🇦🇺Australia

Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate for dry skin

Superior

  • SuperiorDry Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best moisturizers for dry skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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

  • Excellent suitability for your dry skin as Glycerin and Propanediol provide superior humectant action, while Gluconolactone and Dimethicone offer significant hydration and texture smoothing.
  • The formula is exceptionally safe for your dry skin, with Glycerin and Tocopherol acting as soothing agents and no harsh ingredients present.
  • This product offers excellent moisturizing benefits, addressing your dry or flaky skin concerns effectively.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
  • Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for delivering intense, lightweight hydration that effectively plumps the skin and smooths fine lines, making it a favorite for those with dehydrated, dull, or dry skin. It also frequently serves as an excellent primer, creating a smooth, radiant base for makeup. A small number of users reported clogged pores or a silicone-like feel, while a few others experienced no visible results or found the product to be pricey.

Highlights

  • Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “Feels like a drink of water”
    • “Fixed my dehydrated skin”
    • “Gorgeously hydrating”
  • Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
    • “Sinks in instantly”
    • “No sticky residue”
    • “Gel-like texture absorbs quickly”
  • Visible plumping Often Mentioned
    • “Skin looks noticeably more plump”
    • “Lines around my eye melted away”
    • “Skin appears bouncy”
  • Makeup primer Sometimes Noted
    • “Foundation blends in perfectly”
    • “Ideal primer”
    • “Zero patchiness”
  • Clogged pores Rarely Noted
    • “Caused tiny white bumps”
    • “Clog my pores”
    • “Gave me more pimples”
  • High price Rarely Noted
    • “Quite pricey”
    • “Expensive”
    • “Would not waste my money”
  • No results Rarely Noted
    • “Saw absolutely no difference”
    • “Used the entire bottle and no change”
    • “Don't see a major difference”
  • Silicone feel Rarely Noted
    • “Feels like a silicone-based primer”
    • “Dimethicone is high on the list”

Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, kiehls.com.sg, kiehls.ca, macys.com, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum one of the best fits for dry skin?

This product is an exceptional fit for dry skin because glycerin and propanediol provide superior moisture-attracting benefits, while gluconolactone and dimethicone effectively smooth skin texture. It also offers a very safe and soothing experience without harsh ingredients, helping to relieve dry or flaky skin.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?

Glycerin and propanediol provide superior hydration, while gluconolactone and dimethicone help smooth and soften dry skin texture. These ingredients work together to effectively address dry and flaky skin concerns.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

What does Glycerin do for dry skin?

Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008

What does Epidermal Hydration Filler do for dry skin?

Epidermal Hydration Filler helps keep dry skin soft and smooth by drawing in moisture and greatly boosting skin hydration. Using this product helps improve your skin barrier and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003

Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This product goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe. It is an exceptionally safe choice for dry skin and helps smooth texture while tackling flaky spots.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help smooth and hydrate your dry skin before applying your retinol. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer or treatment alongside retinol helps reduce common irritation and supports your skin.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use it?

Use this treatment in your evening routine as part of your daily skincare steps. It is exceptionally safe and effective for keeping your dry skin soft and smooth when used consistently.

Health Science Reports, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, as reviewer complaints about clogged pores are very low and the formula lacks harsh ingredients. It helps keep skin smooth and comfortable without irritation.

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

This product is suitable for use on the body and around the eyes, where the skin is particularly thin. Its gentle ingredients provide deep hydration and help smooth dry or flaky skin without causing irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
  • 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, 2017
  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • Gluconolactone and tartaric acid significantly lower transepidermal water loss and erythema after sodium lauryl sulphate challenge compared to vehicle, untreated control, and glycolic acid in healthy subjects.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997
  • Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.

    The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024
  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
  • Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.

    The Journal of Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026
  • Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Disodium Edta, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Adenosine, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopherol

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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Prices checked 3 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Australia.

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