Kiehl's Skincare Reviews

The first time I shared a Kiehl’s product on the blog was back in early 2018, when I shared the Midnight Recovery Concentrate for the first time; I had been heavily influenced to try it by other bloggers. That was the first product I tried from the L’Oreal-owned skincare brand, and it was definitely not my last! I’ve been a fan of them ever since and am fortunate to have received some products through an affiliate network gifting program. Kiehl’s products have always had a unique look to them—labels covered in what is essentially a wall of text. (Have you ever actually read the text? It’s fun if you ever want to procrastinate organizing your skincare!)

I reviewed all of the products I’ve tried by Kiehl’s Since 1851 and specifically called out my favorite products for combination skin (the ones I’ll constantly repurchase) as well as the products I may not buy again. Sephora carries Kiehl’s, so take advantage of the seasonal savings event discounts and stock up on old favorites or try new products! If you prefer to buy direct, Kiehl’s offers a wide variety of sales throughout the year as well, and the discounts usually go higher than what is offered at Sephora.

What are your favorite Kiehl’s skincare products? Any that I didn’t mention? I would love to hear (read) what your favorites are in the comments!

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Kiehl's Since 1851 Skincare Product Reviews: My Favorite Products So Far | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Kiehl’s Skincare Reviews

Reviews of the Kiehl’s Products I’ve Tried So Far

Cleansers

I have a travel size of this cleanser, and it’s my favorite to bring on trips! I’m almost out so it’s about time to buy more. I love how sudsy it gets and how clean my face feels after using it. This is my favorite calendula product I’ve tried so far. The calendula extract soothes and cleans your face without stripping. It’s my favorite Kiehl’s cleanser so far.

I recently received this product courtesy of Kiehl’s, and it’s been fine so far. I’m not a huge fan of products that are fragrance-free because that is simply not true LOL. You know how fragrance-free items kind of has a certain scent? That’s what this smells like. (I suppose it IS free of additional fragrances, but it does have that typical fragrance-free scent.) It features a creamy texture that lathers well and so far cleans just fine. This pH-balanced cleanser contains squalane, avocado oil, and glycerin and offers a gentle wash for all skin types.

Acne Solution

I feel like I’m always on the hunt for a holy grail acne spot treatment for the occasional breakouts I get (especially around my cycle), so I decided to give this one by Kiehl’s a shot. I really like it! This acne-clearing solution contains 2% salicylic acid and acts like a liquid pimple patch to target both the redness and the bumps. I use it on my face and occasionally if something pops up on my neck or back.

Toners

I honestly can’t remember when or why I bought this toner specifically, but it’s a large bottle and it’s taking me a while to get through it! (I also have other toners to go through, haha.) The Calendula Toner is a paraben-free, fragrance-free toner that works to reduce redness, oiliness, and improve texture with its infused calendula flower petals. I am personally not a huge fan of the floating petals; they stick to my reusable cotton pads and don’t appear to want to come off in the wash. The toner itself is nice but I haven’t noticed any major differences after using it!

I received the Ferulic Brew Antioxidant Treatment courtesy of Kiehl’s in July 2022, and it very quickly became one of my favorite Kiehl’s products! This product contains ferulic and lactic acids (AHAs) to boost your skin’s glow, smooth the texture, and reduce fine lines, and it claims to work in as little as seven days if used daily. I’ve used this product almost daily for nearly a year and immediately noticed how much my skin loves this stuff. It definitely appears brighter! I didn’t realize it had lactic acid until I started writing this post (oops lol) and I think that’s why my skin likes it so much. I tried a different lactic acid product a few months ago and my skin loved that, too!

Eye Creams

I bought this eye cream for the first time in spring 2018 during a Sephora sale. This cream contains avocado oil, beta-carotene, and shea butter to provide hydration while also de-puffing and brightening. This eye cream has a slightly tacky texture when you go to apply it, so it feels like I’m pulling at my skin a bit and that is not super ideal around the already delicate skin of the eye area. Besides that, I do think it does a good job of brightening.

This anti-aging eye cream was a recent addition to my skincare collection thanks to Kiehl’s, and I’m really loving this one. This cream has a really great, truly creamy texture that isn’t tacky. This eye cream offers the same benefits of the avocado eye cream except with some additional anti-aging benefits. I’ll be honest, I’m not great at noticing anti-aging benefits (gotta start taking before/after photos!), but I do love this eye cream so far.

Now that I’m in my mid-30s (gulp!), it’s time to take my skincare routine a little more seriously…and that means combating wrinkles. Though, I’m really not doing that much to combat wrinkles (besides things like wearing SPF to prevent them in the first place). I’m definitely lazy when it comes to skincare. This powerful strength wrinkle-reducing eye cream intrigued me enough to try it. I use it a couple of times a week around my eyes; it has a warming sensation when applied. I’m not entirely sure I can tell if it’s doing much (I might need to try applying it more frequently to notice), but I feel better using it!

Moisturizers + Facial Oil

Kiehl’s gifted me their Ultra Facial Cream, and it’s one of my favorite lightweight moisturizers EVER. It’s sooo good. This moisturizer contains squalane and glacial glycoprotein to deeply hydrate and soften skin. Plus, it works well on sensitive skin types. (And Kiehl’s uses plant-derived squalane in its products!) The texture is so creamy, you’ll be tempted to eat it! My skin loves this stuff. It’s a fabulous everyday moisturizer and feels especially good after a retinol treatment. I’ve re-purchased it multiple times since my first jar!

I also received this moisturizer courtesy of Kiehl’s. It’s a fine moisturizer; it does have a sort of herbal/medicinal smell to it that may be off-putting to some. This was developed to target visible signs of aging (wrinkles, tone, and texture) with the help of vitamin A, chaga mushroom, and hyaluronic acid. I have not noticed anything in terms of anti-aging (like I said above, gotta start taking before/after photos!). I did notice looking at the product page that it appears Kiehl’s changed the formulation in the past couple of years. I never tried the prior formulation but lots of people aren’t seeing the benefits they used to see.

This is one of the most recent products I received courtesy of Kiehl’s, and I’m loving it so far. First of all, I’m a sucker for any product that includes “cloud” in the name (you can see it on the jar in the photos). If a product is called cloud cream, you can pretty much guarantee I’m going to try it. This night cream is infused with Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and soothing botanicals that work to plump and replenish skin overnight. The cream has a whipped, lightweight texture that absorbs nicely into skin without any residue.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, the Midnight Recovery Concentrate is the very first Kiehl’s product I ever tried! In my first review, I mentioned that I wasn’t sure if it actually did much of anything besides making me appear brighter in the mornings. I’m also not sure if I use it correctly; right now it’s my final step after moisturizer. But perhaps I should try using the oil first and then moisturizing? Either way, my skin drinks this oil up! It contains lavender essential oil and evening primrose oil to help restore skin overnight.

Masks

I also received the Ultra Facial Overnight Face Mask courtesy of Kiehl’s, and I have to say that I’m not a huge fan of it. First of all, it has that weird fragrance-free fragrance to it. It’s also not the easiest to remove from the tub, and I don’t like the feeling of digging my fingers in to get it out (I know, it’s silly); it starts out as a balm and turns into an oil. I also don’t like how it sits on my skin and usually leaves some oily residue that remains when I wake up in the morning. (Is that normal?) All that said, it’s a hydrating face mask designed for dry skin, and of course, contains squalane, and lots of other people like it!

Hand + Body Lotion + Oil

If you’re looking for a great everyday hand lotion, THIS is a perfect option! I purchased a large size bottle and just about went through the whole thing (I forced myself not to empty it just yet for the sake of these photos, haha). I keep a small bottle at my desk in the office because the soap in the bathroom always makes my hands dry. It’s a super rich hand cream that contains avocado oil, sesame seed oil, and shea butter for lots of hydration.

I received the Creme de Corps Body Lotion courtesy of Kiehl’s. It’s a rich, non-greasy lotion that contains shea butter, cocoa butter, and squalane. I’m not entirely sure that I agree with the “non-greasy” claim, as my hands always feel greasy after applying it, but it does soak into the skin well after a few minutes. It’s not my favorite for deep hydration (it’s not enough to quench my really dry feet) but it’s a solid body lotion, and it smells nice.

I wanted to try Creme de Corps again, and I prefer jars to bottles like the one the regular Creme de Corps body lotion comes in, especially for lotions. I couldn’t get all of the lotion out of the bottle! I like the whipped body butter way more than the body lotion; it feels more hydrating (though it is still slightly greasy after application). My body butter is ever-so-slightly gritty, kind of like there’s tiny bits of sand in it, and I’m not sure if that’s normal or not but thought I’d mention it because it annoyed me to feel those harder bits! I use this on my hands, feet, elbows, and knees before I sleep.

I also received this product thanks to Kiehl’s! I actually wasn’t sure if I’d like this product, because I’m not someone that uses body oil, but I liked the idea of this one. I spray it on my arms and legs after showering (and towel drying) and rub it in for extra moisture. It’s not too oily, doesn’t leave an oily residue, and the smell—vanilla and almond—is lovely!

Shop Kiehl’s Skincare Products

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Multi-Corrective Cream Reviews | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair
Kiehl's Ferulic Brew Rejuvenating Facial Essence Review | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Kiehl’s Best Products

If you’re new to Kiehl’s and wondering where to start, these five products are what I personally think are Kiehl’s best! My most favorite products are listed first, and I picked these based on what I’ve loved enough to purchase again and again. You can make a whole skincare routine from these five products.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream Review | what to buy from Kiehl's Since 1851 | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair
Kiehl's Creme de Corps Body Butter Review | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Are Kiehl's Products Worth It?

Like with any skincare brand, it’s all personal! I have personally found most of the Kiehl’s products I’ve tried to be worth it. I have repurchased a number of products I’ve tried, including products I was gifted! I hope this post gives you an idea of which Kiehl’s products to try if you are new to the brand and aren’t sure what’s worth it. You really won’t know what works for you until you try it!

Where to Buy Kiehl’s Skincare Products

Kiehl's Creme de Corps Body Lotion and Oil Reviews | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair
Best Skincare Products to Try from Kiehl's Since 1851 | Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

About my Skin and Beauty Routine

I do not consider myself a beauty blogger, but I love reading recommendations from regular people like me so I hope that, if you’re the same way, this post is somewhat helpful for you too! (Be sure to check out my skincare section under “Life at Home” to find all of my beauty-related posts!)

Along with the fact that I don’t really dabble that much in beauty and skincare, I’m very low maintenance when it comes to beauty, makeup, and skincare in general. I don’t have a morning skincare routine and only use product at night. My problem areas tend to be my forehead and chin (T-zone), and my skin is what I would consider combination (it tends to be oilier on my forehead and drier on my cheeks). I break out most often around my period—lucky me!

This post was last updated May 2024.

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