Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer for dry sensitive skin
Squalane
Glycerin
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Avocado Oil
Butylene Glycol
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry and sensitive skin as squalane and glycerin provide excellent moisturization and enhance barrier resilience, addressing dryness and flakiness effectively.
- The formula's humectant and emollient actions from these key ingredients help replenish moisture and smooth intercellular lipids, making it a great choice for your skin type.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers find this moisturizer to be a rich, fragrance-free lotion that deeply hydrates, benefiting dry, combination, and sensitive skin, especially in winter. Many appreciate its ability to repair the skin barrier. However, a notable number of reviewers mention it can leave a greasy or sticky residue if not fully absorbed, making it less ideal for very oily or acne-prone skin.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Saved my dry winter skin”
- “keeps flakes away”
- “rich and nourishing”
Gentle and fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “No strong smell”
- “doesn't sting sensitive areas”
Greasy or sticky Often Mentioned
- “Takes too long to sink in”
- “leaves face shiny”
- “feels tacky under makeup”
Key ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “Love the squalane”
- “ingredients feel premium”
- “simple but effective mix”
Value and longevity Sometimes Noted
- “Bottle lasts forever”
- “only need a pea size”
- “good value for size”
Not for oily Sometimes Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “too heavy for summer”
- “made my T-zone oily”
Expensive price Rarely Noted
- “Pricey for a basic lotion”
- “good but expensive”
- “waited for a sale”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “More liquid than expected”
- “sits on top of skin”
- “prefer the jar cream texture”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, kiehls.com, makeupalley.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin because squalane and glycerin provide deep hydration and strengthen your skin barrier to tackle dryness and flakiness. These ingredients help replenish moisture and smooth out your skin without causing irritation, making it safe and gentle for daily use.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Squalane and glycerin make this cream a great fit for dry sensitive skin by providing deep moisture and strengthening your skin barrier to stop flakiness. These ingredients help replenish lost water and smooth out your skin, while the soothing formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Squalane do for dry sensitive skin?
Squalane helps keep dry sensitive skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture and calming irritation without causing flare-ups. It is unlikely to cause redness or discomfort, making it a gentle choice that supports the skin barrier. This type of skin needs ingredients that deeply hydrate and soothe, such as plant oils and antioxidants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017Molecules, 2009
What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cream goes at the end of your evening routine after your treatment, and as needed when your skin feels dry. It is a great fit for your dry and sensitive skin because squalane and glycerin help lock in moisture and calm flakiness without causing irritation.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. This routine helps reduce the irritation and dryness that retinol often causes while keeping your skin soft and smooth.
How often should I use this cream?
This moisturizer is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin and can be used daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Ingredients like squalane and glycerin help replenish moisture and smooth your skin while protecting its natural barrier.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry and sensitive skin because its formula avoids harsh ingredients and relies on gentle, soothing components. It provides deep moisture and helps smooth and calm your skin without irritation.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around the eyes and on the body because its gentle, soothing formula and nourishing ingredients like squalane and glycerin are well-tolerated by dry sensitive skin. Clinical studies show that hydrating ingredients applied to thin areas like eyelids and various body regions safely improve moisture and barrier function.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Myristyl 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, 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
Ingredients
Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Stearic Acid, Alba Beeswax Cera, Myristyl Alcohol, 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?
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