Recently I received some questions regarding the differences between FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum and Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate. Both are vitamin C-based formulas that are designed to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
However, there are a few key differences between the two. I’ll try to write this post remaining as unbiased as possible, but truth be told, you must know FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum is totally my baby, so it’s going to be tough! 🙂
FutureDerm: 16% vitamin C; Kiehl’s: 10.5% vitamin C
The proof here is in the pudding (or, rather, the formulation): FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum contains 16% vitamin C, whereas the Kiehl’s serum only contains 10.5%. In this case, vitamin C is water-soluble, meaning that you can metabolize it quite readily. As a result, more is generally better. Topically-applied vitamin C has been shown in independent scientific studies to do all of the following:
- scavenge of free radicals (reacts with the superoxide anion or the hydroxyl radical);
- suppress pigmentation of the skin (by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosinase);
- decompose excess melanin (skin pigment);
- trigger collagen production and thereby increasing skin firmness;
- enhance sunscreen protection when used in conjunction with vitamin E.
FutureDerm’s Vitamin C is the First Microencapsulated Vitamin C Serum
Antioxidants are amazing because they can scavenge damaging electrons in your cells called free radicals. When a stable molecule loses an electron, it can become charged and very reactive, attempting to bind with other molecules to replenish the lost electron. (Think of free radicals like an emotional girl friend who was in a relationship for a few years – when she loses her significant other, she becomes quite charged and reactive. And certainly eager to find a replacement!)
That’s where antioxidants come in. They’re like surrogate boyfriends – they aren’t always perfect replacements for the electrons they’re replacing, but they do their part to keep the system stable and chugging along. As far as antioxidants go, vitamin C is a great one because it’s able to donate electrons quite readily. When paired with vitamin E, vitamin C can actually get electrons from vitamin E to replenish itself and keep tending to more, uh, single reactive molecules.
FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum manages to keep vitamin C in the game not only with a vitamin E pairing, but also with microencapsulation. Studies show microencapsulation imparts greater stability to light and air (Journal of Microencapsulation, 2001; International Journal of Food Chemistry, 1991). The L-ascorbic acid in FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum is wrapped in very small amounts of a safe, protective coating, designed to protect L-ascorbic acid from oxidation, pollution, and heat. FutureDerm CE Caffeic Serum has withstood all of our bacterial and heat testing without the slightest tinge of yellow or orange (and no artificial coloring). You can test it for yourself: FutureDerm CE Caffeic Serum doesn’t turn yellow or orange because L-ascorbic acid is protected from oxidation!
Both Serums Leave Your Skin Soft
Both FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum and the Kiehl’s serum contain a lot of slip agents, such as cyclopentasiloxane and dimethicone. These ingredients form a lattice on the skin, leaving skin feeling softer and smoother to the touch, but allowing vitamin C to still reach the skin.
Bottom Line
Admittedly, both are superior products to many of the vitamin C serums I’ve seen out there on the market. (Especially those that aren’t packaged in amber bottles, or those that don’t even disclose the concentration of vitamin C!)
Because FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum contains vitamin E and microencapsulation technology to stabilize the vitamin C further, you get more for your money with the FutureDerm serum than the Kiehl’s serum. Add in the fact that you’re looking at 16% vitamin C versus 8% vitamin C to begin with, and I say give ours a try. If you don’t like it, we will gladly refund your purchase, no questions asked. I know that I’m biased because I created FutureDerm CE Caffeic 16+2 Serum, but I really do find it to be a superior product.
FutureDerm Ingredients:Â Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Ascorbic acid, Dimethicone, Bis-vinyl Dimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate , Tocopherol, Caffeic acid
Kiehls Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lauroyl Lysine, Acrylates Copolymer, Adenosine
What do you think? Let us know in Comments!