Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum

Kiehl's

Where to buy Possibly in stock

About this product

The Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum is a serums, essence, ampoule. Our analysis of its 21 ingredients (14 low-risk) rates it Excellent (88/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to dry skin.

Vegan-friendly Reef-safe

Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.

At a glance

Type
Serums, Essence, Ampoules
Ingredients
21
Low-risk
14
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Origin
United States

The evidence

Quick Product Notes

Paraben-Free Sulfate-Free Alcohol-Free Silicone-Free EU Allergen-Free Fungal Acne (Malassezia) Safe

Notable Effects & Ingredients

No Notable Effects & Ingredients

Ingredients Related to Skin Types

Good   Bad — tap a skin type to see which ingredients · estimated from ingredient functions
Dry Skin 6/3
Good for dry skin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate Glycerin Propylene Glycol Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid Cyclohexasiloxane Dimethicone
Caution for dry skin
Dimethicone Crosspolymer Glycerin Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Oily/Acne-Prone Skin No data
Sensitive Skin 4/6
Good for sensitive skin
Ascorbyl Glucoside Glycerin Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate Dimethicone
Caution for sensitive skin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate Glycerin Propylene Glycol Limonene Citral Isobutane

Ingredients list

21 total
Lower hazard (1) Higher hazard (7)
All21 Skin Conditioning14 Fragrance7 Humectant5 Solvent4 Perfuming4 Hair Conditioning4 Antioxidant3 Emollient3
EWG CIR Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions Notes
3
B
Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
3
A
Dimethicone
(Antifoaming Agent, Skin Protecting, Emollient, Skin Conditioning)
Silicone
Silicone
2
A
Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent)
Good for Dry Skin
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
ASCORBIC ACID
(Antioxidant, Buffering, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
1
B
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Perfuming)
Fungal Acne
Fungal Acne Trigger
3
A
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
(Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant)
1
A
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Hair Fixing, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant, Viscosity Increasingagent Nonaqueous, Viscosity Controlling)
1
Ascorbyl Glucoside
(Antioxidant)
2
A
Cyclohexasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent)
1
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
(Buffering Agent)
1
B
Lauroyl Lysine
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling)
Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
(Not Reported)
1
Polysilicone-11
(Film Forming)
1
Adenosine
(Skin Conditioning)
1
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
(Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Skin Conditioning)
6
Limonene
(Deodorant, Perfuming, Solvent)
Allergens
Allergens
7
A
Isobutane
(Propellant)
citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil
(Fragrance, Skin Conditioning)
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning)
7
Citral
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking)
Allergens
Allergens
1
A
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
(Antioxidant)

My Ingredient Notes

No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.

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Key ingredients

Antioxidants
Shields skin from free radical damage.
Vitamin C
Brightens, evens tone, and supports collagen.
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrates by attracting and holding water.

Benefits

Scar HealingImproves the look of marks and scars.
Anti-AgingSoftens lines and helps skin look youthful.
HydratingBoosts hydration and relieves dry, tight skin.
BrighteningRestores radiance to dull, tired skin.
Good For Oily SkinBalances oil and helps reduce shine.
Reduces IrritationEases discomfort and supports skin resilience.
Dark SpotsFades dark spots for even skin tone.
Skin TextureSmooths rough patches and refines texture.

Concerns

Contains silicone
Contains eu allergen
Not fungal acne (malassezia) safe
Isobutane — higher EWG
Citral — higher EWG
May not suit sensitive skin

EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →

Ingredients explained

ASCORBIC ACID
Antioxidant, Buffering
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A AntioxidantBufferingFragranceSkin conditioning
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Emulsifying, Skin conditioning
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A EmulsifyingSkin conditioningSurfactant
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Emulsion stabilising, Hair fixing
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Emulsion stabilisingHair fixingSuspending agent - nonsurfactantViscosity increasingagent - nonaqueousViscosity controlling
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Antioxidant
Cyclohexasiloxane
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A Hair conditioningSkin conditioningEmollientSolvent
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Buffering agent
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Buffering agent
Lauroyl Lysine
Hair conditioning, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B Hair conditioningSkin conditioningViscosity controlling
Acrylonitrile/Methyl Methacrylate/Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer
Not reported
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A Not reported
Polysilicone-11
Film forming
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Film forming
Adenosine
Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Skin conditioning
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Hair conditioning, Humectant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 Hair conditioningHumectantSkin conditioning
citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragranceSkin conditioning
Citrus Limon Peel Oil
Fragrance, Perfuming
Limited public safety data.Read moreShow less
EWG N/A FragrancePerfumingSkin conditioning
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR A Antioxidant
Propylene Glycol
Fragrance, Humectant
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR B FragranceHumectantSkin-conditioningagent - miscellaneousSolventViscosity decreasing agentSkin conditioningViscosity controlling Good for Dry Skin
Dimethicone
Antifoaming agent, Skin protecting
Low-to-moderate hazard.Read moreShow less
EWG 3 CIR A Antifoaming agentSkin protectingEmollientSkin conditioning Silicone
Glycerin
Denaturant, Fragrance
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 2 CIR A DenaturantFragranceHair conditioningHumectantOral care agentOral health care drugSkin protectingViscosity decreasing agentPerfumingSolvent Good for Dry SkinFungal-acne trigger
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Fragrance, Skin conditioning
Low-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 1 CIR B FragranceSkin conditioningEmollientPerfuming Fungal-acne trigger
Limonene
Deodorant, Perfuming
Moderate-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 6 DeodorantPerfumingSolvent Allergens
Isobutane
Propellant
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 7 CIR A Propellant
Citral
Flavoring agent, Fragrance
Higher-hazard ingredient.Read moreShow less
EWG 7 Flavoring agentFragranceMasking Allergens

How to use

How to use

  • 1 Where it fits: Apply after toner and before moisturiser — thinnest to thickest.
  • 2 Morning works well: Antioxidants like vitamin C pair well with daytime use under sunscreen.

General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.

Trust & honesty

Effective levels — general guide

The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.

Vitamin C (ascorbic) 5–20%

L-ascorbic acid is usually used at 5–20% (around 10–15% is common). Above ~20% adds little and tends to irritate more; it also needs a low pH to work.

ASCORBIC ACID, Ascorbyl Glucoside

INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.

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