Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser for skin with dark spots
Squalane
Avocado Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Vitamin E
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin, this cleanser effectively removes impurities with decyl glucoside and glycerin, balancing pore cleansing without stripping essential moisture.
- While it offers general hydration through ingredients like squalane, it does not specifically target your primary concern of pigmentation.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing soothing Ascorbyl Glucoside and lacking harsh irritants.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is widely appreciated for its gentle, non-stripping formula that effectively cleanses without compromising the skin barrier, making it a favorite for sensitive and combination skin. Many users highlight its ability to remove makeup and impurities while maintaining skin hydration. Some users with very dry or reactive skin have noted it can be slightly stripping or feel overpriced for its simple formulation.
Highlights
Gentle, non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin's natural oils”
- “leaves face feeling clean and soft”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “skin feels comfortable, not tight”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes light makeup easily”
- “dissolves excess oil and dirt”
- “face feels squeaky clean”
- “great second step in double cleansing”
Suitable for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “fantastic for sensitive skin”
- “no scent/fragrance-free”
- “doesn't cause redness or irritation”
Good texture/lather Sometimes Noted
- “lathers nicely without being overly foamy”
- “rich and creamy texture”
- “little goes a long way”
- “smooth gel consistency”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “leaves my skin feeling stripped”
- “made my face a little dry”
- “too drying for winter months”
- “tight feeling after washing”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for a basic cleanser”
- “overpriced compared to drugstore alternatives”
- “not worth the premium price”
- “good but pricey”
Basic formula Rarely Noted
- “nothing exceptional here”
- “pretty darn basic”
- “boring but effective”
- “just an average cleanser”
Ingredient concerns Rarely Noted
- “contains parabens”
- “dislike the SLES content”
- “caused minor breakouts”
- “stings eyes if not careful”
Sources: lovi.care, kiehls.com, ulta.com, sephora.sg, sephora.co.uk, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is a great fit because it is very safe and contains Ascorbyl Glucoside, which helps soothe the skin while working to fade dark spots. It also cleans away dirt with glycerin and decyl glucoside without drying you out.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Journal of Periodontology, 2009
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Ascorbyl glucoside makes this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots because it is a soothing form of vitamin C that helps lighten unwanted pigmentation and reduce melanin. While the formula does not directly target pigmentation as its main job, this ingredient safely supports a brighter, more even look.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Journal of Periodontology, 2009
What does Squalane do for skin with dark spots?
Squalane helps keep skin soft and smooth, but it is unlikely to directly fade dark spots on its own. For hyperpigmentation, this type of product needs added brightening ingredients like vitamin C or antioxidants to help even out skin tone.
What does Avocado Oil do for skin with dark spots?
Avocado oil is generally used for aging and dryness rather than dark spots, as studies mainly show it helps with wrinkles and firmness. To properly target dark spots, this skin type needs brightening ingredients like niacinamide or licorice root.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2010
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is used in the morning and evening as the main cleansing step before applying your toner, moisturizer, and other products. It safely removes impurities without stripping your skin, though a dedicated brightening treatment is still needed to target dark spots.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it first, before applying your retinol treatment. This cleanser gently removes dirt without stripping your skin, which helps keep your face calm when using strong ingredients like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently washes away impurities while keeping your skin calm and balanced without stripping away essential moisture.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your skin, as it effectively removes impurities with gentle cleansers without stripping essential moisture. Its safe formula contains soothing ingredients and lacks harsh irritants.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body, but you should use caution around the eyes because the skin there is much thinner and more sensitive. The gentle formulation helps clean the skin safely without stripping away essential moisture.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, 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, 2017Topical 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, 2020Treatment with ascorbyl glucoside-arginine complex lotion significantly decreased pigmentation scores and melanin index while increasing lightness in solar lentigos of Japanese females compared to placebo over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Ascorbic 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 ascorbic acid 2-glucoside combined with laser gingival depigmentation reduced pigmentation recurrence and increased patient satisfaction at nine months in 20 participants with physiologic gingival hyperpigmentation compared to laser depigmentation alone.
Cureus, 2026Squalane 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, 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Chloride, Pentylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Distearyl Ether, Behenyl Alcohol, Methylparaben, Laureth-2, Propylparaben, Sodium Methylparaben, Squalane, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.