Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum versus Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate .
Published on July 19, 2021
Overview
What they are
These products are both serums. They have a total of 18 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, scar healing, dark spots and better texture
Free From
They both do not contain any 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 need an update? Let us know.
Price
Ingredient Info
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum 32 ingredients
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate 46 ingredients
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free of parabens 🎉
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
EU Allergen Free
This product is free of EU allergens 🎉
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
Contains Alcohol
Ingredients in this product that are types of alcohol:
Contains Silicon
Ingredients in this product that are types of silicon:
Contains Fragrance
Ingredients in this product that are forms of fragrance:
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:
Contains Oils
Ingredients in this product that are types of oil:
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
Non Vegan
This product is not vegan 😥
Not Cruelty Free
This product is not cruelty-free 😥
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum 32 ingredients
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate 46 ingredients
Notable Ingredients
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Benefits
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Concerns
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Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Benefits
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
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Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
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Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum 32 ingredients
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate 46 ingredients
Water • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Dimethicone • Niacinamide • C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate • Alcohol Denat. • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Peg-100 Stearate • Stearic Acid • Potassium Hydroxide • Glyceryl Stearate • Triethanolamine • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Palmitic Acid • Adenosine • Disodium EDTA • Laureth-7 • Xanthan Gum • Oxothiazolidinecarboxylic Acid • Castanea Sativa Bud Extract • Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate • Polyacrylamide • Cetyl Alcohol • Tocopheryl Acetate • Phenoxyethanol • CI 77163 • Limonene • Parfum
Water • Cyclohexasiloxane • Alcohol Denat. • Glycerin • Butylene Glycol • Dimethicone • Zea Mays Oil • Panthenol • Triethanolamine • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Glyceryl Linoleate • Phenoxyethanol • Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether • Polyacrylamide • Dimethiconol • Glyceryl Oleate • Carbomer • Cetyl Alcohol • C13-14 Isoparaffin • Parfum • Acrylates Copolymer • Methylparaben • Glycine Soja Oil • Caffeine • Tocopherol • Hydrogenated Lecithin • Castanea Sativa Bud Extract • Benzophenone-4 • Menthol • Limonene • Peg-100 Stearate • Glyceryl Stearate • Laureth-7 • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein • Potassium Cetyl Phosphate • Butylparaben • Disodium EDTA • Ethylparaben • Glyceryl Linolenate • Propylparaben • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice • Citrus Limon Juice • Linalool • Citral • CI 42090 • CI 14700
Ingredients Side-by-side
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are
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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 1.
Glycerin 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 GlycerinL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 4.
Butylene 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.
Overall, Butylene Glycol is a safe and well-rounded ingredient. It is unlikely to irritate skin, and works well with pretty much all other ingredients.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 5.
Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.
Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 4.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 6.
Alcohol Denat. is an alcohol with a denaturant property. It is created by mixing ethanol and other additives. It has a low molecular weight and will evaporate quickly. This helps other ingredients become better absorbed and dry once applied.
Alcohol Denat. is volatile and may cause irritation. It helps draw out natural oils in skin and dry out your skin.
One study from 2005 found adding emollients to propanol-based sanitizer decreased irritation.
Alcohol is antibacterial by nature. This can help preserve products and increase their shelf life.
Other types of astringent alcohols include:
Learn more about Alcohol Denat.L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 3.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is a stable form of Vitamin C. It is created by combining glucose from starch.
When applied to skin, Ascorbyl Glucoside turns into Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may damage skin cells.
It can help to reduce redness, improve skin texture, reduce the effects of aging, reduce the visibility of dark spots, and brighten skin.
Read more about other types of Vitamin C:
Learn more about Ascorbyl GlucosideL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 10.
C13-14 Isoparaffin is created from petroleum-based mineral oils. It is an emollient and helps thicken a product.
As an emollient, it helps keep the skin soft and smooth by creating a barrier on top. This barrier traps moisture in, keeping the skin hydrated.
C13-14 Isoparaffin may not be fungal-acne safe.
Learn more about C13-14 IsoparaffinL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 19.
Peg-100 Stearate is an emollient and emulsifier. PEGS are a hydrophilic polyether compound . There are 100 ethylene oxide monomers in Peg-100 Stearate. Peg-100 Stearate is polyethylene glycol ester of stearic acid.
Peg-100 Stearate helps keep skin soft by trapping moisture in. It helps prevent oil and water from separating in a product. By binding oil and water, it helps remove dirt and oil to be rinsed away.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 11.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 31.
Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.
Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.
As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.
In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.
Learn more about Glyceryl StearateL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 32.
Triethanolamine is an emulsifier and pH adjuster. It is created using ethylene oxide and ammonia. This gives Triethanolamine a nitrogen core and a similar scent to ammonia.
As an emulsifier, it prevents ingredients from separating and enhances texture by adding volume to a product.
PH adjusters are common in cosmetic products. The pH of a product can affect the effectiveness of other ingredients. A product with a high pH may also irritate the skin.
Learn more about TriethanolamineL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 9.
Disodium 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 EDTAL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 37.
Laureth-7 is created by the ethoxylation of lauryl alcohol using ethylene oxide. Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol with hydrating properties.
Laureth-7 is an emulsifier and cleansing ingredient. As an emulsifier, it is used to prevent ingredients from separating. It also helps cleanse the skin by gathering dirt, oil, and pollutants to be rinsed away.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 21.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 33.
We don't have a description for Castanea Sativa Bud Extract.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 24.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 27.
Polyacrylamide is a synthetic polymer. It is used to stabilize products and bind ingredients. When hydrated, Polyacrylamide forms a soft gel.
Polyacrylamide is low-toxicity. If source properly, it is deemed safe to use in cosmetics.
It should be noted the precursor to Polyacrylamide is acrylamide. Acrylamide is a carcinogen. Most reputable sources of Polyacrylamide will screen for residual acrylamide to make sure the count is in a safe range. Acrylamide is not able to be absorbed through the skin.
We recommend speaking with a professional if you have concerns.
Learn more about PolyacrylamideL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 14.
Cetyl Alcohol is a fatty alcohol. Fatty Alcohols are most often used as an emollient or to thicken a product.
Cetyl Alcohol is not related to SD alcohol, denatured alcohol, or ethyl alcohol. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.
Its main roles are:
Learn more about Cetyl AlcoholL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 27.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 18.
Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and 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.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 12.
Limonene 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 LimoneneL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 30.
Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.
In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. 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. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.
Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.
Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.
The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.
Learn more about ParfumL'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum contains this as ingredient number 32.
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate contains this as ingredient number 20.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum 32 ingredients
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate 46 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
L'Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot Corrector Serum 32 ingredients
Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate 46 ingredients
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