Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Clarity-Activating Soothing Emulsion Versus Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Brightening & Soothing Treatment Water
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningIsopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Dimethicone
Emollient
Propanediol
Solvent
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion Stabilising
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Methyldihydrojasmonate
MaskingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingGlyceryl Stearate
Emollient
PEG-100 Stearate
Carnosine
Skin Conditioning
Chlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTaraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract
Skin ConditioningBisabolol
Antioxidant
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Cymbopogon Martini Oil
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingLinalool
Perfuming
Water, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, C14-22 Alcohols, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Methyldihydrojasmonate, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Pentylene Glycol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Carnosine, Chlorphenesin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Taraxacum Officinale Rhizome/Root Extract, Bisabolol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Linalool
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantButylene Glycol
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Methyl Gluceth-20
Humectant
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Skin Conditioning
Phenoxyethanol
Preservative
Sodium Citrate
BufferingDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol
Skin ConditioningPropylene Glycol
Humectant
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingLavandula Angustifolia Oil
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Linalool
Perfuming
Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
CI 77891
Cosmetic ColorantCitrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract
HumectantPaeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract
Skin ProtectingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat., Methyl Gluceth-20, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PPG-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Disodium EDTA, Linalool, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, CI 77891, Citrus Aurantium Tachibana Peel Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Tocopherol
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate comes from licorice root.
Extracts of licorice have demonstrated to have antibacterial, antiāinflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant properties.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Licorice root is native to Southern Europe and Asia. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with respiratory issues.
Learn more about Dipotassium GlycyrrhizateGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinLavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. It is considered a fragrancing ingredient.
Lavender imparts a famous scent. While the smell is lovely, this ingredient and may sensitize skin in topical products. This is because about 85% of the oil is made up of linalool and linalyl acetate.
When exposed to air, these two compounds become strong allergens. This ingredient exhibits cytotoxicity at low concentrations; amounts of 0.25% have been shown to damage skin cells.
A study from Japan found this ingredient caused lavender sensitivity after widespread exposure.
Lavender essential oil has some antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the cons of this ingredient may outweight the pros.
More research is needed to confirm lavender essential oil's effects when used in aromatherapy.
Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.
Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia OilLinalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.
Like Limonene, this ingredient oxidizes when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.
This ingredient has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.
Learn more about LinaloolPhenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.
It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.
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. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan 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 Gum
