🇫🇷France

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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 excellent moisturizing for your oily skin due to high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump without clogging pores, complemented by salicylic acid for mild exfoliation and pore-cleansing.
  • The inclusion of Menthoxypropanediol and Cucumis Sativus Cucumber Fruit Extract Juice further enhances the soothing and refreshing experience, making it well-suited for managing oily shine.
  • The product demonstrates a high safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin, thanks to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 500+ reviews

This lightweight gel moisturizer is highly recommended for oily and combination skin, providing hydration without greasiness or pore-clogging. Users frequently praise its oil control and refreshing feel, making it ideal for warmer weather. However, individuals with dry skin often find it lacks sufficient moisture, and a small number of sensitive users have reported stinging or a sticky residue.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly without residue”
    • “feels like water on skin”
    • “super light gel texture”
    • “doesn't feel heavy at all”
  • Excellent oil control Often Mentioned
    • “keeps my T-zone matte”
    • “no midday grease”
    • “controls oil all day”
    • “shine-free finish”
  • Hydrating for oily Often Mentioned
    • “perfect balance of moisture”
    • “hydrated but not oily”
    • “doesn't clog my pores”
    • “great summer moisturizer”
  • Insufficient for dry Often Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour”
    • “not enough for winter”
    • “dry patches remained”
    • “need to layer it”
  • Alcohol-free formula Sometimes Noted
    • “no longer smells like alcohol”
    • “doesn't dry me out like the old one”
    • “gentler on my barrier”
    • “improved ingredient list”
  • Cooling & refreshing Sometimes Noted
    • “feels cool on contact”
    • “refreshing burst of hydration”
    • “great for hot summers”
    • “soothes heated skin”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “way too pricey for a basic gel”
    • “jar is too small for the cost”
    • “expensive for what it is”
  • Sticky/tacky finish Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves a tacky film”
    • “feels sticky to the touch”
    • “hair sticks to face”
    • “takes a while to dry down”
  • Pilling issues Rarely Noted
    • “pills under my makeup”
    • “rolls off when I rub my face”
    • “doesn't play well with sunscreen”
    • “clumps up”
  • Stinging sensation Rarely Noted
    • “burned my cheeks”
    • “stung upon application”
    • “caused redness and heat”
    • “irritated my sensitive skin”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, lookfantastic.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream a great fit for oily skin?

This moisturizer is a great fit for your oily skin because it hydrates and plumps without clogging pores, while salicylic acid gently exfoliates and helps manage oily shine. Cucumber fruit extract and other soothing components add a refreshing feel, and the formula is very safe with virtually no risk of irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?

This cream is a great fit for oily skin because it uses glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate and plump without clogging pores, alongside salicylic acid for mild exfoliation and pore-cleansing. Menthoxypropanediol and cucumber fruit extract add a refreshing feel that helps manage oily shine while keeping the skin calm.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Micronized Amino Acid do for oily skin?

Micronized Amino Acid is a poor fit for oily skin because it typically lacks the oil-controlling agents and lightweight hydration that oily skin needs to stay balanced and clear.

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.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes in the morning routine after a hydrating toner and before sunscreen, and in the evening routine as the final step after your treatment. It helps hydrate your oily skin without clogging pores while offering a very safe and soothing experience.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream alongside retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it absorb, and then following with this moisturizer to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. This approach is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier while using stronger treatments.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

This cream is a great fit for your oily skin, so you can use it twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Using it regularly helps keep your skin hydrated without clogging pores while managing oily shine.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin because it hydrates without heavy oils and includes salicylic acid to help keep pores clear. It also has a safe profile with no risks of irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

This moisturizing treatment is generally safe to use on the body and around the eyes, though the skin there is very thin and may react differently than facial skin. It is unlikely to irritate because it contains gentle, hydrating ingredients without harsh additives, making it well-tolerated across different areas.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

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, 2017

  • Twice 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, 2024

  • A 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, 2020

  • Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024

  • The 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, 2023

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Edta, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthoxypropanediol, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sarcosine, Salicylic Acid, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Propanediol, Cucumis Sativus Cucumber Fruit Extract Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 10 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for France.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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