Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Lemon Fruit Extract
Glycerin
Kaolin
Pseudoalteromonas Extract FermentHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 cleansing for your combination skin, as myristic acid and glycerin effectively clear pores while hydrating. Kaolin also aids in absorbing excess sebum, making it highly suitable for your skin type.
- Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract and Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment provide soothing benefits, ensuring a gentle experience without irritation.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients and a formulation designed to be non-irritating for combination skin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is widely praised by users with oily and normal skin for its ability to deeply cleanse and remove excess sebum without leaving a residue, often described as leaving skin "squeaky clean." A significant minority of users, particularly those with combination or sensitive skin, find the formula too stripping, leading to a tight, dry feeling after use.
Highlights
Excellent oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “Great for oily skin”
- “Removes all grease”
- “Matte finish”
Deep cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Squeaky clean feel”
- “Pores feel tighter”
- “Removes dirt well”
Rich lather Often Mentioned
- “Foams up beautifully”
- “Little goes a long way”
- “Thick creamy foam”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “Face felt tight”
- “Stripped my skin”
- “Too harsh for winter”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “No strong smell”
- “Good for sensitive noses”
- “Clean scent”
Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
- “Pricey for a cleanser”
- “Expensive daily wash”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Broke me out”
- “Caused small bumps”
- “Acne flared up”
Thick texture Rarely Noted
- “Hard to rinse off”
- “Feels like soap”
- “Residue left behind”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, makeupalley.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because it uses myristic acid and glycerin to clear pores and hydrate, while kaolin absorbs excess oil. It also includes soothing root and ferment extracts that help keep your skin calm and free of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Myristic acid and glycerin make this cleanser a great fit by clearing pores while hydrating, and kaolin helps by absorbing extra oil. Glycerin also helps keep skin comfortable, as supported by studies on hydration.
What does Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract is not a strong match for acne-prone skin because it lacks oil-balancing benefits and pore-clearing ingredients. Acne-prone skin needs plant extracts and ingredients that reduce excess oil, calm irritation, and help keep pores clear.
What does Lemon Fruit Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Lemon fruit extract helps manage acne-prone skin by providing antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that target breakouts. Essential oils like lemon may help calm redness and reduce bacteria associated with acne when used in your routine.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning routine as the first step before a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen, and in your evening routine as the second step right after a makeup remover. Using a mild cleanser like this helps keep pores clear and absorbs excess oil while keeping your skin calm.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser alongside retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. Using a gentle cleanser helps keep skin clean without irritation when starting strong active ingredients.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and can be used daily in both your morning and evening routines. Its gentle ingredients clear pores and soak up extra oil without causing irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because ingredients like glycerin and kaolin help clear pores and absorb excess oil without irritation. Complaints of breakouts are low, meaning it is unlikely to clog your pores, though some users may experience drying if used too frequently.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is unlikely to harm the thin skin around the eyes or on the body, but it is formulated specifically for facial use. Because the skin around the eyes and on various body areas differs significantly in thickness and sensitivity compared to the face, a product designed for facial cleansing may not provide the targeted care those areas need.
Is this cleanser 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, 2017The 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, 2012Vectorization of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid with clay enabled its penetration into deeper skin layers and led to a significant clinical reduction in fine lines in the crow's feet area compared to placebo after 28 days.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024Twice-weekly use of a clay mask over 4 weeks in 75 adults with oily or combination skin improved acne-related outcomes, sebum content, skin evenness, hydration, and reduced dryness and irritation.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Glyceryl Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Kaolin, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Tetrasodium Edta, Citrus Medica Limonum Lemon Fruit Extract Extract, Peg-14m, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Methylisothiazolinone, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
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
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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