Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum for dry skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
GlycerinHigh
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few serums fit it even 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 excellent hydration for your dry skin due to the presence of hyaluronic acid, which provides plumping effects and addresses dryness or flakiness.
- Glycerin further supports moisturizing benefits, ensuring your skin remains hydrated and comfortable.
- The formula is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing components like hyaluronic acid.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this collection of minimalist serums is widely praised for its fast-absorbing, non-sticky textures and efficacy in targeting specific skin concerns like dryness, excess oil, and uneven texture. The Hyaluronic Acid version is lauded for immediate plumping, the Niacinamide serum is a favorite for controlling shine without irritation, and the Glycolic Acid variant is effective for smoothing skin, though it requires caution for sensitive types.
Highlights
Fast-absorbing texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs almost instantly”
- “sinks in really easily”
- “no sticky residue”
- “layers beautifully.”
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “Instantly reduces excess oil”
- “no shine whatsoever”
- “helped minimize my pores”
- “skin felt less oily.”
Gentle minimalist formula Often Mentioned
- “Good for sensitive skin”
- “no irritation at all”
- “simple clean formulation”
- “fragrance and colorant free.”
Immediate hydration Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels more plump”
- “bouncy supple appearance”
- “super hydrating”
- “relieves dry patches.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Price hard to justify”
- “cost more than double The Ordinary”
- “expensive for simple ingredients”
- “pricy for the size.”
Visible skin smoothing Sometimes Noted
- “Significant decrease in texture”
- “bumps on forehead gone”
- “skin looks super smooth”
- “noticeable glow.”
Lack of dramatic results Sometimes Noted
- “Nice but no must-have”
- “didn't see major difference”
- “feels a bit redundant”
- “5% concentration too low.”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “Dropper is finicky”
- “hard to get last drops”
- “bottle broke easily”
- “pipette doesn't hold much.”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Burned my face off”
- “caused severe breakouts”
- “stinging sensation”
- “left skin red.”
Texture preference Rarely Noted
- “Super watery texture”
- “runs down face quickly”
- “consistency is very thin”
- “feels like putting water on.”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, boots.com, sephora.sg, spacenk.com, escentual.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum a great fit for dry skin?
This serum is a great fit because it helps quench dry skin and leaves it feeling plump and comfortable with the help of hyaluronic acid and glycerin. These ingredients provide deep hydration and address flakiness while keeping the formula gentle and safe.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin make this serum a great fit because they provide deep hydration, keeping dry skin plump and comfortable. Hyaluronic acid also soothes the skin while addressing dryness and flakiness.
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer to keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. Using it at night helps avoid any extra safety concerns around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your dry skin hydrated and comfortable, followed by your retinol. The formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation when combined with active treatments.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and before your moisturizer. This simple timing keeps your skincare routine easy and helps protect your skin around sun exposure, while ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin work to keep dry skin comfortable.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin. It focuses on gentle hydration and moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin without heavy or pore-clogging components.
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 hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019The 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, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, 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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