Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum for sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
GlycerinAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin due to the presence of glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which support but do not directly target your redness and irritation.
- The humectant action of glycerin and hyaluronic acid is highly suitable for normal skin, providing general moisturizing benefits.
- The product is safe for your normal skin with sensitivity, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
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
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum work for sensitive skin?
This serum works well for sensitive skin because it provides safe and steady moisture without any harsh ingredients, though it is not specifically designed to calm redness and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and antioxidants to properly care for sensitive skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin and hyaluronic acid make this serum a good fit by providing general moisturizing benefits and keeping your skin soft and smooth. Because this product does not directly target redness and irritation, a treatment for sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and antioxidants to properly calm the skin.
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. It is safe for your sensitive skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, but a product for this skin needs ingredients that directly target redness and irritation.
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 skin hydrated and comfortable. To better calm redness and irritation on sensitive skin, a product of this type needs added soothing ingredients.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and toning and before your moisturizer. Sensitive skin works best with products that calm redness and irritation, so a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like Centella asiatica alongside hydration.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on sensitive skin because it lacks heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. A product for this skin needs gentle, calming ingredients like centella asiatica or soothing botanical extracts to actively target redness and irritation.
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 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
Why other serums fit sensitive skin better
Topical application of TAT-SOD significantly suppresses UVB-induced erythema formation, blood flow rise, and apoptotic sunburn cell formation in human volunteers compared to a vehicle control.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2016
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.