Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Squalane
Avocado Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Vitamin E
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers 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 decyl glucoside and glycerin provide effective cleansing and hydration without stripping, though they do not specifically target acne or breakouts.
- Squalane and tocopherol offer antioxidant and emollient benefits, supporting overall skin health for your oily skin type.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is widely appreciated for its gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively cleanses without compromising the skin barrier, making it a favorite for sensitive and combination skin. Many users highlight its ability to remove makeup and impurities while maintaining skin hydration. Some users with very dry or reactive skin have noted it can be slightly stripping or feel overpriced for its simple formulation.
Highlights
Gentle, non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin's natural oils”
- “leaves face feeling clean and soft”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “skin feels comfortable, not tight”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes light makeup easily”
- “dissolves excess oil and dirt”
- “face feels squeaky clean”
- “great second step in double cleansing”
Suitable for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “fantastic for sensitive skin”
- “no scent/fragrance-free”
- “doesn't cause redness or irritation”
Good texture/lather Sometimes Noted
- “lathers nicely without being overly foamy”
- “rich and creamy texture”
- “little goes a long way”
- “smooth gel consistency”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “leaves my skin feeling stripped”
- “made my face a little dry”
- “too drying for winter months”
- “tight feeling after washing”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for a basic cleanser”
- “overpriced compared to drugstore alternatives”
- “not worth the premium price”
- “good but pricey”
Basic formula Rarely Noted
- “nothing exceptional here”
- “pretty darn basic”
- “boring but effective”
- “just an average cleanser”
Ingredient concerns Rarely Noted
- “contains parabens”
- “dislike the SLES content”
- “caused minor breakouts”
- “stings eyes if not careful”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, ulta.com, sephora.sg, sephora.co.uk, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser offers moderate suitability for oily acne-prone skin because it cleans and hydrates effectively without stripping, though it does not specifically target breakouts. Cleansers that work best for this skin type need to control oil production and prevent breakouts while providing safe and gentle cleaning.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Decyl glucoside and glycerin help clean and hydrate oily skin without stripping it, while squalane and vitamin E support overall skin health. To work best for oily acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs powerful ingredients that actively control oil and address breakouts.
What does Squalane do for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep oily skin soft and smooth, but oxidized squalene can trigger inflammation in acne-prone skin. Because of this, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
What does Avocado Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Avocado oil is generally not the best fit for oily acne-prone skin because oils heavy in certain fatty acids can sometimes clog pores and make breakouts worse. Skin of this type needs lightweight ingredients that help control excess shine and soothe irritation without heavy barriers.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the cleansing step. Because it offers only an average fit for oily acne-prone skin, a cleanser for this skin type ideally needs targeted ingredients that help clear blemishes and control breakouts alongside gentle cleansing.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before you put on your retinol treatment. This cleanser washes your face gently without stripping your skin, but an oily acne-prone routine also needs ingredients that directly target breakouts and clear pores.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine because it cleans and hydrates without stripping your skin. A product for your oily acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that specifically target breakouts.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. However, because it does not specifically target acne or breakouts, oily skin may benefit from a product that includes acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes because it is gentle and safe for the skin. A product of this type needs to cleanse effectively and hydrate the skin while supporting overall skin health for oily acne-prone skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl 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, 2017Topical application of tocopherol succinate ethosomal gel decreased erythema, melanin, and sebum levels while improving moisture content and skin elasticity in 34 human women.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Alpha-tocopherol loaded nanostructured lipid carrier gel provided enhanced moisturizing and anti-aging properties in human volunteers over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Squalane 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, 2025Topical 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, 2013Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Tea tree oil gel and face wash significantly reduced total facial acne lesions from 23.7 to 10.7 and improved investigator global assessment scores in 14 participants with mild to moderate facial acne over 12 weeks.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2017A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Distearyl Ether, Behenyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Laureth-2, Propylparaben, Sodium Methylparaben, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.