Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash for combination skin
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Coco-Betaine
Citric Acid
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this cleanser effectively addresses oily shine with Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract to soothe and Citrus Limon Lemon Peel Oil for mild astringent effects.
- The formula contains Glycerin to provide humectant action, ensuring your skin remains hydrated without feeling stripped.
- This product is safe for your skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract to minimize irritation.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this gel-to-foam cleanser is highly regarded by users with normal to oily skin for its effective deep cleansing that leaves skin feeling refreshed and soothed without stripping essential moisture. It is frequently noted for its ability to calm redness and control shine. Some users with dry or sensitive skin have reported it can be slightly drying or irritating.
Highlights
Deep cleans without stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “Cleanses well without stripping my skin of essential moisture”
- “Leaves my face feeling comfortable and fresh without any tightness”
- “Face feels clean but not dried out”
- “Removes dirt and oil without the squeaky clean, tight feel”
Great for oily/combo skin Often Mentioned
- “Best face wash for my oily skin”
- “Helps control the shine”
- “Balances my combination skin perfectly”
- “Keeps my T-zone in check without drying cheeks”
Soothing and calming Often Mentioned
- “Helps relieve visible redness and discomfort”
- “Great for soothing acne-prone skin”
- “Calms my skin and reduces irritation”
- “Feels very gentle and soothing on the face”
Efficient / Long-lasting Sometimes Noted
- “A little goes a long way”
- “One pump is enough for the whole face”
- “Bottle lasts for months”
- “Lathers up richly with a small amount”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “Left my skin feeling tight”
- “Too stripping for my dry skin”
- “Caused some dry patches around my nose”
- “Not hydrating enough for winter use”
Poor makeup removal Rarely Noted
- “Doesn't remove heavy makeup well”
- “Need a separate makeup remover first”
- “Struggles with waterproof mascara”
- “Left some residue after washing”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “A bit on the pricey side”
- “Expensive for a face wash”
- “Good but not sure it's worth the high price”
- “Wish it was more affordable”
Scent preference Rarely Noted
- “Smells a bit like medicine”
- “Faint floral-herbal scent may not suit everyone”
- “Don't like the herbal smell”
- “Scent is a bit strong for me”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, sephora.com, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, kiehls.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash a great fit for combination skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because it addresses oily shine while keeping your skin hydrated without feeling stripped. It uses Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract to soothe and minimize irritation, along with glycerin to help maintain moisture.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin because it uses Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract to calm oily shine and soothe irritation, while Glycerin keeps your skin hydrated without feeling stripped. Citrus Limon Lemon Peel Oil also provides mild astringent effects to help balance your skin.
What does Calendula Flower Extract do for combination skin?
Calendula Flower Extract helps calm and soothe combination skin, keeping it feeling soft and comfortable. This plant extract is unlikely to irritate your skin and may help balance oily and dry areas.
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in both your morning and evening routine, used as the first step in the morning and after a makeup remover at night. It helps clean your skin and manage oily shine while keeping your face hydrated.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it before your retinol treatment in your evening routine. This cleanser helps keep your skin hydrated without feeling stripped, which is well-suited for combination skin when using stronger active ingredients.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It helps manage oily shine while keeping your skin hydrated and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin because it helps wash away oily shine while keeping dry spots hydrated, and it is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. It contains glycerin to keep your skin comfortable and calendula extract to help calm irritation.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin directly around the eyes. The skin around the eyes and on parts of the body varies greatly in thickness, making delicate areas more prone to irritation from foaming cleansers.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and citral).
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 Calendula officinalis extract cream significantly improved skin hydration and firmness (reflected in significant changes in R0 and R6 parameters) in 21 healthy human volunteers compared to a base cream.
Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica, 2011Treatment with standardized extract of Calendula officinalis L. led to a shorter epithelization time and faster healing speed compared to mineral oil in patients with acute skin loss wounds of the hand and fingers healing by secondary intention.
Tissue Barriers, 2022Topical administration of Calendula provides weak evidence of effectiveness in acute and chronic wounds compared to standard treatments based on a narrative review of available trials.
Wounds, 2008The 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, 2012The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Citrus Limon Lemon Peel Oil, Limonene, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Edta, Propylene Glycol, Geranium Oil, Citral, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract, 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?
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