Ultra Facial Cleanser
This assessment is based only on publicly available INCI, claims, and test evidence. It is not a full Clean Sheet certification. Full certification requires confidential formula review, exact concentrations, supplier documentation, manufacturing records, packaging compatibility, preservative efficacy, stability, and complete claim validation.
- Oily and acne prone skin
- You are new to active skincare - patch test first
₹1,900-₹2,500 • Analysed 10 June 2026
Daily cleansing is a cornerstone of Indian skincare routines. SLES-based cleansers are effective at removing dirt and oil but interact with India's hard water (common in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai) to raise cleansing pH, which can accelerate barrier disruption with daily use. Consumers with sensitive, dry, or barrier-compromised skin may want to consider a milder amino acid-based cleanser as an alternative to this formula.
This is a web evidence review, not a Clean Sheet certification. We checked the ingredient list, publicly available test reports, marketing claims, and formula logic using only public information available at the time of review.
At a glance
What was checked
Each claim checked against publicly available evidence: published test reports, the ingredient list, and regulatory data.
SLES as the primary surfactant is effective but stronger than amino acid-based alternatives; no finished product skin barrier or gentleness study with method and result is publicly accessible.
No Parfum, fragrance, or scent-use essential oils appear in the published ingredient list.
Kiehl's states this broadly but no published study with methodology, sample size, or result is accessible for this cleanser.
PHMB's EU regulatory status in rinse-off products and the three-paraben preservation system are not disclosed to consumers, limiting the basis for a broad 'all skin types' suitability claim without qualifications.
Score breakdown
Public Evidence Score across 5 pillars. Open any row for the full rationale.
Ingredient SafetyGood22/30Three concerns in a daily rinse-off cleanser.
Three concerns in a daily rinse-off cleanser. First, Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is the primary surfactant, and daily use on sensitive or dry skin can gradually disrupt the skin's moisture barrier. In India's hard water conditions, sulphate-based cleansers interact with calcium and magnesium ions to effectively raise the cleansing pH, which increases this concern. Second, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PHMB) is an antimicrobial preservative that has been restricted in EU rinse-off cosmetics above 0.1% since 2019, with contact sensitisation documented in some post-market studies. Third, three parabens are present (Methylparaben, Propylparaben, and Sodium Methylparaben). In a rinse-off product the systemic exposure concern is substantially lower than in a leave-on formulation, but three parabens in a daily cleanser reflects a preservation approach that has not been updated. The rinse-off format overall provides meaningful mitigation.
Formula LogicGood17/25SLES cleans effectively.
SLES cleans effectively. Decyl Glucoside and Cocamidopropyl Betaine are milder co-surfactants that help reduce irritation relative to SLES alone. Conditioning oils (Squalane, Sweet Almond Oil, Avocado Oil) are included to offset post-wash tightness. The rinse-off format limits ingredient exposure time, which matters for the preservatives and their respective concern profiles. The inclusion of Ascorbyl Glucoside at a late stage in a rinse-off formula provides minimal efficacy contribution given the wash-off contact time. The formula structure is functional but reflects dated ingredient choices in its surfactant and preservative systems.
Claims EvidenceGood15/25The full ingredient list is published on kiehls.com and all parabens are named clearly.
The full ingredient list is published on kiehls.com and all parabens are named clearly. The product is positioned as a gentle daily cleanser, but SLES as the primary surfactant and the presence of PHMB are not acknowledged in any consumer-facing communication. No fragrance is present, which is a positive. No SPF or therapeutic claims are made. The 'dermatologist tested' claim is present but no published study is accessible.
Test TransparencyGrade CFair7/15Kiehl's states 'dermatologist tested' but no published study with method, sample size, or result is publicly accessible for this cleanser.
Kiehl's states 'dermatologist tested' but no published study with method, sample size, or result is publicly accessible for this cleanser. No preservative efficacy test, no skin barrier impact study, and no PHMB concentration data are publicly available. The full INCI is on kiehls.com. Grade C: testing mentioned but supporting documentation is not publicly visible.
Consumer ClarityGood3/5Cleansing instructions are available.
Cleansing instructions are available. The brand does not disclose that SLES is the primary surfactant, does not mention PHMB's EU-restricted status, and does not provide specific guidance for sensitive or barrier-compromised skin users who may be more susceptible to the potential downsides of daily sulphate use.
Ingredient list
30 ingredients · INCI order
| Ingredient |
|---|
Water |
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) |
Decyl Glucoside |
Glycerin |
Cocamidopropyl Betaine |
Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate |
Acrylates Copolymer |
PEG-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate |
Show all 30 ingredientsShow fewer
Lauryl Glucoside |
Sodium Chloride |
Pentylene Glycol |
Triethanolamine |
Phenoxyethanol |
PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate |
Ethylhexylglycerin |
Distearyl Ether |
Behenyl Alcohol |
Methylparaben |
Laureth-2 |
Citric Acid |
Disodium EDTA |
Propylparaben |
Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PHMB) |
Sodium Methylparaben |
Squalane |
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil |
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil |
Tocopherol |
Ascorbyl Glucoside |
Persea Gratissima Oil |
INCI order as declared on packaging. Position reflects approximate concentration (high to low).
Regulatory screen
Each ingredient mapped against 10 global regulatory authorities
No obvious public red flag found
No obvious public red flag found
No obvious public red flag found
No obvious public red flag found
No obvious public red flag found
No obvious public red flag found
No obvious carcinogenicity flag found
No obvious public red flag found
Not triggered
Not triggered
Flags are based on publicly available INCI only. Not a substitute for full regulatory compliance review.
Claims check
Each marketing claim assessed against publicly available evidence
SLES as the primary surfactant is effective but stronger than amino acid-based alternatives; no finished product skin barrier or gentleness study with method and result is publicly accessible.
Mentioned only
No Parfum, fragrance, or scent-use essential oils appear in the published ingredient list.
Evidence visible
Kiehl's states this broadly but no published study with methodology, sample size, or result is accessible for this cleanser.
Mentioned only
PHMB's EU regulatory status in rinse-off products and the three-paraben preservation system are not disclosed to consumers, limiting the basis for a broad 'all skin types' suitability claim without qualifications.
Mentioned only
What would improve this score
Public evidence the brand could provide to close verification gaps
- ○No skin barrier impact study for daily SLES use is publicly accessible. Published data on how this formula affects the skin barrier with repeated use would directly support the 'gentle daily cleanser' claim.
- ○No PHMB concentration data is publicly available. The EU restriction applies above 0.1% in rinse-off products; a published concentration or compliance statement would allow independent verification.
- ○No preservative efficacy test result under ISO 11930 is publicly accessible.
- ○No 'dermatologist tested' study with method and result is publicly linked.
This assessment is based only on publicly available INCI, claims, and test evidence. It is not a full Clean Sheet certification. Full certification requires confidential formula review, exact concentrations, supplier documentation, manufacturing records, packaging compatibility, preservative efficacy, stability, and complete claim validation.
Full methodology
- What global regulations say about each ingredient
- What toxicology evidence shows at cosmetic concentrations
- What formula concentration context changes
- What the product format and leave-on contact time changes
- What the stated user group needs
- What published test evidence confirms
- What the brand is claiming vs what evidence supports
