Peptide Skincare & BeautySkin science and ingredient guides

Ingredient or product comparison

Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum

Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. This anti-

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Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide versus CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Ceramide NP and Niacinamide to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. 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, 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 Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Potassium Cetyl Phosphate Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Polysorbate 20 PEG-40 Stearate Cyclopentasiloxane Potassium Phosphate Ceramide AP Ceramide EOP Isoceteth-10 Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer Triethanolamine Behentrimonium Methosulfate Cichorium Intybus Root Extract Silica Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate Cholesterol Alcohol Hydroxyacetophenone Citric Acid Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Xanthan Gum Phytosphingosine Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Ethylhexylglycerin Water, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Polysorbate 20, PEG-40 Stearate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Isoceteth-10, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cichorium Intybus Root Extract, Lecithin, Retinol, Silica, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Alcohol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Ethylhexylglycerin These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Carbomer is a synthetic thickening and gelling agent. It's basically the ingredient that gives a lot of serums, gels, creams, and sunscreens their smooth, non-sticky texture. Although legally permitted at very high levels, carbomers are normally used at concentrations below 1%. It also needs to be neutralized to actually thicken, and because it is a large molecule, it doesn't really penetrate the skin barrier. Allergy-wise, the risk is very low. Clinical studies show carbomers have low potential for skin irritation/sensitization even at concentrations up to 100%. A 2024 UK study patch-tested 1,302 patients and found true allergy to the parent group of carbomer to be rare with no confirmed relevant reactions. Ceramide NP (formerly known as Ceramide 3) is one of the skin's naturally occurring lipids. Since ceramides are the major lipid components of the skin, they are crucial for maintaining skin barrier and hydration. Ceramide NP most closely mirrors the dominant kind in human skin amongst ceramide subtypes. This ceramide works by slotting into gaps within the stratum corneum's lipid matrix to limit trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and shield the skin against external irritants. A study with 312 patients found that using a ceramide-containing routine for 4 weeks reduced the severity of atopic dermatitis by over 61%. Another clinical study in subjects aged 60 and older found that a ceramide body wash and moisturizer improved skin dryness and itchy skin in 15 days. Overall, ceramides are considered non-irritating and safety tests have found little to no observable adverse effects from using this ingredient. Ceramide NP is usually sourced from plants (like soybean or rice bran), or produced synthetically. Cetearyl alcohol is a waxy mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is an emollient and emulsifier. Despite having "alcohol" in its name, it has nothing to do with drying solvent alcohols; the FDA also allows "alcohol-free" products to contain fatty alcohols like this ingredient. It plays several roles in a formula: Typical use levels for this ingredient sit around 1-10% and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has affirmed safety at concentrations up to 25% in leave-on products. Multiple assessments have found it to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing to most people. However, there have been some cases of allergic contact dermatitis in patients with chronically compromised skin barriers. Cetearyl alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2 and irritancy rating of 1. Both of these numbers come from the 1989 study that used rabbit ears; a "2" means mildly comedogenic and a "1" means low irritancy. Here's the catch: rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin and throws a lot of false positives. A 1996 reappraisal found that ingredients rated 1-2 in the rabbit ear tests are generally safe