Works for
2 of 2 advertised claims delivered
Anti-agingAdenosine, Arginine pca + 1 moreStrong evidence
“Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream is a skin-fortifying moisturizer that helps visibly reduce wrinkles and refine texture.”
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains adenosine.
Keep in mind that it typically takes at least 6 weeks to notice any results because the changes that are needed to improve fine lines and elasticity happen in the deeper layers of the skin. No topical anti-aging product can “erase” wrinkles or fully reverse signs of aging.
MoisturizingArginine pca, Alteromonas ferment extract + 18 moreGood evidence
“Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream is a skin-fortifying moisturizer that helps visibly reduce wrinkles and refine texture.”
This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.
The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water.
When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from
within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job:
arginine pca, calcium pca.
This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: cera alba, dimethicone.
Anti-oxidationNot advertised by the brand · Arginine pca, Ginkgo biloba leaf extract + 5 moreStrong evidence
This product contains antioxidants (arginine pca) that can help neutralize free radicals in skin. By doing so, they can lessen the damage the skin gets from the UV light (sun).
The following ingredients - ginkgo biloba leaf extract also can have an antioxidant effect, but there is less evidence to confirm their effectiveness in skin.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy8 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale2 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Cyclohexasiloxane~7.1–8.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that serves as an emollient. Helps create a nice non-greasy feels
More about CyclohexasiloxaneGlycerin~4–4.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
More about GlycerinPrunus armeniaca kernel oil~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Prunus armeniaca kernel oilCetyl alcohol~2.4–2.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A non-drying alcohol that works to soften the skin and stabilize product formulations helping oil and water mix together
More about Cetyl alcoholDimethicone~2.1–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that helps to reduce water loss from the surface of the skin. Can temporarily "fill in" lines and wrinkles, absorb oil, and create a nice product finish
More about DimethiconeZea mays starch~1.7–2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Used to thicken the product's consistency
More about Zea mays starchPetrolatum~1.5–1.9%
- Irritation risk
- Low
One of the most effective and the most studied occlusive ingredients that creates a protective layer on top of the skin preventing moisture loss
More about PetrolatumGlyceryl stearate~1.2–1.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearatePotassium cetyl phosphate~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Potassium cetyl phosphatePeg-40 stearate~0.7–1.05%
Sorbitan tristearate~0.6–0.85%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sorbitan tristearateCera alba~0.65–0.95%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen
More about Cera albaButylene glycol~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Butylene glycolPhenoxyethanol~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolDimethiconol~0.5–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A silicone that makes products more spreadable and keeps skin smooth. Helps to add gloss to skin and may visually fill in fine lines/wrinkles for short time
More about DimethiconolCaprylyl glycol~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolPalmitoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein~0.45–0.7%
Stearyl alcohol~0.35–0.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin
More about Stearyl alcoholMyristyl alcohol~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating
More about Myristyl alcoholArginine pca~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An amino-acid. Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and can help neutralize free radicals in skin
More about Arginine pcaTocopherol~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolCalcium pca~0.2–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Calcium pcaGinkgo biloba leaf extract~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might help neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation in skin. It can be irritating
More about Ginkgo biloba leaf extractAdenosine~0.15–0.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Might help improve cell turnover and reduce inflammation in skin. One study shows that the ingredients might be able to help reduce dynamic wrinkles (for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead)
More about AdenosineHydrolyzed soy protein~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. Might have some anti-aging, anti-oxidant, and skin lightening properties, but solid evidence is missing
More about Hydrolyzed soy proteinCopper pca~0.1–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin
More about Copper pcaAlteromonas ferment extract~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A marine extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin. It is claimed to have anti-inflammatory properties but research is lacking
More about Alteromonas ferment extractCorallina officinalis extract~0.05–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
Red algae extract that helps attract water to the upper layer of the skin and might contain antioxidants
More about Corallina officinalis extractIngredient list view
Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Prunus armeniaca kernel oil, Cetyl alcohol, Dimethicone, Zea mays starch, Petrolatum, Glyceryl stearate, Potassium cetyl phosphate, Peg-40 stearate, Sorbitan tristearate, Cera alba, Butylene glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl glycol, Palmitoyl hydrolyzed wheat protein, Stearyl alcohol, Myristyl alcohol, Arginine pca, Tocopherol, Calcium pca, Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed soy protein, Copper pca, Alteromonas ferment extract, Corallina officinalis extract
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Product summary
"Kiehl's - Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. This moisturizer uses a good combo of humectants and emollients. These both types of ingredients are essentials for improving the skin hydration and keeping the skin barrier healthy. Calcium pca, copper pca, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate and butylene glycol in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Beeswax, cera alba, squalane, cetyl alcohol and caprylyl glycol in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
Ingredient callouts
- Adenosine 0.10% - 0.40% in this product adds an anti-aging property to it. Adenosine is a chemical present inside our skin cells. A clinical trial confirmed that topical application of adenosine in a low concentration reduce dynamic wrinkles (these are the wrinkles that appear with age in a places where we our mimic is the most active, for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead).
Irritation risk
There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 35.90$ up to 62.00$ in the United States, for 63.00CA$ in Canada and from 30.40£ up to 42.50£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 16 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 4
- 5
- 6Cosmetic allergy from myristyl alcoholncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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