Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner for oily acne-prone skin
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract
Allantoin
Urtica Dioica ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few toners fit it even better.
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
- Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin due to propylene glycol and sodium PCA providing hydration without excess oil, while allantoin and cucumber fruit extract offer excellent soothing and calming for irritated skin.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with cucumber extract and aloe vera acting as soothing agents and no harsh ingredients present.
- While it addresses hydration and soothing effectively, it lacks targeted ingredients for your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using your soothing toner 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your soothing toner after cleansing, and before your moisturizer or SPF . This helps prepare your oily skin for the next steps.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the soothing toner into your skin with your hands. Avoid rubbing the product to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the soothing toner on clean and slightly damp skin to help with better absorption . This keeps your skin feeling fresh and comfortable.
- Always do a patch test before first use to check for any sensitivity. Avoid the eye area and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this toner is widely praised as a gentle, non-drying option that effectively removes residual makeup while soothing dry and sensitive skin types. A notable minority of users with sensitive skin report unexpected stinging or burning sensations, contradicting its 'mildest' marketing claim.
Highlights
Gentle and soothing Mostly Mentioned
- “mildest of all toners”
- “calmed my reactive skin”
- “no stinging sensation”
Non-drying hydration Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “leaves face soft”
- “hydrating boost”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “removes leftover makeup”
- “cotton pad comes off dirty”
- “cleans grime”
Refreshing feel Sometimes Noted
- “cooling effect”
- “elegant after-feel”
- “refreshing in summer”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like medicine”
- “weird herbal scent”
- “off-putting smell”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see changes”
- “just ordinary toner”
- “average value”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “lid arrived broken”
- “cap snapped off”
- “leaked in transit”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “burned my skin”
- “stinging around eyes”
- “turned face red”
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Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is a great fit because propylene glycol and sodium PCA hydrate your skin without adding extra oil, while cucumber fruit extract and allantoin help calm irritation safely. Because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts, this skin type also needs active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to properly manage acne.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is a good fit for oily skin because propylene glycol and sodium PCA provide hydration without extra oil, while cucumber fruit extract and allantoin help calm irritated skin. It is generally safe for your skin with soothing ingredients like aloe vera and no harsh additives.
What does Cucumber Fruit Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Cucumber fruit extract helps soothe and calm oily, acne-prone skin while providing antioxidant benefits with a very safe profile. It is unlikely to clog pores and works well to refresh the skin, though this skin type also needs ingredients that balance oil production and clear pores.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021Fitoterapia, 2013
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice helps calm redness and reduces acne breakouts for oily skin. Studies show it effectively targets acne lesions and lowers redness when used regularly.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2014
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner fits well in the morning routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, and it can also be used as a hydrating step in weekly routines. It helps deliver lightweight hydration and keeps the skin calm without adding excess oil.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying it right after cleansing to calm and hydrate your skin before using your retinol treatment. The gentle formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though it does not treat acne on its own.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this soothing toner twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It hydrates your oily skin without adding excess oil while calming any irritation, though it does not treat breakouts.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts since it has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients, though it lacks targeted acne-fighting ingredients to address your blemishes. It hydrates your oily skin without adding excess oil, helping keep your face feeling calm and comfortable.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Copper Oxide nanoparticles synthesized using cucumber extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, UV protection, and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties with low cellular toxicity and skin-rejuvenating effects when incorporated into skin cream.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021Topical treatment with Holothuria parva extract gel showed significant wound contraction compared to the negative control in full-thickness wounded rats.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2024A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2011Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Topical treatment with Urtica dioica hydroethanolic extract accelerated wound closure (92.39% vs 60.91%) and improved epidermal regeneration and hydroxyproline content in rats with full-thickness wounds compared to control animals over 11 days.
BioMed Research International, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Pca, Methylparaben, Allantoin, Cucumis Sativus Cucumber Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camphor, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Extract, Urtica Dioica Nettle Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Betula Alba Extract, Ci 19140 Yellow 5, Ci 14700 Red 4, Ci 42090 Blue 1
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
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