If you wished Kiehl’s Ultra Facial was Oil Free you (and I) got your wish!

The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial skincare has been taken to the Arctic to protect the chapped skin of the Arctic explorers, which it did. In the super cold dry air of the Arctic, it is no wonder that the popular Ultra Facial Cream is moisturizing, but very thick. I tried a sample of the Ultra Facial Cream once, but in a dry cool climate. My skin loved it. It kept my skin from drying out and it just felt lovely overall. When I returned to the tropics and tried it, it felt heavy and greasy. Unless you have super dry skin, I cannot see the Ultra Facial Cream catching on in the Tropics, no matter what they say.

Enter the new Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free range which is for normal to oily skin types. When I first heard about it, I was quite interested. It promises to hydrate the skin as well as the Ultra Facial range, but without the heaviness associated with it. It is also paraben free, silicone free, fragrance free and oil free. I was sent the range nearly 2 months ago so here are my thoughts on it. It is expected to be launched here soon, or may already be in Kiehl’s stores 🙂

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free Cleanser – RM85/200ml

This is a fairly large tube of facial cleanser that foams up very nicely even with just very little, and it cleans the skin well. It isn’t drying on my skin, but it doesn’t make it feel wonderful either. I’d say its a good little cleanser, but not a must have. Its a cleanser! I don’t have much to say about it 😛

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free Toner – RM85/250ml

I’ve used the Kiehl’s Cucumber toner and Acai Toning Mist before this. Like the Cucumber Toner, this one is a wipe on toner but unlike the Cucumber Toner this one does not feel astringent. In keeping to the hydrating theme, this toner does make my skin feel a little bit hydrated than regular toners. It reminds me of the lotions used in Japanese skincare and although I did not quite feel it initially, I do quite like it now. After 2 months, I’m not even a quarter of the way though the bottle and I apply this using a cotton pad, wiping the lotion all over my skin and then lightly patting it in. Its nothing earth shattering, but its quite nice.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free Gel Cream – RM100/50ml

This one is, for me, the star product of the range. If you like light gel cream textures you too may like this one. If you don’t, you won’t because gel creams feel differently on the skin compared to normal oil based creams. I find that gel creams tend to feel a little sticky going on, but once they absorb, my skin feels lovely thereafter.

The texture of this cream is pretty much like all other gel creams – light and translucent. I apply this by doing the 5 dot method – forehead, cheeks, nose and chin and then massage it in. I also use varying amounts depending on how my skin feels at the time and never once have I felt oily. I think this one might be good for oily skinned gals too.

This is the cream I credit with restoring the balance of my skin and which made me think hard about using hydration as a means to curing my skin problems and imbalance. I use it a lot in the day, because it is so light yet helps my skin remain moisturised throughout the day – no mean feat in this hot weather and air conditioning. At night, I sometimes alternate this with something a little heavier or I use this as a sleeping pack.

Yes I love this one a lot. 2 months, and I’m not even halfway through my tub yet. Its all good 🙂

Ingredients: Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Propanediol, Glycereth-26, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ammonium Polyacryldimethyltautamide/Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Imperata Cylindrical root extract, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Propylene Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Panthenol, Cucumis Sativus Juice/Cucumber Fruit Extract, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer Fmla 685478/11 Code FIL D45072/1

I will tell you that Alcohol Denat is one of the ingredients. Personally, I’m not affected by it, but if you are, then its best you don’t use this one.

The Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free skincare range is already available in the stores, and we know by now that Kiehl’s has a very generous sampling policy (just don’t abuse it 😛 ) so if you are in store, or are in the market for a new moisturiser do take a look and see if they have samples you can take home to try and see if you like it. As for me, I’m keeping this Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free Gel Cream on my “to repurchase” list. Its more affordable than other gel creams I’ve tried, does its job very well for me and is all in all, something I can see myself using very often, and I do! 🙂

If you have tried anything from this range, do share your thoughts, whether you like it or no. We all have different preferences anyway 😉

Paris B

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Oil Free skincare range is available at all Kiehl’s stores and counters. Cleanser: RM85/200ml, Toner: RM85/250ml, Gel Cream: RM100/50ml

Here’s the official statement I obtained from Kiehl’s re: Animal Testing : At Kiehl’s, we are committed to providing products of the highest quality, safety, and efficacy.  Our products and ingredients undergo extensive screening so that customers may purchase and use our products with complete confidence. In order to assure the safety and efficacy of our formulations, we use a variety of ways to test our products.  This can include consumer panels, sensory testing and instrumental evaluation.  Kiehl’s does not—nor have we ever—tested our products on animals.