Review: Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream
The Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream is about to celebrate its 15th birthday and I’m embarrassed to say that a few months ago was my first time giving it a try. I say embarrassed because this moisturiser has rave reviews online, friends of mine in real-life use it (and swear by it!) and it’s a constant feature in bathroom #shelfies on Instagram. So why did it take me so long to give it a go? I honestly don’t know. I think I’ve just always been swayed to pick up flashier and trendier products because let’s be honest, a white plastic tub marked as ‘Facial Cream’ isn’t exactly the most enticing product on the beauty hall shelf. Nevertheless, it’s me that’s been missing out because this cult-classic has a religious following for a reason.
What Makes It Special:
It’s not a particularly unique moisturiser in appearance; opaque, white cream. But what it lacks in individuality it certainly makes up for in efficacy. It’s been formulated with a Glacial Glycoprotein Extract known as Antarcticine which aids in the retention of moisture in the skin in severe cold temperatures, but I’m also enjoying using it in the current hot weather too.
What I’m loving is the price, it’s less than half the price of the Murad Hydro Dynamic (my holy grail) and yet I would say that it gives a very comparable result in hydration. In fact, in the middle of Summer (like now… *sweats*) I’m reaching for this one more so because it is so light and quick to absorb.
Why I Like It:
I love the consistency of the Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream. It’s a light-weight cream that applies beautifully with an easy slip, but soaks in quickly and leaves my skin feeling, and looking, hydrated.
What I Don’t Like About It:
Something that I’ve waxed lyrical about before is my love of fragrance in skincare, and this cream doesn’t have any scent. This might be a plus for a lot of sensitive skin people, but for me, I love a fresh fragrance to my moisturiser, especially in the morning. I always find it wakes me up that bit more and makes me feel ready for the day. Other than that it’s pretty hard to fault.
Application:
You can use Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream as part of your morning and/or evening routine as your last layer after serums and/or treatments. If I was to also use an oil too, I would apply the oil first and then use this to seal in all the other products.
Product Claims:
Provides 24-hour hydration for hydrated, smooth, healthy-looking skin – definitely hydrates well and leaves skin smooth, but I don’t test anything for 24 hours.
Balances even skin’s driest areas with 2.3x more hydration – increases hydration, can’t be sure of a percentage increase though.
Absorbs into skin easily with a lightweight texture – absolutely.
Tested in both everyday and extreme environments – I’ve worn this almost every day for a couple of months, including in dry and hot weather, it holds up well.
For all skin types, including sensitive skin – agree, works well for me when my skin is reactive.
Ingredients:
Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Squalane, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sucrose Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, PEG-8 Stearate, Myristyl Myristate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethlhexanoate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernal Oil/Apricot Kernal Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil/Avocado Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetl Alcohol, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil/Rice Bran Oil, Olea Europaea Fruit Oil/Olive Fruit Oil, Chlorphenesin, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Disodium EDTA, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil/Sweet Almond Oil, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Glycine Soja Oil/Soybean Oil, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Myristic acid, Hydroxypalmitol Sphinganine, BHT, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid.
Available From:
Adore Beauty
Kiehls
Details:
25ml – $35
50ml – $51
125ml – $88
Repurchase:
Already have. I bought the 50ml tub last December and have just ordered and had the 125ml size arrive in perfect time because I’m starting to run low.
