Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for dry skin
Micronized Amino Acid
Glacial Glycoprotein
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Glycerin
Salicylic Acid
Warning
- LowDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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
- Offers excellent moisturizing due to high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump the skin, but is moderately unsuitable for your dry skin because alcohol denat can be drying and there's a lack of sufficient emollient ingredients to counteract this effect.
- While the product provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, it lacks specialized ingredients in concentrations that would significantly address your dry or flaky skin concerns.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis lightweight gel moisturizer is highly recommended for oily and combination skin, providing hydration without greasiness or pore-clogging. Users frequently praise its oil control and refreshing feel, making it ideal for warmer weather. However, individuals with dry skin often find it lacks sufficient moisture, and a small number of sensitive users have reported stinging or a sticky residue.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly without residue”
- “feels like water on skin”
- “super light gel texture”
- “doesn't feel heavy at all”
Excellent oil control Often Mentioned
- “keeps my T-zone matte”
- “no midday grease”
- “controls oil all day”
- “shine-free finish”
Hydrating for oily Often Mentioned
- “perfect balance of moisture”
- “hydrated but not oily”
- “doesn't clog my pores”
- “great summer moisturizer”
Insufficient for dry Often Mentioned
- “skin felt tight after an hour”
- “not enough for winter”
- “dry patches remained”
- “need to layer it”
Alcohol-free formula Sometimes Noted
- “no longer smells like alcohol”
- “doesn't dry me out like the old one”
- “gentler on my barrier”
- “improved ingredient list”
Cooling & refreshing Sometimes Noted
- “feels cool on contact”
- “refreshing burst of hydration”
- “great for hot summers”
- “soothes heated skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “way too pricey for a basic gel”
- “jar is too small for the cost”
- “expensive for what it is”
Sticky/tacky finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a tacky film”
- “feels sticky to the touch”
- “hair sticks to face”
- “takes a while to dry down”
Pilling issues Rarely Noted
- “pills under my makeup”
- “rolls off when I rub my face”
- “doesn't play well with sunscreen”
- “clumps up”
Stinging sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my cheeks”
- “stung upon application”
- “caused redness and heat”
- “irritated my sensitive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, lookfantastic.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise against the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for dry skin?
Lovi advises against this moisturizing treatment for dry skin because alcohol denat can be drying and there is a lack of sufficient softening ingredients to counteract this effect. A product of this type needs rich, nourishing ingredients and skin barrier support to keep dry skin feeling smooth and comfortable without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for dry skin?
This cream is a poor fit for dry skin mainly because it contains alcohol denat, which can be drying, along with a lack of sufficient softening ingredients to counteract this effect. Moisturizing treatments for dry skin need rich, nourishing emollients and moisture-retaining ingredients that deeply hydrate and support the skin barrier without any risk of irritation.
What does Micronized Amino Acid do for dry skin?
Micronized Amino Acid helps soothe dry skin by boosting moisture and improving skin hydration. It is unlikely to cause irritation while working to smooth and soften rough areas.
Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete, 2004International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022
What does Glacial Glycoprotein do for dry skin?
Glacial Glycoprotein helps dry skin stay soft and smooth by keeping moisture locked in. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to protect skin that feels tight or rough throughout the day.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cream is not a good fit for dry skin because alcohol denat can be drying and it lacks enough rich, soothing softeners to lock in moisture. Dry skin needs a rich moisturizer packed with nourishing oils and butters to deeply soften flaky areas and protect the skin barrier.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this cream on dry skin because alcohol denat can dry it out further, and it lacks enough richer ingredients to lock in moisture. Dry skin needs a rich moisturizer loaded with ceramides and oils to protect the skin barrier, especially when pairing products with retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for dry skin because it contains drying alcohol and lacks enough rich smoothing ingredients to keep the skin soft. A moisturizer for this skin type needs plenty of hydrating ingredients and rich smoothing agents to lock in moisture and soothe flaky areas.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, but it may feel drying because it contains alcohol denat and lacks enough rich softening ingredients. A moisturizer for dry skin needs rich oils, butters, or ceramides to lock in hydration and protect the skin barrier.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is generally safe to use on the body, but the skin around the eyes is much thinner and may be easily irritated by alcohol denat and salicylic acid. A product for the eye area or body needs rich, nourishing oils and gentle hydrators to keep delicate or broader areas soft and comfortable.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2012Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Butylene Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Sodium Hydroxide, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrasodium Edta, Tocopheryl Acetate, Menthoxypropanediol, Pseudoalteromonas Extract Ferment, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Sarcosine, Salicylic Acid, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Propanediol, Cucumis Sativus Cucumber Fruit Extract Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, 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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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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