Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream for oily skin
Glacial Glycoprotein
Squalane
Glycerin
Apricot Kernel Oil
Avocado Oil
Low
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it 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
- Offers general hydration benefits for your oily skin due to glycerin and squalane, but lacks specialized ingredients to effectively manage oiliness, potentially worsening oily shine.
- Salicylic acid provides mild exfoliation suitable for oily skin, though stronger seboregulating components would offer better control.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 35.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is widely celebrated for restoring the moisture barrier, particularly for those with dry, sensitive, or dehydrated skin in harsh winter climates. Users consistently report that it provides deep, long-lasting hydration without feeling heavy. A minority with oily or acne-prone skin experienced breakouts or found it too rich for humid weather.
Highlights
Deep, long-lasting hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours”
- “eliminates dry patches”
- “saved my winter skin”
Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “fragrance-free”
- “no irritation”
Lightweight, non-greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “leaves no residue”
- “feels like a drink of water”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “pricy daily staple”
- “waiting for sales”
Excellent makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “no pilling”
- “creates a smooth canvas”
- “sits well under foundation”
Improves skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “reduces tightness”
- “skin feels plump/supple”
- “contains squalane”
Too greasy for oily skin Sometimes Noted
- “oil slick in summer”
- “heavy T-zone shine”
- “not matte enough”
Unhygienic jar packaging Sometimes Noted
- “dipping fingers is unsanitary”
- “prefer pump/tube”
- “exposure to air”
Causes breakouts/stinging Rarely Noted
- “cystic acne for some”
- “burning sensation on application (phenoxyethanol sensitivity)”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream a weak match for oily skin?
This moisturizer provides basic hydration with glycerin and squalane, but it lacks specialized ingredients to control excess shine and may make oily skin look shinier. A moisturizer for this skin type needs peptides, light hydrating agents, soothing extracts, and ingredients that support the skin barrier without heavy oils.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily skin?
This cream is a weak match for oily skin because it lacks specialized ingredients to manage oiliness, and a product of this type needs peptides, light hydrating agents, soothing extracts, and ingredients that support the skin barrier without heavy oils or excess shine.
What does Glacial Glycoprotein do for oily skin?
Glacial Glycoprotein helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy. It supports the skin barrier so your face stays comfortable and balanced throughout the day.
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer goes in the final steps of your morning and evening routines. Because it lacks specialized oil-managing ingredients and may worsen oily shine, oily skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with oil-absorbing minerals or purifying plant extracts.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. This routine helps keep your skin soft while managing dryness, though oily skin of this type needs a moisturizer with oil-controlling ingredients to avoid extra shine.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a weak match for oily skin because it lacks specialized ingredients to control oiliness and may worsen oily shine. A moisturizer for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating components and oil-balancing or mattifying ingredients to keep the face fresh and clear.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Yes, this cream is a weak match for oily skin and may feel too greasy or cause breakouts because it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively control oiliness. An oily skin type needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients and sebum-regulating components to stay clear and matte.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream can be used on the body and around the eyes, though it is a weak match for oily skin on the face. Because the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, any product used there needs to offer gentle hydration without heavy oils that may weigh the delicate area down.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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, 2017A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Squalane 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, 2025The 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, 2012Topical cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil improved wrinkle grading, reduced nasolabial fold area and volume, and increased skin elasticity in twenty healthy volunteers over 12 weeks without allergic reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical treatment with SSFAO 50% or avocado oil increased wound contraction, reepithelialization, collagen density, and tensile strength while showing anti-inflammatory activity compared to petroleum jelly in rats.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Peg-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethlhexanoate, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Rice Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Olive Oil Fruit, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Edta, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Soybean Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Myristic Acid, Hydroxypalmitol Sphinganine, Bht, Salicylic Acid, 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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