Kiehl's Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Micronized Calendula Petals
Glycerin
Panthenol
BisabololAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers 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 suitability for your oily skin as Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract and Bisabolol provide some anti-inflammatory benefits, but it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to fully address excess oil.
- The presence of glycerin and panthenol offers excellent moisturizing and barrier support, which is beneficial for overall skin health.
- The product is safe for your oily skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lightweight gel-cream is highly favored by users with oily and combination skin for its refreshing texture that effectively soothes redness and calms inflammation without feeling heavy. Some users with dry skin report it is not hydrating enough, and a small number of users dislike the tacky residue it can leave or experience irritation from the essential oils.
Highlights
Lightweight, absorbs fast Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “weightless feel”
- “watery freshness”
- “melts into skin”
Good for oily skin Often Mentioned
- “perfect for oily skin”
- “non-greasy”
- “doesn't clog pores”
- “balances oil”
Soothing and calming Often Mentioned
- “reduced redness”
- “calms inflammation”
- “soothing hydration”
- “relieved discomfort”
Radiant finish Sometimes Noted
- “healthy glow”
- “dewy look”
- “boosts radiance”
- “fresh appearance”
Smooths skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels soft”
- “smooth canvas”
- “improves texture”
- “makeup glides on”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “too expensive”
- “pricey for results”
- “not worth the money”
- “small amount for price”
Not hydrating enough Sometimes Noted
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “skin felt tight”
- “need to reapply”
- “dry patches remained”
Sticky finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a film”
- “sticky residue”
- “tacky feeling”
- “slippery texture”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “burning sensation”
- “caused breakouts”
- “tingling”
- “made face itchy”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “smells like lemon candy”
- “scent is overpowering”
- “fragrance caused nausea”
- “too perfumey”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, sephora.sg, ulta.com, spacenk.com, femaledaily.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Kiehl's Calendula Water Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for oily skin by offering soothing comfort and hydration without heavy oils, though it lacks enough oil-balancing ingredients to fully manage excess shine. An ideal option for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients, brightening agents, and oil-balancing components that keep the complexion clear without clogging pores.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, panthenol, bisabolol, and calendula extract make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin by offering soothing benefits and moisture without heavy oils. To truly thrive, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration, ingredients that control excess oil, and soothing agents that keep pores clear.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What do Micronized Calendula Petals do for oily acne-prone skin?
Micronized Calendula Petals help calm redness and soothe irritated spots for oily, acne-prone skin. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and may help keep breakouts under control.
What does Calendula Flower Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Calendula officinalis extract helps calm red and irritated skin while supporting the healing of breakouts. It has a strong safety profile and is unlikely to clog pores, making it a soothing choice for oily and acne-prone skin.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes after cleansing and any toners or treatment serums, and should be followed by sunscreen in the morning. An average-fitting product for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help balance excess oil alongside soothing agents and light hydrators.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it soft and comfortable. This type of product for oily acne-prone skin needs to include oil-controlling ingredients alongside calming and barrier-supporting ones to fully manage excess shine while keeping the skin healthy.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps improve skin moisture and barrier support while remaining safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your oily, acne-prone skin since it lacks harsh ingredients, though it provides only average suitability. Because it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to fully manage excess oil, this skin type typically needs products formulated with specific ingredients that balance oil production while keeping pores clear.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cream around the eyes and on your body, though the thin skin around the eyes and different body areas may need tailored hydration and targeted care due to varying skin thickness. It is unlikely to cause irritation in these areas, and ingredients like glycerin and panthenol help keep skin soft and supported.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, citral, citronellol, geraniol, farnesol, and linalool).
What the research says
Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 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, 2008A 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, 2001Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Chlorphenesin, Citrus Limon Lemon Peel Oil, Sodium Citrate, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Limonene, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Geranium Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Farnesol, Linalool, Tocopherol, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract
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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