Works for:
based on ingredients and %- Exfoliation
- Anti-aging
- Evens skin tone
- Moisturizing
Can it cause trouble?
- Irritation risk: medium
- Comedogenic risk ingredients: 0
Key actives
Product Summary
"Kiehl's - Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum" is effective for: Exfoliation, Anti-aging and Evens skin tone
This product could be helpful for: Moisturizing, but its actives are not the most effective or are not well-studied.
Ingredient callouts
- Exfoliating acids (glycolic acid 7.30% - 10.90%). In this concentration, they will have a noticeable exfoliating effect. They can also have an anti-aging effect and stimulate collagen production in a long-run.
- Humectants (sodium hyaluronate 0.40% - 0.95% and glycerin 3.50% - 5.20%). These ingredients help attract water to the upper layer of the skin and improve the skin hydration.
Price
The product retails from 35.00$ up to 47.50$ in the United States, for 76.59A$ in Australia and from 24.65£ up to 225.00£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Works for
Anti-aging
What does the product description say?
Skin Type All Skin Types Targeting Dullness Fine Lines & Wrinkles Lack of Firmness Boost radiance with the Kiehl’s Ultra Pure High-Potency 10% Glycolic Acid Serum, an exfoliating serum mist with a simple but effective formula of just seven ingredients designed to boost the skin’s glow.Providing skincare suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, the serum is concentrated with 9.8% glycolic acid.
Source: SpaceNK US
This product can help reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin elasticity and firmness because it contains glycolic acid.
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.
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
Evens skin tone
What does the product description say?
The skin tone and texture appear more even. The skin is left glowing.
Source: Escentual
This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: glycolic acid
Keep in mind that you would need to apply any topical skincare targetted at hypigmentation consistently for a couple of months to get a result. No topical skincare product can help get rid of hyperpigmentation (including post-acne marks and age spots) instantly.
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
Exfoliation
What does the product description say?
The serum contains a high concentration of 9.8% glycolic acid, which exfoliates the skin and minimises the appearance of pores.
Source: Escentual
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: glycolic acid.
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
Moisturizing
This product contains good ingredients to attract water to the upper layer of the skin. These ingredients are called "humectants": glycerin, sodium hyaluronate.
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. If the air is dry, humectants can speed up the moisture loss from the skin. This is why it is a good idea to use another product on top of this one to help "seal in" the moisture (look for ingredients like dimethicone, squalane, oils and butters).
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
How honest is this product?
| Promise | Can it deliver? |
|---|---|
| Anti-aging | |
| Exfoliation | |
| Evens skin tone |
Total Promises Fulfilled score: 100/100.
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Potential irritants
Comedogenic ingredients
No comedogenic ingredients detected
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| Product | Similarity | Price | Irritancy |
|---|---|---|---|
 Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency 9.8% Glycolic Acid Serum | Current | ≈ $32.20 | |
 It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Concentrated Derma Serum | 75% | ≈ $33.55 | |
 L'Oréal Paris 10% Pure Glycolic Acid Serum for Dark Spots and Even Skin Tone | 75% | $32.99 | |
Be Minimalist Salicylic Acid 02% Face Serum | 73% | $10.99 | |
Tula Secret Solutions Pro-Glycolic 10% Resurfacing Treatment Toner | 73% | $14.00 | |
 Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler + Effect Night Peel & Serum | 72% | ≈ $46.02 |
Key Actives
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Potential irritants
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
Comedogenic ingredients
We couldn't find any comedogenic ingredients in this product
All ingredients
An alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to remove the dead skin cells on the surface of the skin reveling a more even, smoother complexation. It is also able to stimulate collagen production with long-term use. Could help to reduce pore congestion. It can be irritating to the skin. Apply sunscreen daily if using products with glycolic acid
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant
Produces temporary toning effect. Can help dissolve other ingredients or preserve products
One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Attracts water into the upper layer of the skin
Used to thicken product formulations and create gel-like textures
Ingredient list view
Water, Glycolic acid, Glycerin, Alcohol denat., Sodium hydroxide, Sodium hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose