Find products and ingredients Learn how Skin Deep® works Meet our experts Discover EWG VERIFIED®
Product score: 03

Data Availability:

Limited

Kiehls Vitamin C Eye Serum

Kiehls Vitamin C Eye Serum

WHERE TO BUY

When you make a purchase through retailer links on our site, we may earn commission through affiliate programs. All affiliate fees EWG receives support our nonprofit mission. Learn more here

CATEGORY

Around Eye Cream
Serums & Essences

BRAND

Kiehl's

DATA LAST UPDATED

May 2024

Ingredient concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

  • MODERATE
    Cancer
  • HIGH
    Allergies & Immunotoxicity
  • LOW
    Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity
  • HIGH
    Use Restrictions

Ingredient scores

Ingredients are scored based on their formulation and concentration in this product. Click on an ingredient for more information.

Ingredient score: 03
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
Data Availability: Fair
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) humectant, skin conditioning, solvent, viscosity controlling, fragrance ingredient, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin-conditioningagent - miscellaneous, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Enhanced skin absorption
• Use restrictions (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
DIMETHICONE
Data Availability: Fair
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) antifoaming, emollient, skin conditioning, skin protecting, antifoaming agent, skin-conditioning agent - occlusive, skin protectant
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (high)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
• Contamination concerns (CYCLOPENTASILOXANE and CYCLOTETRASILOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
GLYCERIN
Data Availability: Fair
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) denaturant, humectant, perfuming, solvent, fragrance ingredient, hair conditioning agent, oral care agent;oral health care drug, skin-conditioning agent - humectant, skin protectant, viscosity decreasing agent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C)
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) antioxidant, buffering, masking, skin conditioning, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) emulsion stabilising, hair fixing, viscosity controlling, emulsion stabilizer, hair fixative, suspending agent - nonsurfactant, viscosity increasingagent - nonaqueous
CONCERNS • Contamination concerns (CYCLOPENTASILOXANE and CYCLOTETRASILOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
CETYL PEG/ PPG-10/ 1 DIMETHICONE
Data Availability: Fair
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) emulsifying, skin conditioning, surfactant, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous, surfactant - emulsifying agent
CONCERNS • Contamination concerns (CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, CYCLOTETRASILOXANE, ETHYLENE OXIDE, and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 03
CYCLOHEXASILOXANE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) emollient, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, solvent, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - emollient
CONCERNS • Persistence and bioaccumulation (high)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Ecotoxicology (low)
• Contamination concerns (CYCLOTETRASILOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
WATER
Data Availability: Robust
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) solvent
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
HYDROXYETHYLPIPERAZINE ETHANE SULFONIC ACID
Data Availability: Fair
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) buffering, buffering agent
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
LAUROYL LYSINE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) hair conditioning, skin conditioning, viscosity controlling, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ALUMINUM STARCH OCTENYLSUCCINATE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) absorbent, anticaking, viscosity controlling, anticaking agent, viscosity increasing agent - nonaqueous
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Contamination concerns (CI 77000)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
POLYSILICONE-11
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) film forming, film former
CONCERNS • Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Data Availability: Fair
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) colorant, opacifying agent, sunscreen agent, ultraviolet light absorber
CONCERNS • Cancer (moderate)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (moderate)
• Occupational hazards (high)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
ADENOSINE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
HYDROLYZED HYALURONIC ACID
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
Ingredient score: 01
STEARETH-20
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) surfactant - cleansing agent, surfactant - emulsifying agent, surfactant - solubilizing agent
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
• Contamination concerns (ETHYLENE OXIDE and 1,4-DIOXANE)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 04
CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) antimicrobial, oral care, preservative, cosmetic biocide, oral care agent
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
• Use restrictions (moderate)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
N-HYDROXYSUCCINIMIDE
Data Availability: Fair
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
SODIUM CITRATE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) buffering, chelating, masking, ph adjuster
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
POTASSIUM SORBATE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) preservative, fragrance ingredient
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
PALMITOYL TRIPEPTIDE-1
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
CONCERNS • Allergies/immunotoxicity (low)
• Neurotoxicity (low)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
• Contamination concerns (ACETATE and PALMITIC ACID)
• Biochemical or cellular level changes (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
CHRYSIN
Data Availability: None
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 02
TETRADIBUTYL PENTAERITHRITYL HYDROXYHYDROCINNAMATE
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) antioxidant
CONCERNS • Cancer (low)
• Developmental/reproductive toxicity (low)
• Persistence and bioaccumulation (high)
• Non-reproductive organ system toxicity (low)
• Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) (low)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
PALMITOYL TETRAPEPTIDE-7
Data Availability: None
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) skin conditioning
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
CITRIC ACID
Data Availability: Good
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) buffering, chelating, masking, chelating agent, fragrance ingredient, ph adjuster
CONCERNS • Use restrictions (moderate)
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT
Ingredient score: 01
BIOTIN
Data Availability: Limited
Expand content Collapse content
FUNCTION(S) antiseborrhoeic, hair conditioning, skin conditioning, hair conditioning agent, skin-conditioning agent - miscellaneous
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INGREDIENT

Ingredients from packaging:

Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Cyclohexasiloxane, 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.

Product's animal testing policies

Some cosmetics companies have taken People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Leaping Bunny animal-testing pledges. For consumers who are concerned about companies’ policies on animal testing, Skin Deep reports this information.


Unknown

Leading international certifiers PETA and Leaping Bunny have no information concerning this company’s use of animal testing.

Understanding scores

Cosmetics and personal care products are not required to be tested for safety before being allowed on the market. The Skin Deep® scoring system was designed to help the public understand whether a product is safe to use or whether it contains ingredients of concern.

Every product and ingredient in Skin Deep gets a two-part score – one for hazard and one for data availability. The safest products score well by both measures, with a low hazard rating and a fair or better data availability rating.


HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES

Hazard score

The Skin Deep ingredient hazard score, from 1 to 10, reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. The EWG Verified® mark means a product meets EWG’s strictest criteria for transparency and health.

Score legend

Data availability

The Skin Deep data availability rating reflects the number of scientific studies about the product or ingredient in the published scientific literature.

NONE LIMITED FAIR GOOD ROBUST
Low Availability
Moderate Availability
High Availability

More around-eye cream

VIEW ALL around-eye cream
Skindeep Healthy Living App

EWG research
on the go

Find personal care, cleaning, and food products on the EWG Healthy Living app.

DOWNLOAD THE APP
OSZAR »