Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane — Efficacy 4.1/5.0, Safety 4.4/5.0 | DemythSkin
++++
[ DemythSkin Verdict ]
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
Kiehl's

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane

MoisturizerBarrier Repair
Efficacy
Strong
4.1 / 5.0
Safety
Safe
4.4 / 5.0
System Verdict
Solid barrier moisturizer, but not a true treatment cream. The efficacy score is driven by a strong moisturizer base: glycerin high in the list, plus squalane, dimethicone, fatty alcohols, multiple plant oils, and a small amount of barrier-supporting lipid material. It loses points because the marketed extras like pseudoalteromonas ferment extract and the salicylic acid are likely present at low levels, so they add far less than the hydration/barrier base does.
Active Ingredients Detected
S Tier: Gold StandardsHigh Clinical Proof | Skin-Transformative
Salicylic Acid
A Tier: Good BasicsProven Results
GlycerinSqualanePrunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil / Apricot Kernel OilPersea Gratissima Oil / Avocado OilOryza Sativa Bran Oil / Rice Bran OilOlea Europaea Fruit Oil / Olive Fruit OilPrunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil / Sweet Almond OilTocopherolGlycine Soja Oil / Soybean OilPseudoalteromonas Ferment ExtractHelianthus Annuus Seed Oil / Sunflower Seed Oil
B Tier: Supporting IngredientsPromising Ingredients
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl SilaneSucrose StearatePEG-8 StearateTrisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateHydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine
C Tier: Marketing IdolsHype | Limited or Weak Data
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract / Rosemary Leaf Extract
D Tier: Potential IrritantsBe Cautious
Myristyl Myristate
What Each Ingredient Does
Aqua / Water
solvent
Glycerin
humectant
Dimethicone
silicone emollient
Squalane
emollient
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane
texture enhancer
Sucrose Stearate
emulsifier
Stearyl Alcohol
fatty alcohol
PEG-8 Stearate
emulsifier
Myristyl Myristate
emollient
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil / Apricot Kernel Oil
plant oil emollient
Phenoxyethanol
preservative
Persea Gratissima Oil / Avocado Oil
plant oil emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
emulsifier
Cetyl Alcohol
fatty alcohol
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil / Rice Bran Oil
plant oil emollient
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil / Olive Fruit Oil
plant oil emollient
Chlorphenesin
preservative
Stearic Acid
fatty acid
Palmitic Acid
fatty acid
Carbomer
thickener
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
thickener
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
chelator
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil / Sweet Almond Oil
plant oil emollient
Xanthan Gum
thickener
Full Ingredient List (INCI)

Aqua / Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Squalane, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil / Apricot Kernel Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil / Avocado Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil / Rice Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil / Olive Fruit Oil, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Carbomer, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil / Sweet Almond Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil / Soybean Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myristic Acid, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Salicylic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil / Sunflower Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract / Rosemary Leaf Extract, Citric Acid.

Frequently Asked

Is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane worth it?

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane scores 4.1 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Strong) and 4.4 out of 5.0 for safety (Safe) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Solid barrier moisturizer, but not a true treatment cream. The efficacy score is driven by a strong moisturizer base: glycerin high in the list, plus squalane, dimethicone, fatty alcohols, multiple plant oils, and a smal

What are the key active ingredients in Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane?

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Salicylic Acid.

Does Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane contain fragrance or known irritants?

DemythSkin flags these ingredients in Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane as potential irritants: Myristyl Myristate.

How is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane scored?

DemythSkin grades every product on two independent axes: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are classified S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. No brand pays for a score.

Analyze on DemythSkin

Analysis last updated: 2026-08-17. DemythSkin is an independent ingredient analyzer. Scores are computed by a deterministic rubric from published clinical evidence — no brand pays for a score.