Kiehls Review: Which Products Are Worth The Price?
This is my Kiehls review, featuring a ton of products I’ve tried from the brand. Kiehl’s is probably one of the oldest skincare brands in the company. Founded in 1851 in the East Village in New York, this brand has stood the test of time and continues to create wonderful products every year.
Because this brand has been around for so long, a lot of people trust the formulas and the claims. Myself included! I’ve tried a decent amount of products from the brand over the last 10 years I’ve been working as an editor. I’ll be going over many of the products that I love, along with some that I don’t really like.
My Honest Kiehls Review
In this Kiehl’s review, you can expect to see a lot of best-sellers that I’ve tested from the brand. I’ve also included some Kiehl’s products that are lesser-known, but are still amazing IMO. I will be talking about why I like these products, and why I don’t like some of them, too.
Before we go on, I think it’s important to note that I have pretty sensitive, acne-prone skin. My Kiehl’s review will focus on how these products affect my specific skin type. If you have aging, oily, or hyperpigmented skin with dark spots, I’m not sure if this Kiehls review will cover the products that would typically cater to your skin types. That being said, take a look below and see my Kiehl’s review for yourself.
What Are The Best Kiehl’s Products?
Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream
Available at Sephora ($48)
The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream is definitely one of my favorite Kiehl’s products from the ones that I’ve tried. This is ideal for those frigid winter months, when your skin is screaming for moisture. This is a thick-ass cream that contains colloidal oatmeal and beta-glucan to relieve sensitive skin.
I think this cream is good for the days when you’re not wearing makeup and you just want to let your skin breathe a bit and get some much-needed relief. It’s pretty thick, so I can’t say for certain that it’s good for those with acne-prone skin, but I’ve never broken out from it personally.
Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask with 10.5% Squalane
Available at Sephora ($45)
I’ve tried this, along with the Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream, and it’s hard for me to tell the difference! Maybe the Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask with 10.5% Squalane is a little bit thicker, but not by much! I like to use either of these when I’m gliding my gua sha over my skin.
This is a super hydrating mask that you leave on your skin overnight. Be prepared to wake up with super soft, moisturized skin. It makes my skin feel amazing! It’s great for those with sensitive, dry, and irritated skin. And I think it’s a great product to use a few times a week during the winter months.
Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
Available at Sephora ($39)
Not only is this one of Kiehl’s best-sellers, but it’s also accepted by the National Eczema Association. This is ideal for folks with dry skin, and is a really great option for winter months. This has a pretty lightweight texture, so I think it would probably be okay for those with normal to combination skin, but I’d probably be a little bit cautious for those with oily skin. I love that it’s fragrance-free and helps to treat eczema on your face.
Creme de Corps Refillable Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter
Available at Sephora ($37)
When I was going through a rough time with eczema all over my hands a couple of years ago, I found myself constantly reaching for this lotion. I don’t know why this formula isn’t accepted by the National Eczema Association, because it was so soothing on my itchy, red, irritated eczema hands. This is a pretty thick formula, so if you prefer a thinner body lotion, I wouldn’t purchase this one.
However, if you love a rich body lotion like I do, this is a great option. This formula has been around since the 1980s and everyone loves it. The product comes in a million different sizes and I think it’s a great option for the winter months.
Avocado Eye Cream
Available at Sephora ($37)
This is one of my favorite eye creams. Mostly because it’s one of the few eye creams that doesn’t irritate my sensitive eye area. It’s nice and creamy, and a little goes a long way. The avocado oil-infused formula lasts me forever, and I like that it’s a more hydrating formula rather than an “anti-aging” eye cream that has a bunch of irritating ingredients in it. I think the hydrating properties of this eye cream help reduce fine lines and wrinkles around my eye area.
Calendula Herbal-Extract Alcohol-Free Toner
Available at Sephora ($48)
I actually really love this toner and think it’s a great option for those with irritated and sensitive skin. The ingredients list includes soothing picks like calendula, allantoin, great burdock root, and glycerin. Sometimes, some of the little bits of calendula will come out of the bottle, onto your cotton round. I don’t mind this, but some might not love it. It’s kinda similar to how the rose petals come out of the Fresh Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Toner.
Ultra Facial Cleanser
Available at Sephora ($25)
I think this is a great, bare-bones foaming face wash that foams nicely and removes makeup well. It doesn’t irritate skin and is great for eczema-prone skin. This pick kinda has a weird smell, which some might find off-putting.
Although I think this cleanser is nice, I don’t know if it’s worth the price, to be honest. I feel like my Vanicream Cleanser does a better job and is like half the price.
Rare Earth Deep Pore Minimizing Clay Mask
Available at Sephora ($26)
There are a lot of folks out there who swear by this mask. It’s made with kaolin clay, aloe vera, and bentonite clay. It kinda reminds me of the Tula Skincare Claydate Detoxing & Toning Face Mask Stick in my Tula Skincare review. This formula works well for those with normal, oily, or acne-prone skin, and helps purify your skin while reducing the appearance of pores. It’s also said to help draw out toxins, dirt, pollution, and excess oil from the skin.
This isn’t a great formula for those with dry skin. And even if you don’t have dry skin, I would recommend applying a moisturizer soon after using (and then removing) this face mask.
Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
Available at Nordstrom ($58)
I wanted to love this water cream, especially because it seems like it’s such a big hit for the brand, but I couldn’t get into it. Apparently this formula is a good pick for those with acne-prone skin, but I couldn’t get over the scent in this product. I feel like the scent was too strong for my sensitive skin. And I don’t think the formula is actually scented with artificial fragrances. I think it’s just scented with a ton of different essential oils or something.
Another thing I’ve realized is that I don’t think my skin loves water creams in general. I think I have pretty dry skin, and water creams don’t moisturize my skin enough. So if you have super dry skin, I would probably pass on this one. If you have oily skin (that isn’t sensitive), I think you would like this formula.
Is Kiehl’s Worth It?
Yes, I definitely think that most Kiehl’s products are worth the money. There are some that I could do without. But this brand has been around for forever, and there’s a reason for that. They know what they are doing and they know how to cater to their customers.
Where To Buy Kiehl’s Products
Multiple outlets sell Kiehl’s products. These include:
FAQs About Kiehl’s
Is Kiehl’s cruelty-free?
No, Kiehl’s is not cruelty-free, and they do test on animals.
Is Kiehl’s good for acne-prone skin?
I think that some of their products are okay for acne-prone skin. But I also think that some products in the line aren’t great for acneic skin. I would go to the Acne & Blemishes page on their site to find the best products for acne-prone skin.
Is Kiehl’s noncomedogenic?
On their website, they state that they try to make the majority of their products non-comedogenic.
Are Kiehl’s products paraben-free?
Yes, the brand reformulated a lot of their products years ago to paraben-free formulations.
Are Kiehl’s products safe for pregnancy?
Some products are pregnancy-safe, and some are not. You should also consult your doctor before using any skincare product while pregnant.
Interested in another skincare brand that’s a bit more affordable, but still just as effective? Check out my Byoma Skincare reviews blog post!
