Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer for oily skin
Squalane
Glycerin
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Avocado Oil
Butylene Glycol
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers 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 moderate hydration for your oily skin due to squalane and glycerin, which help maintain barrier resilience and provide humectant benefits. These ingredients are generally well-tolerated and do not exacerbate oiliness.
- While beneficial for general hydration, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to directly address concerns like oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like squalane and glycerin.
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
★4.4Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers find this moisturizer to be a rich, fragrance-free lotion that deeply hydrates, benefiting dry, combination, and sensitive skin, especially in winter. Many appreciate its ability to repair the skin barrier. However, a notable number of reviewers mention it can leave a greasy or sticky residue if not fully absorbed, making it less ideal for very oily or acne-prone skin.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Saved my dry winter skin”
- “keeps flakes away”
- “rich and nourishing”
Gentle and fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “No strong smell”
- “doesn't sting sensitive areas”
Greasy or sticky Often Mentioned
- “Takes too long to sink in”
- “leaves face shiny”
- “feels tacky under makeup”
Key ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “Love the squalane”
- “ingredients feel premium”
- “simple but effective mix”
Value and longevity Sometimes Noted
- “Bottle lasts forever”
- “only need a pea size”
- “good value for size”
Not for oily Sometimes Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “too heavy for summer”
- “made my T-zone oily”
Expensive price Rarely Noted
- “Pricey for a basic lotion”
- “good but expensive”
- “waited for a sale”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “More liquid than expected”
- “sits on top of skin”
- “prefer the jar cream texture”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, kiehls.com, makeupalley.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer work for oily skin?
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer works reasonably well for oily skin by providing moderate hydration through squalane and glycerin without making your face feel overly greasy. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly manage oily shine, so an oily skin type needs a moisturizer with peptides and lightweight hydrating agents that control shine and support the skin barrier without heavy oils.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for oily skin?
Squalane and glycerin make this moisturizer a moderate fit for oily skin by providing light hydration that is unlikely to make your face feel greasy. Oily skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with peptides and hydrating agents that do not clog pores, along with ingredients that control shine.
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.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer goes in your morning and evening routine after cleansing and any toners or treatments, and before sunscreen in the morning. Using a daily moisturizer helps keep your skin balanced and comfortable while supporting your skin barrier.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it soft. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer along with retinoids helps reduce dryness and irritation while supporting your skin.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps keep your skin comfortable and supports your skin barrier without making it oily.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to cause harsh breakouts or purging for oily skin, as its key ingredients like squalane and glycerin are generally well-tolerated and do not add extra oiliness. However, reviewers frequently mention that the formula feels greasy or sticky, meaning oily skin types often need a lighter product with ingredients that actively help control shiny skin.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around the eyes and on the body, as its gentle ingredients are safe for different skin thicknesses and areas. For the very thin skin around the eyes or on various body regions, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and soothing agents that nourish without feeling heavy.
Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Myristyl 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, 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, Squalane, Glycerin, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Stearic Acid, Alba Beeswax Cera, Myristyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil
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.