Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II

Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide Versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II Detailed comparison of Kiehl's Micro-Dose Anti-Aging Retinol Serum with Ceramides and Peptide versus Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II. This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Ceramide NP to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture. This barrier-repair serum is formulated around Bifida Ferment Lysate to strengthen the skin barrier. 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 Bifida Ferment Lysate Methyl Gluceth-20 PEG-75 Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane Propanediol Cola Acuminata Seed Extract Hydrolyzed Algin Pantethine Caffeine Tripeptide-32 Ethylhexylglycerin Sodium Rna Bisabolol Glycereth-26 Squalane Oleth-3 Phosphate Lactobacillus Ferment Oleth-3 Oleth-5 Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract Faex Extract Choleth-24 Hydrogenated Lecithin Ceteth-24 Tocopheryl Acetate Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate Hexylene Glycol Triethanolamine Trisodium EDTA BHT Xanthan Gum CI 14700 CI 19140 Water, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-75, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Cola Acuminata Seed Extract, Hydrolyzed Algin, Pantethine, Caffeine, Lecithin, Tripeptide-32, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Rna, Bisabolol, Glycereth-26, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Oleth-3, Oleth-5, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Faex Extract, Choleth-24, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceteth-24, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Hexylene Glycol, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Trisodium EDTA, BHT, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, CI 14700, CI 19140 These ingredients are found in both products. Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount. Butylene 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. Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant, skin conditioner, emollient, and preservative booster derived from either caprylic acid or synthetically created. Typical use levels vary from 0.3-1% as a preservative booster and go up to 2% to condition skin. Because it is not a free-fatty acid, this ingredient is fungal acne safe (there's nothing for Malassezia to feed on). 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. Lecithin is a term for a group of substances found in the cell membranes of plants, animals, and humans. They are made up of phospholipids. Thanks to its amphiphilic structure (water-loving head and oil-loving tail), it is a true multitasker: It plays well with most ingredients and is typically used at 0.1-1%. However, concentrations up to 50% have been reported in moisturizers. Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!). It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome. On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive. Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10). You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own. Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU. Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA cons