BIOTHERM Aquasource Gel Versus Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 8 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
BIOTHERM Aquasource Gel 40 ingredients
Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream 37 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
BIOTHERM Aquasource Gel 40 ingredients
Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream 37 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Dimethicone
Emollient
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
BufferingPrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil
Masking
Hydroxyethyl Urea
HumectantButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Nasturtium Officinale Extract
Perfuming
C12-13 Pareth-23
CleansingC12-13 Pareth-3
EmulsifyingCeramide NP
Skin Conditioning
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingZinc Gluconate
Skin Conditioning
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Sodium Chloride
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingDivinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer
2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol
Skin ConditioningCholesterol
Emollient
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingDisodium EDTA
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Vitreoscilla Ferment
Skin ConditioningCitric Acid
Buffering
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingMenthoxypropanediol
Masking
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
CI 19140
Cosmetic ColorantCI 42090
Cosmetic ColorantLinalool
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Parfum
Masking
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Ceramide NP, Carbomer, Zinc Gluconate, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Cholesterol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Menthoxypropanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, BHT, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, CI 19140, CI 42090, Linalool, Limonene, Citral, Parfum
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
SolventDicaprylyl Ether
EmollientGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningButyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Undecane
EmollientCetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Arginine
Masking
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingTridecane
Perfuming
Mel Extract
MoisturisingMica
Cosmetic Colorant
Panax Ginseng Root Extract
Emollient
Cera Alba
Emollient
Capryloyl Glycine
CleansingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Sclerotium Gum
Emulsion StabilisingXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingSalicylic Acid
Masking
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil
Masking
Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Antimicrobial
Glycine Soja Oil
Emollient
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Caramel
Cosmetic ColorantCananga Odorata Flower Oil
Masking
Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningBulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil
Masking
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Masking
Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Benzyl Benzoate
Antimicrobial
Farnesol
Perfuming
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauroyl Lysine, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Undecane, Cetearyl Alcohol, Arginine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Tridecane, Mel Extract, Mica, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Cera Alba, Capryloyl Glycine, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Salicylic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Cedrus Atlantica Bark Oil, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Glycine Soja Oil, Adenosine, Caramel, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Wood Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Limonene, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterGlycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.
A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.
As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.
Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.
Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.
In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.
This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinButyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.
Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.
Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.
While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.
Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii ButterGlycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.
Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.
As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.
Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.
Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.
This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.
Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.
Learn more about Glycine Soja OilCitric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).
As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.
If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.
Read more about some other popular AHA's here:
Learn more about Citric AcidXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumTocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.
Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.
Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.
You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.
There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.
Learn more about TocopherolLimonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.
It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".
Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.
When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
Learn more about LimoneneIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
BIOTHERM Aquasource Gel 40 ingredients
Kiehl's Pure Vitality Skin Renewing Cream 37 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
BIOTHERM Aquasource Gel 40 ingredients
Doesnt do much. Not very moisturizing, gel like and just meh
I think it's a very confusing product: You will asume that's safe for acne because it's a very lightweight gel formula, smells super fresh and has Salicylic Acid, but the truth is it has several oils and Shea Butter on it, which in my case totally broke me out. Plus, it also has a lot of fragrance, so it's not so great for sensitive skin. I guess it might be good for those more into the dry/normal Show more
