Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for dry sensitive skin
Micronized Amino Acid
Glacial Glycoprotein
Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract
Glycerin
Salicylic Acid
Caution
- LowDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your dry or flaky skin due to salicylic acid, but the presence of alcohol denat may counteract hydration, making it less ideal for your dry skin type.
- While glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide excellent moisturization, the formula lacks deeply emollient ingredients to fully address your dry skin concerns.
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
★4.5Overall 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 caution with Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream for dry sensitive skin?
Lovi advises caution because the alcohol denat in this cream may counteract hydration and make it less ideal for your dry skin. While it offers moderate exfoliation from salicylic acid, it lacks deeply emollient ingredients to fully address dry skin concerns. A product for this skin needs rich nourishing ingredients and soothing agents that provide deep hydration and support the skin barrier without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid offers moderate exfoliation, but alcohol denat may counteract hydration and make this a poor fit for dry skin. A product of this type needs rich emollients and deeply nourishing ingredients to provide significant hydration, skin barrier support, and comfort for dry skin without irritation.
What does Micronized Amino Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Micronized Amino Acid helps boost moisture levels and calms dry, sensitive skin by supporting the skin's natural water-holding abilities. Daily application of moisturizers with these building blocks can noticeably improve scaling, itchiness, and overall texture.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2006
What does Glacial Glycoprotein do for dry sensitive skin?
Glacial Glycoprotein helps dry sensitive skin by keeping it hydrated and protected from losing moisture. It is unlikely to cause irritation, making it gentle enough for daily use.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
You should use caution with this moisturizing treatment on your dry sensitive skin because alcohol denat may counteract hydration while lacking deeply emollient ingredients. Dry skin of this type needs rich, nourishing hydrators and barrier-protecting butters or oils to stay soft and smooth.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You should use caution combining this cream with retinol on dry sensitive skin because alcohol denat may counteract hydration and lead to irritation. A product of this type needs rich, deeply nourishing ingredients and soothing barrier-repair agents to protect dry sensitive skin.
How often should I use this cream?
Exercise caution using this gel cream on dry sensitive skin, as alcohol denat may counteract hydration while lacking deeply emollient ingredients to fully address your needs. A product for this skin needs rich, nourishing hydrators and barrier-protecting ingredients to keep it soft and comfortable.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, but it may cause mild purging due to salicylic acid. Because it lacks deeply nourishing ingredients and contains alcohol, this skin type needs rich, gentle moisturizers with heavy oils and butters to stay smooth and comfortable.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You should use caution applying this cream around the eyes or on your body because it contains drying alcohol that may irritate sensitive areas. A product for thin or body skin needs rich, soothing oils and gentle moisture-locking ingredients to keep dry skin 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, 2001Cryotherapy 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
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