Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash for dry skin
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Coco-Betaine
Citric Acid
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other cleansers fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate suitability for your dry skin as glycerin provides humectant action, while Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate and Coco-Betaine effectively cleanse pores. Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract offers general cleansing benefits supportive for dry or flaky skin, but lacks targeted ingredients to deeply address dryness.
- The cleansing agents effectively remove impurities without causing irritation, making it safe for your dry skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this gel-to-foam cleanser is highly regarded by users with normal to oily skin for its effective deep cleansing that leaves skin feeling refreshed and soothed without stripping essential moisture. It is frequently noted for its ability to calm redness and control shine. Some users with dry or sensitive skin have reported it can be slightly drying or irritating.
Highlights
Deep cleans without stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “Cleanses well without stripping my skin of essential moisture”
- “Leaves my face feeling comfortable and fresh without any tightness”
- “Face feels clean but not dried out”
- “Removes dirt and oil without the squeaky clean, tight feel”
Great for oily/combo skin Often Mentioned
- “Best face wash for my oily skin”
- “Helps control the shine”
- “Balances my combination skin perfectly”
- “Keeps my T-zone in check without drying cheeks”
Soothing and calming Often Mentioned
- “Helps relieve visible redness and discomfort”
- “Great for soothing acne-prone skin”
- “Calms my skin and reduces irritation”
- “Feels very gentle and soothing on the face”
Efficient / Long-lasting Sometimes Noted
- “A little goes a long way”
- “One pump is enough for the whole face”
- “Bottle lasts for months”
- “Lathers up richly with a small amount”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “Left my skin feeling tight”
- “Too stripping for my dry skin”
- “Caused some dry patches around my nose”
- “Not hydrating enough for winter use”
Poor makeup removal Rarely Noted
- “Doesn't remove heavy makeup well”
- “Need a separate makeup remover first”
- “Struggles with waterproof mascara”
- “Left some residue after washing”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “A bit on the pricey side”
- “Expensive for a face wash”
- “Good but not sure it's worth the high price”
- “Wish it was more affordable”
Scent preference Rarely Noted
- “Smells a bit like medicine”
- “Faint floral-herbal scent may not suit everyone”
- “Don't like the herbal smell”
- “Scent is a bit strong for me”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, sephora.com, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, kiehls.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Calendula Foaming Face Wash work for dry skin?
Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash works moderately well for dry skin because glycerin provides moisture while the gentle cleansers remove impurities without causing irritation. However, it lacks targeted ingredients to deeply address dryness, so dry skin needs a cleanser with essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or niacinamide to provide excellent hydration and support the moisture barrier.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin helps keep your skin soft by drawing in moisture, and calendula extract provides soothing benefits. However, a cleanser for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to truly maintain moisture and protect the skin barrier.
What does Calendula Flower Extract do for dry skin?
Calendula Flower Extract helps improve hydration and makes dry skin feel soft and smooth. It also helps repair the skin barrier so it stays comfortable and less irritated.
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
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, before your hydrating toner or makeup remover and the rest of your daily steps. Using a mild cleanser helps clear away impurities without causing irritation on dry skin. To properly care for dry skin, a cleanser of this type needs added nourishing ingredients and rich hydrators to deeply address dryness.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine with retinol, applying it to clean your skin before you put on your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation, but dry skin needs a cleanser that adds rich soothing oils and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides to deeply comfort tight areas.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It cleans pores without causing irritation, though dry skin also needs targeted moisturizing and nourishing ingredients to deeply address dryness.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin as it gently washes away impurities without irritating the skin. Products of this type for dry skin need extra moisturizing ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid to deeply comfort and hydrate flaky areas.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes to prevent irritation. The product effectively washes away dirt while maintaining a very safe profile for your skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and citral).
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 application of Calendula officinalis extract cream significantly improved skin hydration and firmness (reflected in significant changes in R0 and R6 parameters) in 21 healthy human volunteers compared to a base cream.
Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 2011Treatment with standardized extract of Calendula officinalis L. led to a shorter epithelization time and faster healing speed compared to mineral oil in patients with acute skin loss wounds of the hand and fingers healing by secondary intention.
Tissue Barriers, 2022Topical administration of Calendula provides weak evidence of effectiveness in acute and chronic wounds compared to standard treatments based on a narrative review of available trials.
Wounds, 2008The 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, 2012The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Limon Lemon Peel Oil, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Edta, Propylene Glycol, Geranium Oil, Citral, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, 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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