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Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 wrinkle reduction for you due to the presence of ascorbic acid and adenosine, which visibly minimize fine lines and wrinkles, and is highly suitable for your oily skin with Ascorbic Acid and Glycerin providing antioxidant activity and humectant action respectively.
  • While it provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, it does not directly address your oily shine concerns due to a lack of specialized oil-controlling ingredients.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Ascorbyl Glucoside and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid.

How to apply

  • Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
  • Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
  • Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users frequently praise this serum for its high concentration of Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid, noting that it visibly brightens dull complexions and smooths skin texture almost immediately. While many appreciate the unique warming sensation and velvety finish, results on deep wrinkles vary, and the silicone-heavy formula can be polarizing for those with oily or acne-prone skin.

Highlights

  • Smoother skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin feeling silky”
    • “instant blurring effect”
    • “velvety finish”
    • “softens rough patches”
  • Visible brightening Often Mentioned
    • “faded acne scars”
    • “woke up glowing”
    • “skin looks more radiant”
    • “evened out skin tone”
  • Warming sensation Often Mentioned
    • “feels like it's working”
    • “soothing heat”
    • “nice warming feeling”
    • “spa-like sensation”
  • Fine line reduction Sometimes Noted
    • “plumped my smile lines”
    • “softened forehead wrinkles”
    • “helped with crows feet”
    • “lines look less deep”
  • Greasy residue Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't absorb well”
    • “felt like a greasy film”
    • “too oily for day use”
    • “shiny layer left behind”
  • Pills under makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “rolled off my face”
    • “pills under sunscreen”
    • “can't wear under makeup”
    • “balls up if rubbed”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “caused tiny whiteheads”
    • “terrible cystic breakout”
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “gave me blackheads”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like hot dog water”
    • “metallic scent”
    • “weird citrus odor”
    • “strong chemical smell”

Sources: lovi.care, bloomingdales.com, spacenk.com, sephora.sg, kiehls.com, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate work for oily skin?

Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate works as an average fit for oily skin because it provides great wrinkle reduction and hydration with Ascorbic Acid and Glycerin, but it does not control oily shine. To better manage oily shine, this type of product needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control oil while keeping the skin comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?

Ascorbic acid and glycerin make this serum a good fit for oily skin by providing antioxidant activity and hydration. To work best for oily skin, this type of product also needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control excess oil and reduce shine.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?

Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin of this type needs specialized oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or use this in the morning and retinol at night to avoid irritation. Oily skin also needs lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients to keep shine in check.

How often should I use it?

You can use this treatment in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. A product of this type needs specialized oil-controlling ingredients to manage oily shine.

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This product is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a low risk of doing so and is safe for your skin type. However, because it lacks specialized oil-controlling ingredients, oily skin generally needs products with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help manage excess shine.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and citral).

What the research says

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches showed similar or better efficacy on skin wrinkles, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration compared to adenosine cream in 22 female subjects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018

  • 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, 2017

  • Profhilo treatment led to significant improvements in superficial skin hydration and transepidermal water loss over time in Chinese females, while demonstrating good product tolerability.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026

  • Topical 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, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical 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

  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022

  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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, 2012

  • Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.

    The Journal of Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026

  • Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021

Why other serums fit oily skin better

  • A 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

  • Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.

    BioMed Research International, 2022

Ingredients

Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbic Acid, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Cyclohexasiloxane, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Lauroyl Lysine, Acrylonitrile Methyl Methacrylate Vinylidene Chloride Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Limonene, Isobutane, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Limon Lemon Peel Oil, Citral, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play