Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner for sensitive skin
Squalane
Avocado Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Vitamin E
Ascorbyl Glucoside
High
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few toners fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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
- Excellent suitability for your normal skin and effective for redness and irritation due to high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which provide superior hydration and soothing effects.
- Squalane and sweet almond oil further support skin barrier function and offer emollient benefits, enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, featuring a gentle formula free from harsh ingredients and enriched with calming components.
How to apply
- Use your hydrating toner in both your AM and PM routines. Start 3 times per week and move to daily use if your skin feels good.
- Apply your hydrating toner right after cleansing and before putting on your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute before the next step.
- For sensitive skin, apply the hydrating toner on dry skin to keep it calm and comfortable.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis milky, alcohol-free toner is widely praised by users with dry and sensitive skin for its immediate soothing and hydrating effects, often described as a "moisture boost" that preps the face for serums. Reactions are mixed for acne-prone and oily skin types; while some find it balancing, a significant minority report clogged pores and breakouts.
Highlights
Milky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “milky and comforting”
- “thicker than water”
- “slides on like lotion”
- “feels luxurious”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin touchably soft”
- “instantly hydrated”
- “banished my dry patches”
- “feels like a drink for skin”
Gentle & soothing Often Mentioned
- “doesn't burn sensitive skin”
- “calming after cleansing”
- “no tightness”
Alcohol-free Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't dry me out”
- “non-stripping formula”
- “gentle alcohol-free base”
- “keeps barrier intact”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “gave me cystic acne”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like saliva”
- “weird chemical scent”
- “faint baby lotion smell”
- “off-putting odor”
Pricey Rarely Noted
- “too expensive for toner”
- “price point is steep”
- “not worth the money”
- “good but pricey”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a tacky film”
- “feels sticky on face”
- “takes too long to absorb”
- “greasy after-feel”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, reddit.com, beautybulletin.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner a great fit for sensitive skin?
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner is a great fit because it uses high levels of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to deliver deep hydration and calm redness and irritation. Squalane and sweet almond oil help strengthen your skin barrier for lasting comfort, and the gentle, soothing formula is safe for sensitive skin.
Which ingredients make this toner a good fit for sensitive skin?
This toner is a great fit for sensitive skin because it contains high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which bring deep hydration and calm redness and irritation. Squalane and sweet almond oil further support your skin barrier and bring extra comfort, while a gentle formula keeps the skin safe.
What does Squalane do for sensitive skin?
Squalane helps calm sensitive skin by defending against everyday irritation and keeping it smooth and soft. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier so it stays comfortable and hydrated.
What does Avocado Oil do for sensitive skin?
Avocado oil helps keep sensitive skin calm and moisturized while supporting skin repair. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may help reduce redness and boost healing.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This toner is a great fit because it provides superior hydration and soothing effects that help calm redness and irritation on sensitive skin. You can use it in both your morning and evening routines after cleansing.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this hydrating toner with retinol by applying the toner first to damp skin to boost hydration and comfort, followed by your retinol treatment. This gentle formula helps calm your sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with active treatments.
Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use this toner?
You can use this toner twice a day in both your morning and evening routines. Its gentle formula is safe for your sensitive skin, helping to calm redness and boost hydration without irritation.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner is a great fit for sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause purging, though some reviewers report that it may cause breakouts. Its gentle formula is designed to hydrate and soothe without harsh ingredients that typically upset delicate skin.
Is this toner 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, 2017Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Topical application of tocopherol succinate ethosomal gel decreased erythema, melanin, and sebum levels while improving moisture content and skin elasticity in 34 human women.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil improved wrinkle grading, reduced nasolabial fold area and volume, and increased skin elasticity in twenty healthy volunteers over 12 weeks without allergic reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical treatment with SSFAO 50% or avocado oil increased wound contraction, reepithelialization, collagen density, and tensile strength while showing anti-inflammatory activity compared to petroleum jelly in rats.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sorbitan Oleate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Peg-100 Stearate, Potassium Sorbate, Triethanolamine, P-Anisic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Sweet Almond Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Apricot Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Persea Gratissima Avocado Oil
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.