Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream for skin with dark spots
Glacial Glycoprotein
Squalane
Glycerin
Apricot Kernel Oil
Avocado Oil
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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
- Suitable for normal skin as glycerin and squalane provide excellent hydration and barrier support, though they do not directly target your main goal of pigmentation.
- The Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment offers general skin benefits, contributing to overall skin health for your normal skin type.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it too hard so it absorbs nicely.
- For the best moisture, you can apply it when your skin is slightly damp. This helps your skin stay soft and happy.
- Remember to avoid the eye area when applying. Always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 35.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is widely celebrated for restoring the moisture barrier, particularly for those with dry, sensitive, or dehydrated skin in harsh winter climates. Users consistently report that it provides deep, long-lasting hydration without feeling heavy. A minority with oily or acne-prone skin experienced breakouts or found it too rich for humid weather.
Highlights
Deep, long-lasting hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours”
- “eliminates dry patches”
- “saved my winter skin”
Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “fragrance-free”
- “no irritation”
Lightweight, non-greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “leaves no residue”
- “feels like a drink of water”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “pricy daily staple”
- “waiting for sales”
Excellent makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “no pilling”
- “creates a smooth canvas”
- “sits well under foundation”
Improves skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “reduces tightness”
- “skin feels plump/supple”
- “contains squalane”
Too greasy for oily skin Sometimes Noted
- “oil slick in summer”
- “heavy T-zone shine”
- “not matte enough”
Unhygienic jar packaging Sometimes Noted
- “dipping fingers is unsanitary”
- “prefer pump/tube”
- “exposure to air”
Causes breakouts/stinging Rarely Noted
- “cystic acne for some”
- “burning sensation on application (phenoxyethanol sensitivity)”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream work for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer works for skin with dark spots, though other products fit it better because its hydrating ingredients do not directly target dark spots. A moisturizer for this skin needs effective brightening ingredients alongside hydrating components to fade dark spots while keeping skin soft.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cream is an average fit for skin with dark spots because its glycerin and squalane keep skin soft and supported, though they do not directly fade spots. Skin with dark spots needs products featuring effective brightening ingredients paired with moisturizing components to target pigmentation while maintaining hydration.
What does Glacial Glycoprotein do for skin with dark spots?
Glacial Glycoprotein helps keep dry skin feeling soft and smooth by boosting hydration. A product of this type needs ingredients that lock in moisture and support the skin barrier to properly care for skin with dark spots.
What does Squalane do for skin with dark spots?
Squalane helps keep skin soft and smooth, but it is unlikely to directly fade dark spots on its own. For hyperpigmentation, this type of product needs added brightening ingredients like vitamin C or antioxidants to help even out skin tone.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer goes after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning, and after your treatment in the evening. It provides good hydration and keeps skin soft, though dark spots need a product with targeted brightening ingredients.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer to keep your skin soft and calm. Using a moisturizer alongside active treatments helps reduce dryness and irritation while supporting your skin barrier.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day, morning and evening, to keep your skin hydrated and supported. Regular daily application helps improve moisture levels and keeps the skin barrier comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for skin with dark spots, as shoppers report stinging and breakouts infrequently and it avoids harsh ingredients. To properly care for skin with dark spots, a product needs targeted brightening ingredients that fade dark spots in addition to good hydration.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle formula and hydrating ingredients are safe for delicate areas. Because the skin is extremely thin around the eyes and varies in thickness across the body, a product used here needs lightweight moisturizers and soothing oils like those found in this cream to keep skin soft and comfortable without irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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, 2017Topical 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, 2020Squalane 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, 2025The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical 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, 2013
Why other moisturizers fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Peg-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethlhexanoate, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Rice Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Olive Oil Fruit, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Edta, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Soybean Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Myristic Acid, Hydroxypalmitol Sphinganine, Bht, Salicylic Acid, 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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