Kiehl's Eye Fuel for oily skin
Caffeine
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Average
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other eye cares fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for oily skin, as niacinamide and caffeine help regulate sebum and provide antioxidant benefits, though it lacks ingredients specifically targeting oily shine concerns.
- The presence of Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 enhances elasticity and reduces fine lines, providing general plumping and firming effects for the eye area.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
People Say
★3.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsKiehl's Eye Fuel is generally well-regarded for its lightweight, non-greasy texture and its ability to provide a cooling, refreshing sensation that helps awaken tired eyes. While many users report success in reducing morning puffiness and brightening the under-eye area, a notable segment of long-term customers expresses disappointment, often citing that the current formula feels less effective than previous versions.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Lightweight and easily absorbed”
- “Not greasy”
- “Luscious liquid texture”
Reduces puffiness Often Mentioned
- “Helps diminish under-eye puffiness”
- “Works for my puffiness”
- “Reduces puffiness and dark circles”
Brightens eyes Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves eye area looking brighter”
- “Makes eyes look more awake”
- “Helps with tired-looking eyes”
Cooling sensation Sometimes Noted
- “Provides a cooling sensation”
- “Very soothing”
- “Invigorates the under-eye area”
Formula changes Sometimes Noted
- “Not as effective as previous formula”
- “Inferior replacement”
- “Doesn't see the same benefits”
Limited effectiveness Sometimes Noted
- “Not seeing any improvement”
- “Done nothing”
- “No change from this product”
Availability issues Rarely Noted
- “Often out of stock”
- “Hard to find”
- “Please bring it back”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “Complaints about the packaging”
- “Size is small”
- “Disappointed with the container”
Sources: lovi.care, kohls.com, dillards.com, macys.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com.my, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Eye Fuel work for oily skin?
Kiehl's Eye Fuel works moderately well for oily skin, as niacinamide and caffeine help regulate oil and provide antioxidant benefits. However, because it lacks ingredients specifically targeting oily shine, an eye care product for this skin needs oil-controlling and mattifying ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and caffeine make this cream a good fit for oily skin because they help regulate sebum and provide antioxidant benefits. However, an eye care product for oily skin also needs targeted ingredients that effectively manage oiliness and excess shine.
What does Caffeine do for oily skin?
Topical caffeine helps keep oily skin looking fresh by preventing excessive fat accumulation and boosting microcirculation. It is generally well tolerated and provides antioxidant protection against sun damage.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This eye care product goes in your routine after cleansing and toning, both morning and evening. An eye cream for oily skin needs ingredients that help control shine and regulate oil while keeping the delicate eye area hydrated.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this eye cream alongside retinol, applying the retinol first and following with this product once it absorbs. This formula is safe for your oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation, but an average fit for oily skin needs ingredients like oil-absorbing powders or specific shine-control agents to better manage excess oil.
How often should I use it?
You can use this eye care product daily as part of your morning and evening routine, as it has a safe profile that is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin. Oily skin works best with products that contain ingredients like niacinamide and caffeine to help control shine and regulate oil.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as its safe formula has no harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation. However, an ideal eye product for this skin type also needs specific oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage extra shine.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical caffeine acts as an active cosmetic compound by preventing excessive fat accumulation through phosphodiesterase inhibition, protecting cells against UV radiation with antioxidant properties, increasing skin microcirculation, and stimulating hair growth via 5-alpha-reductase inhibition.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Why other eye cares fit oily skin better
Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Sodium ascorbyl phosphate provides effective antimicrobial action, prevents sebum oxidation, and demonstrates superior clinical efficacy compared to a standard acne treatment in patients with acne vulgaris.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Caffeine, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Perlite, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Disodium Edta, Steareth-20, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Adenosine, Glycine Soja Soybean Protein, Dipropylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Potassium Sorbate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Chrysin, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.