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Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane
A fragrance-free 4.5% squalane cream that delivers dependable everyday hydration for most skin types at a premium per-ounce cost.
7.8
Good
Beauty score
#5 of 9 moisturizers
Community
—/10
- Format
- Cream
- Size
- 1.7 fl oz
- Price per oz
- $23.07 / oz
- Price tier
- Mid-range
Made for: All skin types · Dry skin · Normal skin · Sensitive skin
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
A fragrance-free 4.5% squalane cream that delivers dependable everyday hydration for most skin types at a premium per-ounce cost.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream is the brand's best-selling face moisturizer, a lightweight, non-greasy cream with 4.5% squalane, glacial glycoprotein and pro-ceramides. Kiehl's claims 72-hour hydration and barrier repair within an hour, and the formula is fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and NEA-accepted. Reviewers describe a gel-like texture that absorbs fast and layers under makeup, suiting normal, dry and even some oily skin. The jar packaging and price per ounce are the most common complaints.
Best for
- Normal, dry or combination skin wanting a daily cream
- A makeup-friendly, fragrance-free moisturizer
- Buyers who want a refillable option
Why it’s trending
Kiehl's says one Ultra Facial Cream sold every 30 seconds in the US (Aug 2023 to Aug 2024)
SourceWhat we love
- Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and NEA Seal of Acceptance
- 4.5% squalane with pro-ceramides
- Light, fast-absorbing texture that works under makeup
- Suits most skin types including oily, per reader reviews
- Several sizes including a 150 ml refill
Worth knowing
- Expensive per ounce versus drugstore barrier creams
- Jar packaging makes dosing less hygienic and precise
- Can feel slightly tacky right after application
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
7.8Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%8.0
Press and reader panels report lasting hydration and less mid-day tightness, but it is a maintenance moisturizer rather than a treatment.
- Formula & ingredients20%7.8
Fragrance-free with a disclosed 4.5% squalane plus glacial glycoprotein and pro-ceramides; a sound hydrating formula, though without a standout active beyond squalane.
- Texture & experience15%8.3
Reviewers consistently praise the light, gel-like texture that absorbs quickly and layers under makeup; the jar is the main usability complaint.
- Value20%6.8
At list price the 50 ml jar costs well over drugstore ceramide creams with comparable hydration, though larger sizes lower the per-ml cost.
- Community love15%8.2
A long-running bestseller, one sold every 30 seconds in the US per Kiehl's, with broadly positive creator and press reviews.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Lightweight, non-greasy cream that reviewers describe as gel-like and fast-absorbing
Format
Cream
Fragrance
Fragrance-free
Size
1.7 fl oz / 50 ml
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- SqSqualaneHydrators — ingredient guide
- CeCeramidesBarrier & repair — ingredient guide
- GlGlycerinHydrators — ingredient guide
What’s in it: 4.5% squalane, glacial glycoprotein and pro-ceramides per Kiehl's; glycerin is cited in the brand FAQ.
How to use
After cleansing and toning, apply a dime-sized amount to the face twice daily, morning and night.
Free from (brand-stated)
- fragrance
- parabens
Claims & certifications
- National Eczema Association Seal
- Fragrance-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Dermatologist-tested
- Paraben-free
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
3 verbatim quotes · 2 positive · 1 mixed
DailyVanityPositive
Imagine my surprise when I put this moisturiser on my face for the first time and felt it absorb almost instantly into my skin. The texture was actually more lightweight and gel-like rather than a thick cream that I had expected, and it didn’t sit heavily on my skin at all.
DailyVanityMixed
I do wish this moisturiser came in a squeezy tube, though. The jar makes it difficult to gauge how much I need to scoop out to use for my whole face.
Brit + CoPositive
Thanks to the fast-absorbing formulation of this moisturizer, I can apply serums and sunscreen on top of it without feeling like my skin is totally weighed down.
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$39.00
for 1.7 fl oz / 50 ml
Per ounce
$23.07
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
About 10% less per ounce than the typical moisturizers we review. Our value score: 6.8/10 for a mid-range pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
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Tried Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Is Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream fragrance-free?
Yes. Kiehl's describes the formula as fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and dermatologist-tested, and it carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance.
Does Ultra Facial Cream contain SPF?
No. Kiehl's sells a separate Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30 version; this cream should be paired with a sunscreen during the day.
Is it good for oily skin?
Kiehl's markets it for all skin types, and a DailyVanity reader with very oily skin found it lightweight and non-greasy. The brand's Oil-Free Gel Cream is its dedicated option for oily skin.
Can it be worn under makeup?
Yes. Kiehl's suggests it as a base and even mixing it with foundation for sheer coverage, and reviewers report foundation applies smoothly over it.
Alternatives
If you’re weighing it up, also consider.
Sensitive-skin pick
La Roche-Posay
Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
8.4Great
A light, oil-free ceramide and niacinamide face cream that Reddit routinely recommends for sensitive and acne-prone skin.
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Best overall
CeraVe
Moisturizing Cream
8.8Excellent
A fragrance-free ceramide and petrolatum cream that remains the default barrier moisturizer for dry face and body skin at a drugstore price.
Cream5$19.99
Splurge
Tatcha
The Dewy Skin Cream
7.2Good
A rich, scented line-plumping cream loved for its dewy finish and makeup prep, but costly and not for fragrance-sensitive skin.
Cream4$74.00