Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
GlycerinHigh
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few serums 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
- Excellent hydration for your oily skin is provided by glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which effectively moisturize without adding excess oil. The absence of harsh ingredients ensures no irritation for your oily skin.
- The high concentrations of glycerin and hyaluronic acid offer general skincare benefits, addressing your need for hydration.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
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
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum a great fit for oily skin?
Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum is a great fit for oily skin because glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide excellent hydration without adding excess oil. This formula is also gentle and safe, with no harsh ingredients to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and hyaluronic acid make this serum a great fit because they hydrate oily skin effectively without adding extra oil. The formula is also free of harsh ingredients, which helps keep your skin calm and safe from irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and helps avoid any extra safety concerns around sun exposure.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying it before your retinol product to help keep your oily skin hydrated without adding excess shine. Using a hydrating routine helps reduce the irritation and dryness that can sometimes happen when you use retinol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is a great fit for your oily skin because it provides excellent hydration without adding excess oil, and it is very unlikely to cause irritation.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin because it uses glycerin and hyaluronic acid to moisturize without adding excess oil. Its gentle formula is very safe and leaves out harsh ingredients, so it is unlikely to cause 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
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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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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