Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and the product featured was provided for review.
Back in 2018, Kiehl's joined the burgeoning vitamin C market with the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate Vitamin C Serum (reviewed here). Earlier this month, Kiehl's has released a new product that specifically targets the eye area with the same benefits promised by the original serum. With 10% pure vitamin C, the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum (C$59 for 15 ml) claims to diminish the appearance of lines and discoloration and instantly smooths and hydrates the undereye area. To read all about this new product, click......
Housed in a travel-friendly 15 ml airless pump bottle, the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum is formulated with brightening vitamin C, strengthening peptide medley, and hydrating hyaluronic acid with lower molecular weight/size. One of my few complaints about the original face serum is its silicone content and unfortunately, the problem persists with the eye serum. Almost packed to the brim with five different types of silicone (with dimethicone being the second ingredient), this Kiehl's eye serum has a noticeably thick, almost grainy silicone texture rivaling that of a mattifying silicone primer.
Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, Aqua/Water, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Lauroyl Lysine, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Polysilicone-11, CI 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Steareth-20, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Sodium Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Chrysin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-Butyl Hydroxyhydro-Cinnamate, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Citric Acid, Biotin.
Availability:
Kiehl's is available in stores and online at Sephora, Kiehl's, Nordstrom, and Hudson's Bay.
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| Kiehl's | Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum |
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| Kiehl's | Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing & Dark Circle-Diminishing Vitamin C Eye Serum |
The formulation no doubt quickly fills lines and blurs pores but it also leaves behind an icky, almost powder-dry finish that does not layer well with other skincare products or makeup. I think even for those that don't mind silicone-based products, the silicone-heavy formulation of the Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Eye Serum is baffling as serums should be lightweight and built for layering. Additionally, with so much silicone packed inside the formulation, I question the efficacy of the beneficial ingredients. I feel that a heavy silicone matrix will certainly interfere with absorption, not only of the vitamin C within the eye serum but of any other product (ex. eye cream) that's applied over top. Overall, this is a very disappointing product. With most brands steering away silicones, Kiehl's seems to be really taking a step back with this serum. Had this been advertised as a vitamin C mattifying primer, my perception may be different but as it stands, I cannot recommend it given how many great alternatives there are on the market (ex. Dermalogica Biolumin-C Eye Serum).
Availability:
Kiehl's is available in stores and online at Sephora, Kiehl's, Nordstrom, and Hudson's Bay.
