Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus Shiseido White Lucent Illuminating Micro-Spot Serum
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain fragrances
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
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Shiseido White Lucent Illuminating Micro-Spot Serum 53 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
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Shiseido White Lucent Illuminating Micro-Spot Serum 53 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Isohexadecane
EmollientIsononyl Isononanoate
EmollientDiisopropyl Sebacate
Emollient2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin Conditioning4-T-Butylcyclohexanol
Masking
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Skin Conditioning
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Ceramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningOctyldodecanol
EmollientPentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Retinol
Skin Conditioning
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dicaprylyl Ether
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Cetearyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydroxyethylcellulose
Emulsion StabilisingLecithin
Emollient
Phenethyl Alcohol
MaskingPoloxamer 188
EmulsifyingPolycaprolactone
StabilisingSorbitan Laurate
Emulsifying
Steareth-100
Gel FormingCI 40800
Cosmetic ColorantChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
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
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Glycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
MaskingPotassium Methoxysalicylate
BleachingDimethicone
Emollient
Behenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Triethylhexanoin
MaskingDiphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Talc
Abrasive
Batyl Alcohol
EmollientDiisostearyl Malate
EmollientPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
PEG-6
HumectantPEG-32
HumectantBehenic Acid
Cleansing
PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate
PEG-10 Dimethicone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metaphosphate
BufferingDisodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningPhytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate
Skin ConditioningSilica
Abrasive
Sodium Citrate
BufferingAlumina
Abrasive
Potassium Hydroxide
BufferingSuccinoglycan
Skin ConditioningPEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantAlcohol
Antimicrobial
Parfum
Masking
Caffeine
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Metabisulfite
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Linalool
Perfuming
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract
Skin ConditioningCrataegus Monogyna Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningLimonene
Perfuming
Cellulose
AbsorbentPancratium Maritimum Extract
BleachingRehmannia Chinensis Root Extract
Skin ConditioningArtemisia Princeps Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningPrunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningZiziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningPyrola Incarnata Extract
Skin ConditioningPotentilla Erecta Root Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Potassium Methoxysalicylate, Dimethicone, Behenyl Alcohol, Triethylhexanoin, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Talc, Batyl Alcohol, Diisostearyl Malate, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-6, PEG-32, Behenic Acid, PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Sodium Metaphosphate, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG/PPG-17/4 Dimethyl Ether, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Silica, Sodium Citrate, Alumina, Potassium Hydroxide, Succinoglycan, PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Xanthan Gum, CI 77891, Alcohol, Parfum, Caffeine, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid, Linalool, Tocopherol, Citronellol, Geraniol, Angelica Keiskei Leaf/Stem Extract, Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract, Limonene, Cellulose, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Rehmannia Chinensis Root Extract, Artemisia Princeps Leaf Extract, Prunus Yedoensis Leaf Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Pyrola Incarnata Extract, Potentilla Erecta Root Extract
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin 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 GlycerinButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Though this ingredient works well with most skin types, some people with sensitive skin may experience a reaction such as allergic rashes, closed comedones, or itchiness.
Learn more about Butylene GlycolTocopherol (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 TocopherolBehenyl Alcohol is a type of fatty alcohol (these are different from the drying, solvent alcohols).
Fatty Alcohols have hydrating properties and are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product. They are usually derived from natural fats and oils; behenyl alcohol is derived from the fats of vegetable oils.
Emollients help keep your skin soft and hydrated by creating a film that traps moisture in.
In 2000, Behenyl Alcohol was approved by the US as medicine to reduce the duration of cold sores.
Learn more about Behenyl AlcoholPhenoxyethanol 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.
Ingredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide 43 ingredients
Shiseido White Lucent Illuminating Micro-Spot Serum 53 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 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 Show more
This is my first Retinol ever and I’m happy that it works and it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin. I noticed fine lines on my forehead are reduced. And I wake up with less redness and little to no breakouts.
