Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate for oily skin
Squalane
Lavender Essential Oil
Oenothera Biennis Oil
Rosa Canina Oil Fruit
Curcuma Longa Root ExtractLow
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the moisturizers alongside 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
- Suboptimal compatibility with your oily skin as ingredients like Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and Dicaprylyl Carbonate may pose risks of worsening oily shine concerns, though squalane and rosa canina oil fruit offer moderate hydration and barrier resilience.
- The formula provides general skincare benefits, but lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients for optimal results on oily skin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsThis facial oil is widely praised as a holy grail for dry or tired skin, with users consistently reporting a noticeable morning glow and improved plumpness after overnight use. Results are polarized for acne-prone users; while some find it balances oil production, a significant minority experience breakouts or cystic acne due to the essential oils. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Restores radiance Mostly Mentioned
- “woke up glowing”
- “skin looks rested”
- “banished dullness”
- “noticeable morning radiance”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin drinks it up”
- “erased dry patches”
- “soft and supple”
- “plumped fine lines”
Relaxing scent Often Mentioned
- “calming lavender smell”
- “helps me sleep”
- “soothing aromatherapy”
- “smells like a spa”
Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
- “not greasy at all”
- “absorbs instantly”
- “light texture”
- “doesn't stain pillow”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “tiny white bumps”
- “clogged my pores”
- “worst breakout ever”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “not worth the money”
- “overpriced oil”
Fragrance irritation Rarely Noted
- “smell is overpowering”
- “irritated my eyes”
- “too much essential oil”
- “scent caused headache”
Sits on skin Rarely Noted
- “felt oily all night”
- “didn't sink in”
- “greasy residue”
- “just sat on top”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, makeupalley.com, skincare.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate a weak match for oily skin?
This product is a weak match because it may worsen oily shine and lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients. Oily skin needs a product of this type that has hyaluronic acid to provide hydration, niacinamide to control oil and minimize pores, and soothing allantoin.
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for oily skin?
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and Dicaprylyl Carbonate make this a poor fit as they may worsen oily shine. An ideal moisturizing treatment for oily skin needs oil-controlling ingredients like Niacinamide, lightweight hydration from hyaluronic acid, and soothing ingredients like Allantoin.
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 Lavender Essential Oil do for oily skin?
Lavender essential oil helps keep oily skin clear by targeting bacteria that lead to breakouts, and it may also calm redness and soothe irritation. Because it is potent, an oily skin routine needs soothing plant extracts and gentle balancing ingredients to keep the skin barrier healthy.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though an oily skin needs a product with oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying it after your retinol has fully absorbed into the skin. This product is a weak match for oily skin because certain ingredients may worsen oily shine, meaning this skin type generally needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients and sebum-regulating components for best results.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is best used in the evening as part of your nighttime routine. Because this oil-based product is a weak match for oily skin, a product of this type needs balancing ingredients that help control excess oil and shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This oil-heavy treatment is a weak match for oily skin and may worsen shine or cause breakouts. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients to properly balance oily skin.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This treatment is generally safe to use on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body, but it is a weak match for oily skin because it may worsen oily shine. A product of this type needs lightweight ingredients and oil-balancing extracts to properly care for oily skin.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, citronellol, geraniol, limonene, and citral).
What the research says
Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Sunflower and rosehip oil nanoemulsions prepared with a mix of phospholipids and synthetic emulsifiers permeated intact skin to the dermis and showed a more prominent healing effect in a human organotypic skin explant culture wound model compared to nanoemulsions prepared only with phospholipids.
Pharmaceutics, 2023Plant-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, 2025Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Electrospun poly (vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate) patches loaded with evening primrose oil applied to the forearm of volunteers for 6 hours increased skin moisture, with pore size, shape, and fiber diameter influencing oil transport.
Biomaterials Advances, 2022A topical preparation containing urea, sunflower oil, evening primrose oil, wheat germ oil, and sodium pyruvate led to clinical improvement after a month in diverse hyperkeratotic skin conditions except pityriasis lichenoides.
Medicina Cutanea Ibero-latino-americana, 1986Topical application of linseed, evening primrose, and olive oil emulsions accelerated wound closure in rats with excision wounds compared to untreated controls, though via different mechanisms.
Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 2019Topical treatments containing rosehip extract may reduce the size and erythema of postsurgical scars through macrophage polarization and inflammatory cytokine inhibition, though current clinical evidence remains insufficient to recommend its routine use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.
Pharmaceutics, 2023Topical treatment with rosehip seed oil stimulates hair growth in telogenic C57BL/6 mice by inducing the early transition of hair follicles from the telogen to the anagen phase and upregulating hair growth-associated genes.
Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, 2023Topical application of curcumin or turmeric treats various skin conditions by leveraging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023Topical formulations of curcumin target oxidative damage and inflammation to improve wound healing in animal models.
Drug Discovery Today, 2017A curcumin-loaded spanlastic anti-aging gel utilizing formula F5 incorporated into 2% HPMC E50 demonstrated sustained release action, compatibility, and the ability to penetrate skin layers to a depth of about 112.5 um without signs of irritation.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024
Why other moisturizers 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, 2024A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Ingredients
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Squalane, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Oenothera Biennis Evening Primrose Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis Jojoba Seed Oil Oil, Coriandrum Sativum Coriander Seed Oil Oil, Tocopherol, Lavandula Angustifolia Lavender Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Rosemary Oil Leaf, Citronellol, Geraniol, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Cucumis Sativus Cucumber Fruit Extract Extract, Curcuma Longa Turmeric Root Extract Extract, Limonene, Citral, Sclareolide, Rosa Spp Rose Oil Flower, Jasminum Officinale Jasmine Extract, Helianthus Annuus Sunflower Seed 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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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