I tried and tested the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream – now my skin has never looked better
AS part of our ongoing quest to uncover skincare gems, we're bringing you our Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream review to see if this beauty staple lives up to the hype.
Founded as a small apothecary in New York in 1851, Kiehl's is a luxury skin, body and haircare brand that has truly stood the test of time – so it's no wonder that beauty fans the world over place trust in the brand's reputation to deliver on quality.
Not only that, but its coveted products come dermatologist-recommended and are made using natural and well-sourced ingredients; something that a lot of us are paying more attention to these days.
If you're new to the brand, then its number-one best-selling ultra-hydrating facial cream seems like a good place to start. It promises to 'provide up to 24-hour lasting hydration' as well as 'balance hydration levels with 2.3X more moisture' – so naturally, I jumped at the chance to test it.
Read on to see how I got on.
- Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, from £35 from Kiehl's -
Pros
- Very hydrating
- A little goes a long way
- Skin instantly looks brighter
- Uses clean ingredients
- Feels light on skin
Cons
- No scent
- Quite pricey
- Doesn't include SPF (though )
Overall rating: 4/5
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream review: quick summary
Spoiler alert: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream is worth the hype.
The main selling point of this daily cream is how hydrating it is. Because it's so thick, I found that it smoothes easily over skin, quenching dry and tight areas as it goes.
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But just because it's thick, it doesn't mean it's heavy. In fact, it feels really lightweight and you don't need much: just a dot on the cheeks, forehead, chin, nose and neck will see your whole face happily covered.
Rub it in and the skin looks instantly brighter and rejuvenated; no vitamin C needed.
You'll only find clean ingredients in this, including glacial glycoprotein and olive-derived squalane, so you know your skin won't be exposed to harsh chemicals.
It will be exposed to the sun, though, because this doesn't include SPF. Not all day creams have to, of course, but to me, it feels like something the Ultra Facial Cream is missing, which adds another step to your skincare routine.
However, if SPF is a dealbreaker for you, then you can get an SPF 30 version for the same price.
- Kiehl's Ultra Face Cream SPF 30, £28.50 from Kiehl's -
It's also missing any truly recognisable scent so if you're into skincare with fragrance — natural or otherwise — then this might not be the one for you. To smell anything, you'll have to stick your nose in the pot.
Having said that, the cream itself is a marvel. If you want hydrated, fresh skin then the Ultra Facial Cream has got you covered.
- Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, from £35 from Kiehl's -
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Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream review: full review
The Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream is a cult classic, number one bestseller and all-around beauty darling. It's literally won 70 international beauty awards.
Despite having tried a lifetime's worth of face creams, though, this one had slipped through my beauty radar.
When I opened the tub, I could see exactly why it is marketed as a 'super hydrator' because the cream looked very thick. Turn the pot upside down and that product is going absolutely nowhere!
I also noticed the lack of any real scent, which for some people is great (especially if you have sensitive skin) but if you like to use your creams as part of a full sensory ritual, this one's not going to be doing much for your sense of smell.
But as soon as I dotted the product onto my face and massaged it in, I realised it only looked thick and in fact, felt the opposite — lightweight and smooth.
Plus it only took a few moments to sink in, with no greasiness at all.
Immediately my skin looked more radiant, healthier and generally fresh-faced, and it was as hydrating as promised, moisturising any dry patches and relieving the tightness that comes with dehydrated skin.
Steering clear of anything that isn't 'clean' and using ingredients like glacial glycoprotein and olive-derived squalane, it delivered on its promise to leave my skin feeling soft and smooth.
The hydration lasted all day; I was just starting to feel my skin tighten by the time I was washing my face and reapplying it as part of my evening routine.
My skin felt rebalanced and refreshed and wasn't left greasy after using the cream. What more could you want?
The only missing ingredient, in my opinion, is SPF, which I personally like in a moisturiser in case I forget to apply it separately. It's not crucial but I felt like this was the only thing the Ultra Facial Cream was missing.
As I mentioned above, though, you can get an
At £57 for 125ml or £35 for 50ml, it's on the pricier side of mid-range – but because it's so thick in the tub, you'll really get your money's worth. A little goes a long way.
How to use Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream?
Apply a dot of the cream to your cheeks, forehead, nose, chin and neck and then massage in after cleansing and applying any serums.
In the morning, follow with an SPF and your normal makeup routine.
Is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream good for oily skin?
Although you can use this on any skin type, for oily skin you'll have better results with a gel moisturiser from Kiehl's like the .
More than anything, it's crucial to remember not to skip moisturiser if you have oily skin, because the more you strip your skin and the less hydrated it is, the more oil it will produce.
How much does the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream cost?
A 50ml tub will cost you £35, or if you want to size up, you can buy 125ml for £55.
And you can currently snag the Ultra Facial Cream for
Where to buy Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream is available in-store at Kiehl's (head online to ) as well as .
However, if you don't live nearby to a store or you want to shop online elsewhere, fear not: this wonder cream is also available from a wide range of beauty retailers. We've listed some for you below:
Is there an alternative to Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream?
There are plenty of alternatives to Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream which cater to various skin types and concerns – as well as budget.
We've gone into depth over our tried and tested roundup of the best face creams, where we crowned as the best overall face cream.
Elsewhere, we named as the best face cream for dry skin, while was the best face cream with SPF.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream review: the verdict
If the 7,348 five-star reviews on Kiehl's website aren't enough to convince you that this cream does its job and does it well, then nothing will.
This facial cream is hydrating, refreshing and nourishing and it left my skin feeling soft and healthy.
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It's now earned the coveted moisturiser spot in my skincare routine and something very special would have to come along to take its place.
- Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream, from £35 from Kiehl's -