Kiehl's Precision Lifting & Pore-Tightening Concentrate Versus Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Serum 10
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe serums. They have a total of 12 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin, reducing pores and scar healing
Free From
They both do not contain any parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain harsh alcohols, fragrances and silicones
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
Kiehl's Precision Lifting & Pore-Tightening Concentrate 34 ingredients
Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Serum 10 29 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Precision Lifting & Pore-Tightening Concentrate 34 ingredients
Vichy Liftactiv Supreme Serum 10 29 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningButylene Glycol
Humectant
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
EmollientMethyl Gluceth-20
HumectantPEG-20
HumectantSqualane
Emollient
Dimethicone
Emollient
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Octyldodecanol
EmollientCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Lauroyl Lysine
Skin ConditioningCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
EmulsifyingPentylene Glycol
Skin ConditioningCaprylyl Glycol
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Yeast Extract
Skin Conditioning
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingPvp
Emulsion StabilisingPelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil
Masking
Adenosine
Skin Conditioning
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Disodium EDTA
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSerum Protein
HumectantCitronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Pelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Citral
Perfuming
Limonene
Perfuming
Water, Butylene Glycol, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Methyl Gluceth-20, PEG-20, Squalane, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat., Octyldodecanol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Lauroyl Lysine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysilicone-11, Yeast Extract, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pvp, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Serum Protein, Citronellol, Geraniol, Pelargonium Roseum Leaf Oil, Linalool, Citral, Limonene
Water
Skin ConditioningRhamnose
HumectantCyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Glycerin
Humectant
Alcohol Denat.
Antimicrobial
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Polymethylsilsesquioxane
Octyldodecanol
EmollientPolysilicone-11
Dimethicone
Emollient
Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate
EmollientBHT
Antioxidant
PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate
Emulsifying
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Emollient
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Poloxamer 338
EmulsifyingDisodium EDTA
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
Emulsion StabilisingTocopherol
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Caprylyl Glycol
EmollientHydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Humectant
Laureth-7
EmulsifyingT-Butyl Alcohol
Perfuming
Polyacrylamide
Parfum
Masking
Ceramide AP
Skin Conditioning
Water, Rhamnose, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat., Butylene Glycol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Octyldodecanol, Polysilicone-11, Dimethicone, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, BHT, PEG-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Poloxamer 338, Disodium EDTA, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Laureth-7, T-Butyl Alcohol, Polyacrylamide, Parfum, Ceramide AP
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 WaterButylene Glycol (or BG) is used within cosmetic products for a few different reasons:
- It is a solvent, meaning that it helps to dissolve other ingredients. This also enhances the absorption of the product into one's skin.
- It is a humectant, which means that it helps attract moisture into the skin.
- It helps improve product application.
- It has mild preservative properties.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient that works well with other ingredients.
Dimethicone is a type of synthetic silicone created from natural materials such as quartz.
What it does:
Dimethicone comes in different viscosities:
Depending on the viscosity, dimethicone has different properties.
Ingredients lists don't always show which type is used, so we recommend reaching out to the brand if you have questions about the viscosity.
This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation because it does not get absorbed into skin. However, people with silicone allergies should be careful about using this ingredient.
Note: Dimethicone may contribute to pilling. This is because it is not oil or water soluble, so pilling may occur when layered with products. When mixed with heavy oils in a formula, the outcome is also quite greasy.
Learn more about DimethiconeAlcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol with other additives.
This ingredient gets a bad rep because it is irritating and drying - mostly due to its astringent property. Astringents draw out natural oils in tissue, constricting pores and leaving your skin dried out.
However, alcohol denat. is not all that bad.
Due to its low molecular weight, alcohol denat. tends to evaporate quickly. One study on pig skin found half of applied alcohol evaporated in 10 seconds and less than 3% stayed on skin.
This also helps other ingredients become better absorbed upon application.
Studies are conflicted about whether this ingredient causes skin dehydration. One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased skin dryness and irritation. Another study found irritation only occurs if your skin is already damaged.
Small amounts of alcohol are generally tolerated by oily skin or people who live in humid environments.
The rule of thumb is if this alcohol is near the end of an ingredients list, it will probably not affect your skin much.
Also...
This ingredient has antimicrobial and solvent properties.
The antimicrobial property helps preserve products and increase their shelf life. As a solvent, it helps dissolve other ingredients.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.Octyldodecanol is a fatty alcohol. It is primarily used to enhance the texture of products.
As an emulsifier, Octyldodecanol helps prevent the oils and waters from separating. It also prevents ingredients from creating foam when shaken.
Octyldodecanol is created by reducing fatty acid to an alcohol.
Due to its high molecular weight, it does not get absorbed into the skin.
Learn more about OctyldodecanolCyclohexasiloxane is a type of silicone more commonly known as D6. It is an emollient and solvent.
Cyclohexasiloxane is used to evenly distribute ingredients throughout the product. When applied to the skin, Cyclohexasiloxane evaporates and leaves behind a silky feel.
As an emollient, it can help the skin feel soft and hydrated. It is also used to reduce frizz in hair products.
Learn more about CyclohexasiloxaneCaprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.
It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.
Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.
This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.
Learn more about Caprylyl GlycolWe don't have a description for Polysilicone-11 yet.
Adenosine is in every living organism. It is one of four components in nucleic acids that helps store our DNA.
Adenosine has many benefits when used. These benefits include hydrating the skin, smoothing skin, and reducing wrinkles. Once applied, adenosine increases collagen production. It also helps with improving firmness and tissue repair.
Studies have found adenosine may also help with wound healing.
In skincare products, Adenosine is usually derived from yeast.
Learn more about AdenosineCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidDisodium EDTA plays a role in making products more stable by aiding other preservatives.
It is a chelating agent, meaning it neutralizes metal ions that may be found in a product.
Disodium EDTA is a salt of edetic acid and is found to be safe in cosmetic ingredients.
Learn more about Disodium EDTASodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideIngredient Ratings
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