Kiehl's s Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum
Works for
Anti-agingAdenosine, TocopherolWorks well
“Strengthen skin from within with Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum, a radiance-boosting skincare treatment that helps to minimise the signs of ageing.Enriched with hyaluronic acid, glycerine and an adaptogenic herbal complex, the serum works to smooth the appearance of fines lines and neutralise the effects of stressors upon the skin.”
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.
MoisturizingDimethicone, Glycerin + 4 moreWorks
“It penetrates up to eight surface layers deep, contributing towards a smoother, stronger, firmer and visibly brighter complexion.Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum helps to strengthen the skin's natural barrier, protecting it against daily stressors and maintaining moisture.”
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:
glycerin, sodium acetylated hyaluronate.
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: dimethicone, caprylyl glycol.
ExfoliationSide benefit · Capryloyl salicylic acidWorks well
This product can help exfoliate the skin. In other words, it helps break down the bonds between dead cells on the surface of the skin and speed up the skin turnover. Skin often appears softer and brighter after exfoliation, but overdoing it can result in disrupted skin barrier. The following ingredient is doing the exfoliating job in this product: capryloyl salicylic acid.
Evens skin toneSide benefit · Capryloyl salicylic acidMay help
The following ingredient (ingredients) in this product might be helpful, but there is no evidence to confirm that it actually works: capryloyl salicylic acid.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy14 strong irritants: Alcohol denat., Hamamelis virginiana water + 12 more — patch-test recommendedHigh risk
ComedogenicClean of flagged comedogenic ingredientsNone flagged
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~45–55%
Dimethicone~6.6–8.1%
- 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 DimethiconeGlycerin~4.1–5.1%
- 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 GlycerinAlcohol denat.~3.2–3.9%
- Irritation risk
- High
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
More about Alcohol denat.Hamamelis virginiana water~2.2–2.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that can help calm down inflammation in skin. Can, however, itself be irritating
More about Hamamelis virginiana waterPropanediol~2–2.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin
More about PropanediolPhenoxyethanol~0.5–1%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products
More about PhenoxyethanolTocopherol~1.4–1.7%
- 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 TocopherolAmmonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate~1.2–1.4%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurateSchisandra chinensis fruit extract~0.95–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
A berry extract that might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skin
More about Schisandra chinensis fruit extractCapryloyl salicylic acid~0.65–1%
- Irritation risk
- High
Caprylyl glycol~0.6–0.9%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture
More about Caprylyl glycolXanthan gum~0.5–0.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumPeg-60 hydrogenated castor oil~0.5–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oilPanax ginseng root extract~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that might have some anti-inflammatory properties, but solid evidence is lacking. It can be irritating
More about Panax ginseng root extractSodium acetylated hyaluronate~0.45–0.65%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A type of hyaluronic acid that works as an excellent moisturizer by attracting water into the upper layer of the skin. Is typically feels less sticky on the skin compared to the usual hyaluronic acid
More about Sodium acetylated hyaluronatePeg-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate~0.45–0.7%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Peg-20 methyl glucose sesquistearateDisodium edta~0.35–0.6%
Ocimum sanctum leaf extract~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant extract that is rich in a fragrance compound eugenol that is a frequent allergen and can be irritating. It might also contain anti-oxidants to help neutralize free radicals
More about Ocimum sanctum leaf extractCitrus aurantium dulcis peel oil~0.3–0.55%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essentil oil from orange peel. Potential allergen and can be irritating
More about Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oilLimonene~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- High
A common frangrance that can easily irritate skin, especially if exposed to air, light or heat
More about LimoneneAdenosine~0.25–0.5%
- 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 AdenosineSodium hydroxide~0.25–0.45%
Methyldihydrojasmonate~0.25–0.45%
Citric acid~0.25–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidEugenol~0.2–0.35%
Sodium benzoate~0.25–0.4%
Pelargonium graveolens flower oil~0.25–0.4%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil. Can be irritating. Can become an allergen with oxidation
More about Pelargonium graveolens flower oilCitral~0.2–0.35%
Potassium sorbate~0.2–0.35%
Lavandula angustifolia oil~0.2–0.35%
- Irritation risk
- High
An essential oil. Potential allergen and can be irritating. It has some anti-bacterial properties
More about Lavandula angustifolia oilCymbopogon schoenanthus oil~0.15–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- High
Citronellol~0.1–0.2%
Linalool~0.1–0.2%
Geraniol~0.1–0.15%
Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil~0.1–0.15%
- Irritation risk
- High
A plant oil with high content of volatile compounds that can irritate the skin. Can be used as a fragrance. Has anti-bacterial properties and might help neutralize free radicals on the surface of the skin
More about Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oilIngredient list view
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol denat., Hamamelis virginiana water, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Ammonium polyacryloyldimethyl taurate, Schisandra chinensis fruit extract, Capryloyl salicylic acid, Caprylyl glycol, Xanthan gum, Peg-60 hydrogenated castor oil, Panax ginseng root extract, Sodium acetylated hyaluronate, Peg-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate, Disodium edta, Ocimum sanctum leaf extract, Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil, Limonene, Adenosine, Sodium hydroxide, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Citric acid, Eugenol, Sodium benzoate, Pelargonium graveolens flower oil, Citral, Potassium sorbate, Lavandula angustifolia oil, Cymbopogon schoenanthus oil, Citronellol, Linalool, Geraniol, Rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil, Unknown
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Worth comparing, line by line.
Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.
| Kiehl'ss Vital Skin-Strengthening Super SerumYOUR PRODUCT | SkinCeuticalsHyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan | VichyIdéalia Radiance Serum | L'Oréal ParisSerum Le Duo Dual Anti-Aging Serum for Wrinkles, Firmness & Radiance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 65% | 65% | 62% |
| Price | $65.00 | $120.00+$55.00 | $39.00−$26.00 | $36.99−$28.01 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 6 of 6 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate | Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate | Niacinamide |
| Irritancy | High | High | Medium | High |
| Drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol | Contains drying alcohol |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: BIOTHERM Blue Therapy Accelerated SerumSKIN H.A. Intensifier Serum
Product summary
"Kiehl's - s Vital Skin-Strengthening Super Serum" is effective for: Exfoliation and Anti-aging
This product could be helpful for: Evens skin tone and Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Adenosine 0.25% - 0.50%. It is a chemical present inside our skin cells. A clinical trial confirmed that topical application of Adenosine in a low concentration can reduce dynamic wrinkles (these are the wrinkles that appear with age in a places where our mimic is the most active, for example, in the corners of the eyes or on the forehead).
- Humectants (sodium acetylated hyaluronate 0.45% - 0.65% and glycerin 4.10% - 5.10%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails from 31.50£ up to 105.00£ in the United Kingdom and for 65.00$ in the United States.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 18 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Dimethicone Copolyoljournals.sagepub.com
- 3
- 4Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 5Vitamin E and Skin Healthlpi.oregonstate.edu
- 6
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