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Join for free →Kiehl's best-selling moisturiser is a fragrance-free, alcohol-free daily cream built on a well-layered emollient base of Squalane, Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, and Sweet Almond Oil. The formula includes Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine (a ceramide precursor supporting the skin's barrier lipid cycle) and Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract (a marine bioferment with barrier-conditioning activity). No fragrance, no parabens, and no drying alcohols make this the cleanest product in the Kiehl's range, though Myristyl Myristate is worth noting for acne-prone skin types.

₹4,500-₹5,500 • Analysed 10 June 2026
The multi-oil emollient base is well-suited for dry to normal skin but may feel heavier during Indian monsoon and summer months when a lighter gel-cream format tends to work better. The fragrance-free formula is a strong fit for India's urban population dealing with pollution-sensitised or reactive skin. For acne-prone consumers, the Myristyl Myristate note is worth monitoring before committing to daily use.
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.
No Parfum, fragrance, or scent-use essential oils appear in the published INCI list.
Kiehl's states 'dermatologist tested' broadly across its range but has not published a study with methodology, sample size, or result summary for this product.
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine is a genuine ceramide precursor, but its concentration is not publicly disclosed, so the functional dose of this claim cannot be independently verified.
The absence of fragrance and parabens supports a relatively gentle profile, but no HRIPT or patch test report is publicly accessible.
Public Evidence Score across 5 pillars. Open any row for the full rationale.
Clean allergen profile with a fragrance free formula.
This formula is fragrance-free, paraben-free, and free from Alcohol Denat, DMDM Hydantoin, and methylisothiazolinone. That is a clean safety profile for a daily leave-on moisturiser. One ingredient worth noting for acne-prone users: Myristyl Myristate, a fatty ester emollient, has moderate comedogenicity data in occlusion studies and may contribute to milia or closed comedones for some skin types. Chlorphenesin is a halogenated co-preservative that appears at a late stage in the formula; it is within accepted limits for leave-on use. No regulatory flags found across EU, India, or Health Canada databases for this ingredient set.
The emollient base is well-structured: Squalane, Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, and Sweet Almond Oil are all skin-compatible fats with good evidence for barrier conditioning. Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine is a ceramide precursor that supports the skin's natural barrier lipid cycle, and it appears in the lower portion of the formula where no concentration is publicly disclosed. Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract is a marine bioferment with barrier-conditioning activity. This is a heritage formula that is structurally sound and appropriate for its moisturising claim, though the ceramide precursor concentration cannot be independently verified from the ingredient list alone.
The full ingredient list is published on Kiehl's product page. The formula makes no inflated claims and does not use 'clinically proven' or SPF language. The brand does not disclose the concentration of the ceramide precursor, so the functional dose of the key barrier ingredient cannot be publicly verified. Kiehl's states the product is 'dermatologist tested', but no published study with method, sample size, or result is accessible, which means the claim carries partial weight only. The comedogenicity concern from Myristyl Myristate is not mentioned anywhere in product communications.
“Fragrance-free” No Parfum, fragrance, or scent-use essential oils appear in the published INCI list.
“Dermatologist tested” Kiehl's states 'dermatologist tested' broadly across its range but has not published a study with methodology, sample size, or result summary for this product.
“Barrier support (ceramide precursor)” Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine is a genuine ceramide precursor, but its concentration is not publicly disclosed, so the functional dose of this claim cannot be independently verified.
Kiehl's states 'dermatologist tested' on the product but does not link to or publish a study with lab name, methodology, sample size, or result summary. The full INCI is publicly visible on kiehls.com, which is a baseline transparency positive. No preservative efficacy test result, no stability data, and no clinical performance report are publicly accessible. This places the product in a Grade C evidence category: testing is mentioned, but the details needed to independently evaluate what was tested and what was found are not visible.
Use instructions and frequency guidance are clear on the brand page. Skin type suitability (dry to normal skin) is communicated. The brand does not provide explicit layering guidance for consumers who use multiple actives alongside this moisturiser, which is a common gap. No direct honest caveat about the comedogenicity note for acne-prone users appears on the product page.
| Ingredient |
|---|
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 |
Phenoxyethanol |
Persea Gratissima Oil |
Glyceryl Stearate |
Cetyl Alcohol |
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil |
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil |
Chlorphenesin |
Stearic Acid |
Palmitic Acid |
Carbomer |
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer |
Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate |
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil |
Xanthan Gum |
Ethylhexylglycerin |
Sodium Hydroxide |
Tocopherol |
Glycine Soja Oil |
Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract |
Myristic Acid |
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine |
Salicylic Acid |
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil |
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract |
Citric Acid |
INCI order as declared on packaging. Position reflects approximate concentration (high to low).
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.
No Parfum, fragrance, or scent-use essential oils appear in the published INCI list.
Evidence visible
Kiehl's states 'dermatologist tested' broadly across its range but has not published a study with methodology, sample size, or result summary for this product.
Mentioned only
Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine is a genuine ceramide precursor, but its concentration is not publicly disclosed, so the functional dose of this claim cannot be independently verified.
Mentioned only
The absence of fragrance and parabens supports a relatively gentle profile, but no HRIPT or patch test report is publicly accessible.
Mentioned only
Public evidence the brand could provide to close verification gaps
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.
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