The Ultra Facial line from Kiehl’s has long been a best seller. The cult products have recently been released in oil free versions. The products are also free of parabens, colorants and fragrances. The products in this line aren’t the same old Ultra Facial products with a few ingredients swapped out. Instead, these seem to have been completely reformulated, so think of them as new additions to the line rather than oil free counterparts to the old Ultra Facial products.
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser
The cleanser is probably my favorite of the collection. It is a light white/ivory color with a bit of pearlescent sheen. It is a bit thicker than most cleansers, and would be amazing for my Clarisonic if it didn’t have so much lather! I’m actually shocked that it has so much lather since it is sulfate free! (I did use it a few times with my Clarisonic, the result is so much lather that it actually makes it hard to breathe. It works great, but things are just a tad too bubbly.) The cleanser removes everything quickly and easily, with the exception of waterproof mascara, it seems to leave a bit behind. (Another aside- to be fair this isn’t an eye makeup remover, I’m just giving you the info, it does exactly what it promises to do.) It rinses off easily and I have no after wash tightness or redness/irritation.
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner
I need to first state that I’m not a toner girl. I’ve never really “gotten” it, why isn’t your cleanser taking that stuff off? And usually toners leave my skin irritated anyways…. so I skip this step. This toner is refreshing, doesn’t irritate my skin and dries almost immediately. It has a very light herbal scent that isn’t at all noticeable. This non-toner gal did like it, which surprised me.
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Lotion
For my combination skin the lotion was the best match for hydration. The lotion is opaque and white and actually thicker in consistency than the cream. It absorbed quickly and left no residue behind. Just skin perfectly prepared for makeup.
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel-Cream
The cream isn’t really a cream, it isn’t really a gel either. It is more like a lotion with some gel like properties. It is semi-translucent and almost white in color. It feels a little like a sticky gel but more watery. That’s really the best way I can describe it. It takes a few minutes to sink in to my skin, but it does feel great once it does. I found that it is too much for me to use in the morning, I have a little bit of residue that interferes with makeup application. I think this wouldn’t be the case in the winter, I’m going to keep it in my “skin care” drawer and try to remember to try it out then. I have a sneaking suspicion that it would be perfect for my combination skin in mid-January.
I’m a doctor, a mommy and a bit of a beauty addict. If you let me, I can take 2 hours to get ready in the morning. Really. I'm on a quest for faster beauty that works!