Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser for oily skin
Squalane
Avocado Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Vitamin E
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers 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 benefits for your oily skin as decyl glucoside and glycerin effectively cleanse pores without stripping, though these ingredients primarily offer supportive hydration rather than directly managing oily shine.
- Squalane and sweet almond oil provide emollient and humectant actions, which are suitable for oily skin by balancing moisture, but do not significantly address excess oil production.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is widely appreciated for its gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively cleanses without compromising the skin barrier, making it a favorite for sensitive and combination skin. Many users highlight its ability to remove makeup and impurities while maintaining skin hydration. Some users with very dry or reactive skin have noted it can be slightly stripping or feel overpriced for its simple formulation.
Highlights
Gentle, non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin's natural oils”
- “leaves face feeling clean and soft”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “skin feels comfortable, not tight”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes light makeup easily”
- “dissolves excess oil and dirt”
- “face feels squeaky clean”
- “great second step in double cleansing”
Suitable for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “fantastic for sensitive skin”
- “no scent/fragrance-free”
- “doesn't cause redness or irritation”
Good texture/lather Sometimes Noted
- “lathers nicely without being overly foamy”
- “rich and creamy texture”
- “little goes a long way”
- “smooth gel consistency”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “leaves my skin feeling stripped”
- “made my face a little dry”
- “too drying for winter months”
- “tight feeling after washing”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for a basic cleanser”
- “overpriced compared to drugstore alternatives”
- “not worth the premium price”
- “good but pricey”
Basic formula Rarely Noted
- “nothing exceptional here”
- “pretty darn basic”
- “boring but effective”
- “just an average cleanser”
Ingredient concerns Rarely Noted
- “contains parabens”
- “dislike the SLES content”
- “caused minor breakouts”
- “stings eyes if not careful”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, ulta.com, sephora.sg, sephora.co.uk, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser work for oily skin?
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser works reasonably well for oily skin by cleaning pores and balancing moisture without causing irritation, though it does not actively manage excess oil or shine. Cleansers that fit oily skin better need ingredients that specifically target oiliness and impurities to promote a clear complexion.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Decyl glucoside and glycerin help this cleanser work for oily skin by cleaning pores without stripping away moisture. This type of skin needs ingredients that actively target excess shine and manage oiliness while keeping the face clear and refreshed.
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
What does Avocado Oil do for oily skin?
This product type may feel too heavy for oily skin, which typically needs lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to stay smooth without clogging pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening routines as the first step of cleansing, right before a hydrating toner. Cleansers for oily skin need ingredients like clay, salicylic acid, or gentle purifying agents that actively clear away excess oil and target shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol safely since it has a gentle formula that cleans without irritating. Use the cleanser first to wash your face, pat your skin dry, and then apply your retinol treatment.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Oily skin works best with products that control excess shine directly and clear pores thoroughly.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it gently washes away dirt without harsh ingredients that irritate. However, because it relies on nourishing oils like avocado and apricot kernel, an oily skin type typically needs a gel wash with salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep excess shine and clogged pores fully under control.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should take care around the thin skin of your eyes since facial cleansers may sometimes cause irritation there. This cleanser is safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation, though it is primarily designed for facial use.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A 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, 2017Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil improved wrinkle grading, reduced nasolabial fold area and volume, and increased skin elasticity in twenty healthy volunteers over 12 weeks without allergic reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical treatment with SSFAO 50% or avocado oil increased wound contraction, reepithelialization, collagen density, and tensile strength while showing anti-inflammatory activity compared to petroleum jelly in rats.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Combined 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, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Distearyl Ether, Behenyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Laureth-2, Propylparaben, Sodium Methylparaben, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
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?
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