Kiehl's Age Defender Power Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Cupressus Sempervirens Extract
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Caffeine
Low
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate anti-aging benefits for your oily skin, as adenosine and hydrolyzed soy protein help minimize fine lines, while glycerin provides hydration to support your skin barrier function.
- While glycerin offers some humectant action for oily skin, the formula lacks sufficient ingredients for strong seboregulation, and the presence of alcohol denat and parfum may pose a risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis serum is highly regarded for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that effectively hydrates and firms men's skin. Users frequently report visible improvements in skin texture and a reduction in the appearance of forehead lines and wrinkles with consistent daily use.
Highlights
Fast absorption Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs instantly”
- “Sinks in fast”
- “No sticky feeling”
Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
- “Doesn't feel greasy”
- “No residue”
- “Lightweight gel”
Improves firmness Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels tighter”
- “Visibly firmer”
- “More resilient”
Reduces lines Sometimes Noted
- “Forehead creases shallower”
- “Helped with lines”
- “Smoothed texture”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “It's pricey”
- “Expensive for size”
- “Costly for daily use”
Caused dryness Rarely Noted
- “Skin still dry”
- “Caused some irritation”
- “Not hydrating enough”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump not functioning”
- “Bottle issues”
- “Dispenser problems”
Subtle results Rarely Noted
- “No apparent tightening”
- “Hard to notice”
- “Slow to see change”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, macys.com, ulta.com, bloomingdales.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Kiehl's Age Defender Power Serum a weak match for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a weak match because it lacks enough ingredients to control excess oil, and the inclusion of alcohol denat and parfum may risk irritation. An effective product for this skin type needs soothing extracts and ingredients like niacinamide or propolis to manage oil and breakouts comfortably.
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Alcohol denat and parfum make this serum a poor fit because they may irritate oily acne-prone skin, while the formula also lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients. Treatments for this skin need ingredients like niacinamide and propolis to balance oil and soothe blemishes without irritation.
What does Cypress Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Cypress extract helps oily, acne-prone skin by balancing excess oil and making large pores less noticeable. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to keep your face feeling smooth and fresh throughout the day.
Phytotherapy Research, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps the routine simple and protects your skin around sun exposure. Because this serum is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs oil-balancing ingredients and a gentle formula without irritating alcohols or fragrances to properly care for your skin.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol, but apply your retinol first and let it absorb completely before adding this serum to help lower the chance of irritation. This product is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks ingredients to manage oil well and contains alcohol and fragrance that may cause irritation, so oily acne-prone skin needs a product with strong oil-balancing ingredients and soothing, fragrance-free hydration instead.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is best used in the evening once a week to start, as this allows your skin to adjust safely while avoiding extra irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that balances oil production and leaves out drying alcohols and added fragrances.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients, and alcohol denat and parfum may risk irritation. An oily acne-prone skin type needs a product with balanced oil control, soothing plant extracts, and gentle hydrators that keep pores clear without heavy additives.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, and citral) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches showed similar or better efficacy on skin wrinkles, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration compared to adenosine cream in 22 female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018Horse oil-spread and adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches significantly improved skin elasticity, hydration, dermal density, and wrinkles compared with adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches in 20 women without causing adverse events.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical 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, 2026A 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, 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, 2012Wearing 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, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment 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, 2007A 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, 2021
Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better
Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propylene Glycol, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Soybean Oil, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Limonene, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium Edta, Adenosine, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Cryptomeria Japonica Bud Extract, Linalool, Citral
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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