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Kiehl's Age Defender Power Serum for oily skin

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

Kiehl's Age Defender Power Serum

Low

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A weak match for oily skin; the serums alongside 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 moderate anti-aging benefits for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles due to adenosine and hydrolyzed soy protein, which are suitable for your oily skin. Glycerin provides humectant action, though the formula lacks strong seboregulation for your oily shine.
  • The product provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, which are supportive but not directly targeted at managing excess oil.

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 600+ reviews

This serum is highly regarded for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that effectively hydrates and firms men's skin. Users frequently report visible improvements in skin texture and a reduction in the appearance of forehead lines and wrinkles with consistent daily use.

Highlights

  • Fast absorption Mostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs instantly”
    • “Sinks in fast”
    • “No sticky feeling”
  • Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
    • “Doesn't feel greasy”
    • “No residue”
    • “Lightweight gel”
  • Improves firmness Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin feels tighter”
    • “Visibly firmer”
    • “More resilient”
  • Reduces lines Sometimes Noted
    • “Forehead creases shallower”
    • “Helped with lines”
    • “Smoothed texture”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “It's pricey”
    • “Expensive for size”
    • “Costly for daily use”
  • Caused dryness Rarely Noted
    • “Skin still dry”
    • “Caused some irritation”
    • “Not hydrating enough”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “Pump not functioning”
    • “Bottle issues”
    • “Dispenser problems”
  • Subtle results Rarely Noted
    • “No apparent tightening”
    • “Hard to notice”
    • “Slow to see change”

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

Questions and answers

Why is Kiehl's Age Defender Power Serum a weak match for oily skin?

This serum is a weak match because it lacks strong ingredients to control excess oil and shine. Treatments for oily skin need ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, zinc PCA, and soothing extracts that manage oil production and pores while keeping the skin comfortable.

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

This serum is a weak match for oily skin because it lacks ingredients that control oil and shine, even though it provides hydration and smoothing benefits. Treatments that fit oily skin better need ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, zinc PCA, and soothing extracts to manage excess oil and enlarged pores without clogging pores.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026

What does Cypress Extract do for oily skin?

Cypress extract helps keep oily skin clear and balanced by reducing excess shine and soothing irritation. This type of skin needs lightweight, purifying ingredients that control oil without clogging pores or causing dryness.

What does Glycerin do for oily skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Because this product is a weak match for oily skin, an ideal treatment for this skin type needs oil-controlling and shine-reducing ingredients.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe and hydrate your skin. This product offers general hydration and anti-aging benefits, but oily skin also needs strong oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight textures to manage shine effectively.

How often should I use this serum?

Use this treatment in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Oily skin needs a product of this type that also includes ingredients to control excess oil.

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

This serum is unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain exfoliating acids or retinoids, but it may feel heavy or lack oil control for oily skin. Oily skin generally needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help manage excess shine and keep pores clear.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, and citral) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

What the research says

  • 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

  • Horse oil-spread and adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches significantly improved skin elasticity, hydration, dermal density, and wrinkles compared with adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches in 20 women without causing adverse events.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024

  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000

  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

  • A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011

  • Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.

    Frontiers in Physiology, 2019

  • Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.

    AAPS PharmSciTech, 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

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Parfum, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propylene Glycol, Ruscus Aculeatus Root Extract, Glycine Soja Oil, Soybean Oil, Caffeine, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Limonene, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium Edta, Adenosine, T-Butyl Alcohol, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Cryptomeria Japonica Bud Extract, Linalool, Citral

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

How does it fit your skin?

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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