Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) Original versus Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum .
Last updated on November 20, 2023. Published on August 26, 2021
Overview
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for dry skin
Free From
They both do not contain any sulfates
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.
Essence
Essences are used to prep skin for further treatment and may provide extra skin benefits. They are usually used before serum and moisturizers. Essences are thought to have originated in either Japan or Korea and is an essential step in K-Beauty.
Serum
Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.
Price
Ingredient Info
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum 38 ingredients
Alcohol Free
This product is free of harsh alcohols 🎉
Silicon Free
This product is free of silicons 🎉
Fragrance Free
This product is free of fragrances 🎉
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Contains Parabens
Ingredients in this product that are types of parabens:
Oil Free
This product is free of oils 🎉
Not Malassezia Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not malassezia safe:
Not Reef Safe
Ingredients in this product that are not reef safe:
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
Sulfate Free
This product is free of sulfates 🎉
Paraben Free
This product is free 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:
Reef Safe
This product is free of ingredients that damage reefs 🎉
Contains EU Allergens
Ingredients in this product that are EU allergens:
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
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum 38 ingredients
Benefits
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Notable Ingredients
This product contains 1 ingredient 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:
Benefits
This product contains 3 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:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Concerns
This product contains 3 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 1 ingredient that may have this attribute:
This product contains 4 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
This product contains 2 ingredients that may have this attribute:
Build your routine, track which ingredients work for you, and much more with your free account.
Join SkinSortIngredients Compared
Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum 38 ingredients
Water • Dimethicone • Glycerin • Alcohol Denat. • Hamamelis Virginiana Water • Propanediol • Phenoxyethanol • Tocopherol • Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate • Schisandra Chinensis Fruit Extract • Capryloyl Carnosine • Salicylic Acid • Caprylyl Glycol • Xanthan Gum • Peg-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil • Panax Ginseng Root Extract • Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate • Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate • Disodium EDTA • Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract • Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil • Limonene • Adenosine • Sodium Hydroxide • Methyldihydrojasmonate • Citric Acid • Eugenol • Sodium Benzoate • Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil • Citral • Potassium Sorbate • Lavandula Angustifolia Oil • Cymbopogon Nardus Oil • Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil • Citronellol • Linalool • Geraniol • Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil
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 WaterSk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) Original contains this as ingredient number 4.
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum contains this as ingredient number 1.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.
Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.
Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.
Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.
Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.
We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.
Learn more about Sodium BenzoateSk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) Original contains this as ingredient number 5.
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum contains this as ingredient number 29.
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum 38 ingredients
Usage
Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.
When to use
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum 38 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) 7 ingredients
.webp)
420plaenit
IT'S EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH THE MONEY!!!!
I'm the kind of person who is willing to go all out and drop some money for good skincare if I know I will...
IT'S EXPENSIVE BUT WORTH THE MONEY!!!!
I'm the kind of person who is willing to go all out and drop some money for good skincare if I know I will use up every drop and love it. I've tried a lot of snail mucin products (my oily acne-prone skin LOVES it) and this one is different! I've tried the COSRX and the Peach Slices and both don't compare to this. Peach Slices have a similar texture while COSRX has a similar result to the SK-II. However, I will say that the SK-II got rid of all my redness and significantly improved my acne and every time I run out I always notice a difference in my skin whenever I don't have it in my routine. The price tag is a little intimidating but there are more reasonable options on Stylevana and Yesstyle.
KatrinaBedford
It seems to work v well for lots of people. It was a gift so I'm v upset it didn't work so well for me. It gave an amazing glow but irritated my...
It seems to work v well for lots of people. It was a gift so I'm v upset it didn't work so well for me. It gave an amazing glow but irritated my skin whenever I used it.
Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum 38 ingredients
Alternatives
Our Dupe Finder has found 20 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Sk-II Facial Treatment Essence (Pitera Essence) Original.
See 20 alternativesOur Dupe Finder has found 50 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Kiehl's Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum.
See 50 alternatives
