 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Clinique Smart Night Clinical MD Multi-Dimensional Repair Treatment Retinol.
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