Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner for oily acne-prone skin
Squalane
Avocado Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Vitamin E
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Average
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other toners fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide effective humectant action without exacerbating oiliness, while squalane offers beneficial emollient properties.
- While supportive for general skincare, the formula's hydration benefits are not specifically targeted towards your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like glycerin and squalane.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin feels fine.
- Apply your hydrating toner after cleansing and before putting on your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin with your hands. Let it ⏱absorb for a minute before adding your next product.
- Applying the hydrating toner on slightly damp skin helps your face absorb it better. This keeps your oily skin balanced and hydrated.
- Be sure to avoid the eye area when applying. Do a patch test before your first use to check for any reaction.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis milky, alcohol-free toner is widely praised by users with dry and sensitive skin for its immediate soothing and hydrating effects, often described as a "moisture boost" that preps the face for serums. Reactions are mixed for acne-prone and oily skin types; while some find it balancing, a significant minority report clogged pores and breakouts.
Highlights
Milky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “milky and comforting”
- “thicker than water”
- “slides on like lotion”
- “feels luxurious”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin touchably soft”
- “instantly hydrated”
- “banished my dry patches”
- “feels like a drink for skin”
Gentle & soothing Often Mentioned
- “doesn't burn sensitive skin”
- “calming after cleansing”
- “no tightness”
Alcohol-free Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't dry me out”
- “non-stripping formula”
- “gentle alcohol-free base”
- “keeps barrier intact”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “gave me cystic acne”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like saliva”
- “weird chemical scent”
- “faint baby lotion smell”
- “off-putting odor”
Pricey Rarely Noted
- “too expensive for toner”
- “price point is steep”
- “not worth the money”
- “good but pricey”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a tacky film”
- “feels sticky on face”
- “takes too long to absorb”
- “greasy after-feel”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, reddit.com, beautybulletin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner work for oily acne-prone skin?
This toner works reasonably well for oily skin by providing good moisture without adding extra oiliness, though it is not specifically designed to target acne or breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs products that also control excess oil and help clear blemishes.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and squalane make this toner a good fit for oily skin by providing effective moisture without feeling heavy or causing irritation. However, because this skin type also deals with breakouts, a product of this type needs additional oil-controlling agents and ingredients that specifically target blemishes.
What does Squalane do for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep oily skin soft and smooth, but oxidized squalene can trigger inflammation in acne-prone skin. Because of this, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
What does Avocado Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Avocado oil is generally not the best fit for oily acne-prone skin because oils heavy in certain fatty acids can sometimes clog pores and make breakouts worse. Skin of this type needs lightweight ingredients that help control excess shine and soothe irritation without heavy barriers.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This hydrating toner fits into your morning routine right after cleansing and before your moisturizer and SPF. While it safely hydrates oily skin, an ideal product for this skin type also needs targeted ingredients that help clear blemishes and breakouts.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this toner with retinol by applying it right after cleansing to hydrate your skin before your retinol treatment. This product is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep your skin comfortable while you use active ingredients.
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this hydrating toner daily in your morning routine as it provides effective hydration without making your skin oily or causing irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs a toner that also targets breakouts and blemishes with clarifying ingredients.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Yes, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner may cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as some reviewers note this issue. While the formula is safe and non-irritating, a product of this type needs ingredients that specifically target blemishes and clear pores to truly suit this skin type.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2025Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 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, 2025Topical 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, 2013Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Why other toners fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Peg-100 Stearate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethanolamine, P-Anisic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima Avocado 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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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.