Kiehl's

Kiehl's s Ultra Facial Moisturizer

Name: Kiehl's - s Ultra Facial Moisturizer
Brand: Kiehl's

Efficacy75/100IrritancyLow

See all ingredients In 6 routines

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Works for

1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Moisturizing

14 ingredients credited for this claim

Good support

What the product description says

“s Ultra Facial Moisturizer”

From product name

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: glycerin, butylene glycol.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: beeswax, cera alba.

Cera albaKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~0.6–1.35%

SqualaneKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighAn oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.~5.3–7.9%

BeeswaxKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~0.45–1.1%

Prunus amygdalus dulcis seedKey activeEffect: HighHelps soften the upper layer of the skin~0.1–0.4%

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~3.6–5.4%

Palmitic acid· EmollientEffect: LowAn emollient that is naturally present in skin and helps soften it~0.35–0.75%

Butylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowUsed to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin~1.8–2.6%

Caprylyl glycol· Humectant, EmollientEffect: LowHelps preserve products and creates a nice product texture~0.4–0.95%

Glyceryl stearate· EmollientEffect: LowAn emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together~2.2–3.2%

Myristyl alcohol· EmollientEffect: LowHelps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating~0.15–0.7%

Persea gratissima oilUnder-dosedEffect: HighAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function~0.1–0.35%

Prunus armeniaca kernel oilUnder-dosedEffect: HighAn emollient that helps soften the skin~0.1–0.45%

Stearic acidEffect: Low, below effective doseHelps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient~0.45–1%

TocopherolEffect: Low, below effective dosePure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself~0.05–0.3%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

9 flagged ingredients

Low risk

We flag 9 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Myristyl alcoholHelps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritatingHigh~0.15–0.7%est.

TriethanolamineUsed to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smellMedium~1.5–2.2%est.

Sorbitan oleateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~1–1.5%est.

ChlorphenesinA preservativeMedium~0.16–0.32%est.

Cera albaForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergenMedium~0.6–1.35%est.

Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.4–0.95%est.

Prunus armeniaca kernel oilAn emollient that helps soften the skinMedium~0.1–0.45%est.

Persea gratissima oilAn emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier functionMedium~0.1–0.35%est.

Myristic acidHelps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenicMedium~0.1–0.3%est.

Comedogenic

2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale

2 flagged

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Myristic acidHelps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic3/5~0.1–0.3%est.

Sorbitan oleateHelps oil and water mix together2/5~1–1.5%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Squalane~5.3–7.9%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

An oil naturally present in skin. Works as an emollient to soften the skin and form a protective layer on its surface without a greasy feeling.

More about Squalane

Glycerin~3.6–5.4%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin

Peg-100 stearate~3.5–5.2%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix togehter and creates a nice product texture

More about Peg-100 stearate

Glyceryl stearate~2.2–3.2%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together

More about Glyceryl stearate

Butylene glycol~1.8–2.6%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Used to create a nice product texture and help delivery of other ingredients. Might be somewhat helpful in attracting water to the upper layer of the skin

More about Butylene glycol

Triethanolamine~1.5–2.2%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Cleansing

Used to adjust pH of the product and can help improve the product's smell

More about Triethanolamine

Phenoxyethanol~0.5–1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol

Sorbitan oleate~1–1.5%

Comedogenic 2/5Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium
Comedogenicity: 2/5

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sorbitan oleate

Carbomer~0.9–1.35%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

Helps create a thicker or gel-like product texture. It is not a surfactant but can be used in gentle cleansing formulations

More about Carbomer

Chlorphenesin~0.16–0.32%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

A preservative

More about Chlorphenesin

Cera alba~0.6–1.35%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

MoisturizingCleansing

Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen

More about Cera alba

Beeswax~0.45–1.1%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

More about Beeswax

Caprylyl glycol~0.4–0.95%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol

Stearic acid~0.45–1%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and works as an emollient

More about Stearic acid

Palmitic acid~0.35–0.75%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

CleansingMoisturizing

An emollient that is naturally present in skin and helps soften it

More about Palmitic acid

Myristyl alcohol~0.15–0.7%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps to stabilize the product formulation while softening the upper layer of the skin. Can be irritating

More about Myristyl alcohol

Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed~0.1–0.4%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed

Prunus armeniaca kernel oil~0.1–0.45%

Under-dosedIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

An emollient that helps soften the skin

More about Prunus armeniaca kernel oil

Tocopherol~0.05–0.3%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Anti-oxidationMoisturizingAnti-inflammatoryAnti-aging

Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself

More about Tocopherol

Persea gratissima oil~0.1–0.35%

Under-dosedIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

An emollient that helps soften the skin and could be helpful in repairing its barrier function

More about Persea gratissima oil

Myristic acid~0.1–0.3%

Comedogenic 3/5Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium
Comedogenicity: 3/5

Works for

Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together. Could be comedogenic

More about Myristic acid

Ingredient list view

Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Peg-100 stearate, Glyceryl stearate, Butylene glycol, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan oleate, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Cera alba, Beeswax, Caprylyl glycol, Stearic acid, Palmitic acid, Myristyl alcohol, Prunus amygdalus dulcis seed, Prunus armeniaca kernel oil, Tocopherol, Persea gratissima oil, Myristic acid