Kiehl's is my first, self-bought skincare brand. Being a Malaysian, Kiehl's was quite the hype among my peers, and many people had seen wonderful results from their products. As I've experimented several products from Kiehl's, today let's talk about their best-selling moisturizers!
💖 To-know before you read my skincare reviews 💖
- I live in Malaysia (tropical, humid and hot af climate)
- I have dry to very dry skin
- My main issues with skin revolves around closed comedones and fungal acne
First Impressions
I purchased my Kiehl's products from Sunway Pyramid, it was back when Central i-City wasn't open yet, so the closest outlet for me was the one in Sunway. The staff there had always been super helpful, and they were the first group of people who gave me proper guidance regarding my skin type. Testers are also available for most of Kiehl's products, so you'd be able to try them out first before committing to a full-sized product.
Ultra Facial Cream vs Ultra Facial Oil-free Cream
Kiehl's - Ultra Facial Cream
💸 Price - RM135 (50ml)
📦 Packaging – Screw-on plastic tub
💧 Texture – Light gel texture, white in color
🌸 Scent – No scent
✔️ Alcohol-free, fragrance-free
❌ Not fungal-acne safe, not considered non-comedogenic
❌ Not paraben-free
Kiehl's - Ultra Facial Oil-free Gel Cream
💸 Price - RM135 (50ml)
📦 Packaging – Screw-on plastic tub
💧 Texture – Light gel texture, translucent
🌸 Scent – No scent
✔️ Paraben-free, silicone-free, sulfate-free, fragrance-free
✔️ Non-comedogenic, fungal-acne safe, allergy-tested
❌ Not alcohol-free
Both moisturizers are priced the same, though they are meant for different skin types. The blue one has an oil-free formula targeted towards people with combination to oily skin, while the white one is targeted towards people with normal to dry skin.
I finished both of these products, along with several more testers and travel-sized ones. And here are my thoughts on them.
Pros & Cons
🟦 Doesn't give me a layer of shine throughout the day
⬜️ Results to shine on the T-zone after a few hours of use
🟦 Lightweight and absorbs well without leaving residue
⬜️ Slightly heavier than the oil-free version, skin feels slightly tacky after use
🟦 Does not provide enough hydration towards the end of the day
⬜️ Provides decent hydration throughout the day
🟦 Non-comedogenic
⬜️ Not fungal-acne safe, not considered non-comedogenic.
🟦 Contains alcohol
⬜️ Contains parabens
Even though I have dry skin, I actually prefer the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream. I know the Ultra Facial Cream is meant to be the dry skin version of it, but it's just not that great. My challenge with my skin had always been closed comedones, and hence finding non-comedogenic moisturizers are very important to me.
It absorbs super quickly into the skin while still providing moisture and hydration. The Ultra Facial Cream doesn't absorb into my skin as well which results to a shiny layer over the T-zone after half a day or so. I don't face this issue when I use the oil-free version, hence why I prefer it over the original one.
After years venturing in skincare, it's safe to say that both of these formulas contain concerning ingredients that are now not recommended. The Ultra Facial Cream has parabens, while the Oil-Free version has alcohol. After I've stepped into Korean skincare, I won't reconsider purchasing these anymore.
TL;DR - I prefer the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, but I won't repurchase anymore.
💖 Both moisturizers provide decent amount of hydration for their targeted skin types. The oil-free version falls off a little for me since I have dry skin.
👎🏻 For the price point, you get a decent amount of products, but there are still other alternatives out there at a more affordable price point.
👎🏻 Both of the moisturizers have concerning ingredients, the Ultra Facial Cream has parabens, while the Oil-Free version has alcohol. After I've stepped into Korean skincare, I won't reconsider purchasing these anymore.
How was your experience with these products? Let me know your thoughts!
Disclaimer: Please note that my articles are written according to my own personal experience. All opinions stated are my own and I tend to keep things as honest as possible for my readers. There will always be varying experiences and opinions from others, what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. As a consumer, the choice is ultimately yours to make. Feel free to go ahead and test products at your nearest outlet before making a purchasing decision.