Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner for oily skin
Squalane
Avocado Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Vitamin E
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other toners 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 suitability for your oily skin as Glycerin and Squalane provide excellent hydration without exacerbating oiliness. Ascorbyl Glucoside offers antioxidant benefits, supporting overall skin health.
- The formula's humectant action from Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate is supportive for general skincare needs, though it does not specifically target oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your hydrating toner in your AM and PM routine every day to keep skin fresh.
- Apply this product after cleansing and before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb.
- Apply the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin to help it absorb better.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis milky, alcohol-free toner is widely praised by users with dry and sensitive skin for its immediate soothing and hydrating effects, often described as a "moisture boost" that preps the face for serums. Reactions are mixed for acne-prone and oily skin types; while some find it balancing, a significant minority report clogged pores and breakouts.
Highlights
Milky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “milky and comforting”
- “thicker than water”
- “slides on like lotion”
- “feels luxurious”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin touchably soft”
- “instantly hydrated”
- “banished my dry patches”
- “feels like a drink for skin”
Gentle & soothing Often Mentioned
- “doesn't burn sensitive skin”
- “calming after cleansing”
- “no tightness”
Alcohol-free Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't dry me out”
- “non-stripping formula”
- “gentle alcohol-free base”
- “keeps barrier intact”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “gave me cystic acne”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like saliva”
- “weird chemical scent”
- “faint baby lotion smell”
- “off-putting odor”
Pricey Rarely Noted
- “too expensive for toner”
- “price point is steep”
- “not worth the money”
- “good but pricey”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a tacky film”
- “feels sticky on face”
- “takes too long to absorb”
- “greasy after-feel”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, reddit.com, beautybulletin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner work for oily skin?
This toner works moderately well for oily skin because glycerin and squalane provide hydration without adding extra oiliness, though it does not specifically target shine. Oily skin needs products with oil-controlling ingredients that balance and repair without heavy or pore-clogging components.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and squalane help make this toner a good fit by providing hydration without adding extra oiliness. To work best for oily skin, a toner of this type needs lightweight ingredients that balance oil and keep the face comfortable.
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 Avocado Oil do for oily skin?
This product type may feel too heavy for oily skin, which typically needs lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to stay smooth without clogging pores.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This toner goes after cleansing in the morning and during your weekly routine. Oily skin works best with products of this type that also control excess shine and balance oil.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying the toner first, letting it dry, and then following with your retinol. Using a hydrating toner before retinol helps keep your skin comfortable and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this hydrating toner daily in your morning routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer and SPF. It offers moderate suitability for oily skin by providing good hydration without making your skin oily, though oily skin ultimately benefits most from lightweight formulas that specifically target shine.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Yes, this toner may cause breakouts for oily skin since reviewers report this issue. To better fit oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that target shine and control oil.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2024Squalane 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, 2024Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Why other toners 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, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Peg-100 Stearate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethanolamine, P-Anisic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, 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.
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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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.