Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream for sensitive skin
Glacial Glycoprotein
Squalane
Glycerin
Apricot Kernel Oil
Avocado Oil
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other moisturizers 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
- Suitable for normal skin, this cream provides excellent moisturization with glycerin and squalane, which hydrate and support barrier function, though these ingredients do not directly address your redness and irritation.
- The formula offers general skincare benefits that enhance skin hydration and resilience, but lacks specific actives to target your primary concerns.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like glycerin and squalane.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 35.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is widely celebrated for restoring the moisture barrier, particularly for those with dry, sensitive, or dehydrated skin in harsh winter climates. Users consistently report that it provides deep, long-lasting hydration without feeling heavy. A minority with oily or acne-prone skin experienced breakouts or found it too rich for humid weather.
Highlights
Deep, long-lasting hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours”
- “eliminates dry patches”
- “saved my winter skin”
Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “fragrance-free”
- “no irritation”
Lightweight, non-greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “leaves no residue”
- “feels like a drink of water”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “pricy daily staple”
- “waiting for sales”
Excellent makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “no pilling”
- “creates a smooth canvas”
- “sits well under foundation”
Improves skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “reduces tightness”
- “skin feels plump/supple”
- “contains squalane”
Too greasy for oily skin Sometimes Noted
- “oil slick in summer”
- “heavy T-zone shine”
- “not matte enough”
Unhygienic jar packaging Sometimes Noted
- “dipping fingers is unsanitary”
- “prefer pump/tube”
- “exposure to air”
Causes breakouts/stinging Rarely Noted
- “cystic acne for some”
- “burning sensation on application (phenoxyethanol sensitivity)”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream work for sensitive skin?
This cream works for sensitive skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks specific ingredients to calm redness and irritation. This type of skin needs soothing components like fermented Centella Asiatica and Cica Ceramide to properly target redness and strengthen the barrier.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin and squalane make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin by boosting hydration and keeping the skin barrier comfortable. Because it is an average fit, a moisturizer for this skin needs soothing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica and cica ceramide to calm redness and irritation.
What does Glacial Glycoprotein do for sensitive skin?
Glacial Glycoprotein helps keep sensitive skin hydrated and protected against dryness. It supports the skin barrier so it stays calm and comfortable throughout the day.
What does Squalane do for sensitive skin?
Squalane helps calm sensitive skin by defending against everyday irritation and keeping it smooth and soft. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier so it stays comfortable and hydrated.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cream goes at the end of your evening routine, after your cleanser, toner, and treatment. It is safe for your sensitive skin and helps keep it soft and hydrated, though a product for this skin also needs soothing ingredients that directly calm redness and irritation.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol treatment first, letting it dry, and then smoothing on this moisturizer. A moisturizer like this helps keep your skin soft and comfortable while you use strong treatments, though sensitive skin dealing with redness and irritation needs a soothing product with specific calming ingredients to target those concerns.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing cream daily in your morning and evening routines. Regular application helps keep your skin hydrated and supports its natural barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or stinging on sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and is well tolerated. However, a moisturizer of this type needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators to calm redness and irritation without clogging pores.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on the body and around the eyes, as it is safe for sensitive skin and provides good general hydration with glycerin and squalane. Because the skin around the eyes and on various body areas differs in thickness and sensitivity, a suitable product for these regions needs gentle, barrier-supporting ingredients like glycerin and plant oils to maintain moisture without irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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 sensitive 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, 2024Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Peg-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethlhexanoate, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Rice Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Olive Oil Fruit, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Edta, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Soybean Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Myristic Acid, Hydroxypalmitol Sphinganine, Bht, Salicylic Acid, 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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