Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream for sensitive skin
Squalane
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Lavender Oil
Zinc GluconateAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 benefits for your normal, sensitive skin as Glycerin and Shea Butter provide hydration and support the skin barrier, addressing general redness and irritation. Squalane further enhances barrier resilience, contributing to overall skin comfort.
- The inclusion of essential oils like lavender and rose oil offers soothing benefits, though their potential for irritation is minimal for sensitive skin.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing components like Glycerin and Shea Butter.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with normal to dry skin frequently praise this cream for its ability to deeply hydrate and repair the moisture barrier without feeling heavy, often waking up to a visibly plumper and more radiant complexion. While many enjoy the botanical scent and "cloud-like" texture, those with sensitive skin or fragrance aversions occasionally report irritation or find the smell overpowering.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “woke up with plump skin”
- “skin feels supple and soft”
- “got rid of my dry patches”
- “hydration lasts all night”
Lightweight whipped texture Often Mentioned
- “feels like a cloud on my skin”
- “whipped texture absorbs instantly”
- “lightweight but super moisturizing”
- “fluffy consistency sinks right in”
Non-greasy finish Often Mentioned
- “doesn't leave a sticky residue”
- “no oily film on my pillow”
- “matte but moisturized feel”
- “perfect for oily combo skin”
Radiant morning glow Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks glowing in the morning”
- “complexion looks refreshed and bright”
- “takes away the dullness”
- “looks like I slept 8 hours”
Relaxing lavender scent Sometimes Noted
- “smell helps me fall asleep”
- “soothing spa-like fragrance”
- “love the calming herbal scent”
- “perfect aromatherapy for bedtime”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “too expensive for the amount”
- “pricey for a basic moisturizer”
- “jar is small for the cost”
- “not worth the high price tag”
Strong botanical fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is way too overpowering”
- “smells too strongly of lavender”
- “fragrance gave me a headache”
- “wish it was unscented”
Causes skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused red itchy bumps”
- “broke me out in cystic acne”
- “burning sensation upon application”
- “not safe for sensitive skin”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “need something heavier for winter”
- “not moisturizing enough for very dry skin”
- “had to apply multiple layers”
- “felt dry again by morning”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, kohls.com, sephora.co.uk, kiehls.com, cultbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream work for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer works moderately well for sensitive skin, as glycerin and shea butter provide hydration while squalane and essential oils help soothe redness and irritation. To fit this skin even better, a product of this type needs highly effective soothing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica, cica, and ceramides to strengthen the skin barrier without causing any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin, shea butter, and squalane make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin as they provide hydration and support the skin barrier for overall comfort. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs fermented Centella Asiatica, Cica Ceramide, and nourishing oils that enhance barrier function and hydrate without overwhelming the skin.
What does Squalane do for sensitive skin?
Squalane helps calm sensitive skin by defending against everyday irritation and keeping it smooth and soft. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier so it stays comfortable and hydrated.
What does Butyrospermum Parkii Butter do for sensitive skin?
Butyrospermum parkii butter helps protect sensitive and easily irritated skin by calming redness and keeping it soft. It supports the outer moisture barrier so skin stays smooth and comfortable, and it is generally well-tolerated without causing discomfort.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer goes as the final step of your evening routine, after your cleanser, toner, and any treatments. A product for sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients like glycerin and shea butter to calm irritation and hydrate the skin while supporting the skin barrier.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol treatment first and following with this moisturizer to help keep sensitive skin comfortable and hydrated. Sensitive skin needs a moisturizer packed with barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, or soothing plant extracts to protect against irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer daily in your morning and evening routines. Daily application helps maintain skin moisture and supports the skin barrier. Sensitive skin needs a product with soothing ingredients like glycerin and shea butter to help keep skin calm and comfortable.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and features soothing components like glycerin and shea butter that help keep skin calm and hydrated. A moisturizer for this skin needs gentle hydrators and barrier supporters like glycerin and ceramides without heavy oils or strong fragrances that might trigger irritation.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream works on the thin skin around the eyes and body, though sensitive skin of this type needs a richer moisturizer with extra barrier-repairing ingredients and soothing extracts for best results.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, geraniol, citral, and citronellol). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Shea Butter, Squalane, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cellulose, Cetearyl Glucoside, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower, Rosa Damascena Oil Flower, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Lavender Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Glycine Soja Oil, Soybean Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf, Rosemary Oil Leaf, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Zinc Gluconate, Sodium Polyacrylate Starch, Silica, Adenosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Salicylic Acid, Benzoic Acid, Ultramarines, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Citronellol
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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