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Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

Evidence-led ingredient analysis, a transparent clean score out of 100 and cleaner, effective alternatives at three price levels.

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Kiehl's

Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum

Facial Serum · Budget: £62.00

4.6 (2,450 reviews)· across Boots, LookFantastic, Cult Beauty, Kiehl's UK

Pending verification

Ingredients: AI-inferred — not yet verified

Formulated with pure retinol, niacinamide, and ceramides; list inferred from standard manufacturer disclosures.

Hazard categories

88Est.
Pending verification~88 · Safe / Clean (estimated)

Estimated score out of 100

Formulation score is fixed across Selenssa · Community effectiveness awaiting more reports

Based on publicly available ingredients, following our methodology. Not medical advice — always check the physical label, especially for allergies. How we score →

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A well-formulated, gentle retinol serum suitable for beginner retinoid users seeking smoother skin texture.

Be cautious if

Avoid during pregnancy or if suffering from active severe eczema or broken skin.

Against your clean standard

Yes, meets standard clean beauty criteria with safe preservatives and no fragrance.

Find cleaner alternatives

Where this score comes from

Source
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Score history

No score changes have been recorded for this product yet.

Think something here is wrong? Report a correction · How we score

Does Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum contain parabens, sulfates or fragrance?

A straight yes or no for the ingredient groups people most often want to avoid, checked against this product's published formulation.

  • Free from parabens

    Preservatives; the longer-chain ones (propyl, butyl) carry the endocrine questions.

  • Free from sulfates (sls / sles)

    Strong cleansing agents that can strip a compromised barrier.

  • Contains silicones

    Found: dimethicone. Slip and occlusion; cyclic silicones (D4/D5/D6) are the environmentally restricted ones.

  • Free from fragrance / parfum

    Undisclosed fragrance blends are the most common trigger for sensitised skin.

  • Free from essential oils

    Naturally derived, but among the most frequently reported contact allergens.

  • Contains drying alcohol

    Found: phenoxyethanol. Fine in small amounts for texture; high up the list it can dehydrate.

  • Free from formaldehyde releasers

    Preservatives that slowly release formaldehyde.

  • Free from chemical uv filters of concern

    Restricted or debated filters with endocrine or reef-persistence questions.

Is Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum non-comedogenic?

No ingredients in this formulation appear on Selenssa's common pore-clogger list, so it is unlikely to be the cause of congestion for most people. Comedogenicity is still individual — texture, occlusion and how much you use all play a part.

Is Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum safe for sensitive skin?

Generally a reasonable choice for sensitive skin.

  • No fragrance or parfum in the list
  • Contains a drying alcohol
  • No ingredients flagged for irritation risk

Can you use Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum while pregnant?

This product contains retinol, which is usually on the list of ingredients people are advised to pause during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Selenssa is not medical advice — check with your midwife, GP or dermatologist before using it.

Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum full ingredients list

13 ingredients analysed, in the order Selenssa assessed them. Concentration generally falls as you move down the list.

Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Retinol, Ceramide NP, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium EDTA.

The actives doing the work: Retinol (Promotes cellular renewal and smooths fine surface lines.); Niacinamide (Calms redness and maintains structural barrier strength.); Ceramide NP (Restores protective lipids to prevent retinoid drying.).

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