Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser for oily skin
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Lemon Fruit Extract
Glycerin
Kaolin
Pseudoalteromonas Extract FermentHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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
- This cleanser is highly suitable for your oily skin, with glycerin and kaolin effectively absorbing excess oil and providing hydration to balance your skin. Myristic acid and citrus medica limonum lemon fruit extract further aid in pore cleansing and offer mild astringent properties.
- Imperata cylindrica root extract and pseudoalteromonas extract ferment contribute to soothing the skin, ensuring a gentle yet effective cleansing experience.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of beneficial soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is widely praised by users with oily and normal skin for its ability to deeply cleanse and remove excess sebum without leaving a residue, often described as leaving skin "squeaky clean." A significant minority of users, particularly those with combination or sensitive skin, find the formula too stripping, leading to a tight, dry feeling after use.
Highlights
Excellent oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “Great for oily skin”
- “Removes all grease”
- “Matte finish”
Deep cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Squeaky clean feel”
- “Pores feel tighter”
- “Removes dirt well”
Rich lather Often Mentioned
- “Foams up beautifully”
- “Little goes a long way”
- “Thick creamy foam”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “Face felt tight”
- “Stripped my skin”
- “Too harsh for winter”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “No strong smell”
- “Good for sensitive noses”
- “Clean scent”
Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
- “Pricey for a cleanser”
- “Expensive daily wash”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Broke me out”
- “Caused small bumps”
- “Acne flared up”
Thick texture Rarely Noted
- “Hard to rinse off”
- “Feels like soap”
- “Residue left behind”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, makeupalley.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin because glycerin and kaolin absorb extra oil while keeping skin balanced and hydrated. Myristic acid and lemon fruit extract help clean out pores, while soothing ingredients ensure a gentle wash without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and kaolin make this cleanser a great fit for your oily skin because they absorb excess oil while keeping your skin balanced and hydrated. Myristic acid and lemon fruit extract help clear out pores, while imperata cylindrica root extract and pseudoalteromonas extract ferment soothe your skin.
What does Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract do for oily skin?
Imperata cylindrica root extract helps keep skin feeling soft and comfortable. This type of extract provides lasting hydration, which oily skin needs to stay balanced without feeling heavy or greasy.
What does Lemon Fruit Extract do for oily skin?
Lemon fruit extract helps refresh oily skin by lifting away excess oil and dead surface cells to keep pores clear. This type of skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to balance oil production and keep the face looking smooth and shine-free.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser is used both morning and evening as an early step in your daily routine, before applying a hydrating toner and moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before using your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, helping you maintain a gentle routine while using retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin and is designed to be used in both your morning and evening routines. Its gentle ingredients like glycerin and kaolin help absorb excess oil and hydrate your skin safely every day without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on your oily skin because it has an excellent safety profile with gentle, soothing ingredients and no harsh components. However, some reviewers do report that it can leave skin feeling a bit dry and stripped.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is suitable for use on the body, but because the skin around the eyes is much thinner than the rest of the body, you should use caution there to prevent irritation. The product is unlikely to cause issues on the body due to its gentle ingredients and excellent safety profile.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 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, 2012Vectorization of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid with clay enabled its penetration into deeper skin layers and led to a significant clinical reduction in fine lines in the crow's feet area compared to placebo after 28 days.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024Twice-weekly use of a clay mask over 4 weeks in 75 adults with oily or combination skin improved acne-related outcomes, sebum content, skin evenness, hydration, and reduced dryness and irritation.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Tetrasodium Edta, Citrus Medica Limonum Lemon Fruit Extract Extract, Peg-14m, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Methylisothiazolinone, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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How does it fit your skin?
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