Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum Review

Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum
10.0
/ 10
Moisturizing
10.0 Humectancy icon Humectancy
10.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
2.5Anti-wrinkle icon/ 10
Anti-wrinkle
Rich
in Antioxidants
Review

Does Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum has to offer:
 
✅ Intense moisturizing. It has a moisturizing rating of 10.0 out of 10.
✅ Modest anti-wrinkle efficacy: Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum has an anti-wrinkle rating of 2.5 out of 10 so you may expect some, although limited, effect on wrinkles.
✅ Antioxidant protection

  

Key Benefits of Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum:
 

🔵🔵🔵 Exceptionally Rich Moisturizer Perfect for Dry to Very Dry Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum is exceptionally moisturizing, with the highest possible moisturizing rating of 10.0 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? This is one of the most moisturizing products on the market, with a maximum humectancy of 10 out of 10, primarily due to the substantial concentration of Propylene Glycol (est. ≈40.0%) and Glycerin (est. ≈11.0%), and a maximum occlusivity of 10 out of 10, solely because of the significant content of Dimethicone (est. ≈22.0%).

This type of moisturizer is ideal for people with dry to very dry skin who want intense hydration. It combines a high concentration of humectants with an exceptional level of occlusive ingredients to provide effective dual-action moisturizing specifically for very dry skin.

The occlusive profile of Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum suggests a rich, thick texture, making it perfectly suited for very dry skin.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

🟣 Modest Anti-Wrinkle Efficacy

According to CreamScan analysis, Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum has a modest level of anti-wrinkle efficacy, rated 2.5 out of 10.

It contains one ingredient with proven anti-wrinkle efficacy: Ascorbic Acid (est. ≈10.0%),
 or Vitamin C, a popular ingredient, yet with moderate anti-wrinkle efficacy, as confirmed by a single clinical study involving 20 participants (Humbert et al.). This study showed that a cream with a relatively high concentration of 5% ascorbic acid reduced the average wrinkle depth by 7% after 6 months of use, compared to a vehicle (the same formulation without ascorbic acid).
 
Among others, Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum also contains some ingredients marketed often as effective in reducing wrinkles, specifically Adenosine, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7. However, the studies supporting the anti-wrinkle claims of these ingredients provide insufficient evidence of efficacy according to CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards.
 
While this does not categorically rule out the possibility that these ingredients may reduce wrinkles, their efficacy is not supported by convincing, vehicle-controlled, double-blind clinical studies - at least none that were available to the CreamScan team at the time of publication.
 
Therefore, these ingredients do not contribute to the anti-wrinkle rating.
 
📌 Moisturizers, when used regularly, are proven to prevent wrinkle formation and even reduce existing wrinkles. Therefore, this product, like any other moisturizer, can deliver some additional anti-wrinkle effects through its moisturizing action.
 

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the anti-wrinkle rating calculation.

🍀 Rich in Skin-Protecting Antioxidants

We estimate that Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum is rich (> 3%) in antioxidants, specifically Ascorbic Acid (est. ≈10.0%).

A key benefit of antioxidants is their ability to reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals and therefore prevent accelerated skin aging. Studies also show that antioxidants can protect against environmental damage such as UV radiation and pollution, and help reduce inflammation and skin redness.

📌 Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum to your skincare routine:
 

⚠️ Best for Very Dry Skin - May Be Too Thick for Other Skin Types

With exceptional occlusivity, this product is optimal for moisturizing dry and very dry skin but may be too thick for other skin types, including normal, and especially combination and oily skin.

If you have oily, combination, or normal skin and are considering purchasing this product for the first time, it might be a good idea to try a sample before buying.

Pros & Cons of Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

🟩 Pros:

✅ Very rich moisturizer perfect for dry and very dry skin: exceptionally occlusive and humectant-rich
Offers modest anti-wrinkle efficacy
✅ Rich in antioxidants that combat oxidative stress associated with accelerated skin aging and defend against environmental damage
 

⭕ Cons: 

⚠️ May feel too rich and thick on skin types other than dry
   

Summary: Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum

 
Based on the ingredient list analysis, CreamScan AI suggests that Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum
 is an ideal moisturizer for dry to very dry skin, combining a very high concentration of humectants and occlusive ingredients in a rich, thick texture.
 
Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum contains ingredients with proven evidence of anti-wrinkle efficacy that may provide a modest anti-wrinkle effect. As a result, you can expect a positive, though not very significant, impact on wrinkles.
 
With its high antioxidant content, Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum helps protect against free radical damage and offers multiple benefits for all skin types, including preventing premature aging, defending against environmental damage, and calming inflammation.
 
That said, there are some things about Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum worth noting.
 
With its high occlusivity, Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum is ideal for dry skin but may feel too thick on other skin types. If you have oily, combination, or normal skin, it’s a good idea to try a sample before purchasing.
 
❗️ Fact check. At CreamScan, we are committed to accuracy and fairness. If you spot any errors or something that doesn’t seem right, please click here to let us know. We regularly update the ingredient lists and monitor the latest research on ingredient efficacy to ensure that our information remains as complete and precise as possible.

 

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
40
22
11
10
4
3
2
1.5
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Propylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Dimethicone
Function:
Origin:
Glycerin
Function:
Origin:
Ascorbic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Function:
Origin:
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Function:
Origin:
Cyclohexasiloxane
Function:
Origin:
Water
Function:
Origin:
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Lauroyl Lysine
Function:
Origin:
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Function:
Origin:
Polysilicone-11
Function:
Origin:
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Function:
Origin:
Adenosine
Function:
Origin:
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Function:
Origin:
Steareth-20
Function:
Origin:
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Function:
Origin:
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Function:
Origin:
Sodium Citrate
Function:
Origin:
Potassium Sorbate
Function:
Origin:
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Function:
Origin:
Chrysin
Function:
Origin:
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Function:
Origin:
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Function:
Origin:
Citric Acid
Function:
Origin:
Biotin
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
51.3
40
11
0.3
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
22.0
22.0
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
10.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 51.3 10
10.0
40
11
0.3
Occlusivity All occlusives 22.0 20
10.0
22.0
Moisturizing rating
10.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
40
11
0.3
All humectants 51.3 10
10
All humectants
51.3
40
11
0.3
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
22
All occlusives 22.0 20
10.0
All occlusives
22.0
22.0
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
2.5 /10 5 10 2.5
n/a
- 0.3 -
n/a
- 0.3 -
n/a
- 0.3 -
Total
2.5
Ascorbic Acid
2.5
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
2.5 /10
when present at, %
5
in this formula, est. %
10
Adenosine
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
0.3
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
0.3
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
-
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
n/a
when present at, %
-
in this formula, est. %
0.3
Anti-wrinkle rating
2.5
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
10
0.3
0.3
All antioxidants 10.6 3 Rich in antioxidants
All antioxidants
10.6
Ascorbic Acid
10
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
0.3
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
0.3
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
0.3
All soothing 0.3 5 No
All soothing
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Propylene Glycol
Est. %40
Function
Origin
Propylene GlycolA clear, thick, odorless liquid of synthetic origin. Its main function is to stabilize cosmetic products exposed to varying temperatures. It is also a moderately strong humectant with similar properties to glycerin.
Dimethicone
Est. %22
Function
Origin
DimethiconeThe most common silicone in skincare. It forms a silky, smooth film on the skin’s surface and can help to prevent water loss. It also aids in wound healing and can treat and soften scars. Dimethicone is considered to be very safe for use.
Glycerin
Est. %11
Function
Origin
Glycerin

The most popular moisturizing ingredient in the world. It is a powerful humectant – cheap yet very effective.

Ascorbic Acid
Est. %10
Function
Origin
Ascorbic Acid

Also known as vitamin C, this multi-benefit ingredient has proven anti-wrinkle, antioxidant, and anti-pigmentation efficacy. It degrades easily when exposed to air and light, so it requires proper packaging to maintain its stability.

Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Est. %4
Function
Origin
Dimethicone CrosspolymerA group of ingredients that are typically added to skincare products to adjust the formula. Dimethicone Crosspolymers stabilize a formula, regulate its thickness and consistency and give the product a velvety feel.
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone
Est. %3
Function
Origin
Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 DimethiconeA silicone-based powerful emulsifier that helps to create lightweight and pleasant feeling lotions and creams.
Cyclohexasiloxane
Est. %2
Function
Origin
CyclohexasiloxaneA clear silicone fluid with very low viscosity that is commonly used as a solvent and emollient. It has excellent spreadability, rubs in quickly, and leaves a silky smooth after-feel on the skin.
Water
Est. %1.5
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Est. %1
Function
Origin
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic AcidA pH buffer that secures the pH around 7.5.
Lauroyl Lysine
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Lauroyl LysineA synthetic insoluble powder that improves the texture of a product, leaving the skin silky smooth and absorbing oils and sweat.
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Aluminum Starch OctenylsuccinateAn absorbent that takes in oils from the skin to reduce the oily sheen. It can also absorb oils from the skincare product itself, resulting in a softer, less greasy product, normally with better spreadability and less tack.
Polysilicone-11
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Polysilicone-11A synthetic rubber-like substance of the silicone family that has no color or distinct scent. These are large molecules that cannot penetrate the skin but instead create a thin silky film on the skin's surface.
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)One of two the most commonly used mineral sunscreens. It can absorb UV light, including UVB – which causes burning, tanning, and even skin cancer. Also used as a colorant, titanium dioxide gives a product a bright white color.
Adenosine
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Adenosine

A key molecule responsible for energy transportation, signaling, and enzyme activity. Adenosine is a popular anti-wrinkle ingredient, however, the key study about its anti-wrinkle efficacy (1) does not meet CreamScan Research Evaluation Standards as it is not double-blind.

Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic AcidA smaller-molecule version of the regular hyaluronic acid. It is a powerful humectant that absorbs into the skin and offers moisturizing, smoothing, and anti-wrinkle effects. It is also slightly anti-inflammatory and displays subtle antioxidant properties.
Steareth-20
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Steareth-20A white to light brown reaction product of a clear gas and stearyl alcohol. Like the other steareth ingredients, steareth-20 is a waxy emulsifier that can help to form a stable emulsion, even in extreme conditions.
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Chlorhexidine DigluconateA synthetic antimicrobial ingredient used to deal with bacterial and fungal skin infections. In the same way that it wipes out bacteria from the skin, it can also fight them inside cosmetic products, acting as a preservative.
N-Hydroxysuccinimide
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
N-HydroxysuccinimideN-Hydroxysuccinimide is thought to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. However, more research is needed to confirm if this ingredient is truly effective in this manner.
Sodium Citrate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Sodium CitrateA salt of citric acid that has a salty and tart flavor and is used as a fragrance. It is mildly basic, meaning that its addition to a skincare product can adjust the pH upward.
Potassium Sorbate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Potassium SorbateA preservative widely used in food and personal care products, available from natural sources or synthetically produced. Potassium sorbate works by inhibiting the growth of yeasts, molds, and some bacteria.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1

A small peptide consisting of three amino acids with anti-wrinkle effects. Together with Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, it is a part of the popular anti-wrinkle complex called Matrixyl™ 3000.

Chrysin
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
ChrysinChrysin is thought to help promote blood circulation in blends with other ingredients and allegedly can help to reduce the appearance of dark under-eye circles. However, no official studies have been done to confirm this.
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl HydroxyhydrocinnamateAn antioxidant that protects vulnerable ingredients from the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, which can also lead to the generation of damaging free radical species.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

A synthetic peptide that mimics the activity of immunoglobulin G and signals to the skin to stop the inflammation. It has been shown in studies to reduce wrinkles and enhance collagen content.

Citric Acid
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Citric AcidA gently exfoliating AHA that helps to remove the top layer of dead skin cells. In comparison to other AHAs, citric acid has been shown to be one of the least effective. It is also very commonly used as a stabilizing and pH-controlling agent.
Biotin
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
BiotinBiotin is an important nutrient that can cause weak hair and nails if deficient. Unfortunately, while biotin supplements have promising studies, topical biotin in creams and serums doesn’t have a large body of evidence to support its use.