Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream review for dry menopausal skin

The answer in one table

What the ingredient list shows

Kiehl’s US product page, checked October 21, 2026, publishes the key ingredients as 4.5% squalane, glacial glycoprotein and pro-ceramides, but not a full ingredient list as text. The full list below comes from the National Eczema Association’s directory entry for the product. Always read the list on your jar, because formulas can change.

The NEA prints the list in alphabetical order, so it does not show amounts. It includes water, glycerin, dimethicone and squalane, emulsifiers and fatty alcohols (stearyl and cetyl alcohol), apricot kernel, avocado, rice bran, olive, sweet almond, soybean and sunflower oils, with xanthan gum, tocopherol, rosemary leaf extract and the preservatives phenoxyethanol and chlorphenesin.

• Glycerin: a humectant that draws water into the outer skin. The American Academy of Dermatology names glycerin and hyaluronic acid as helpful moisturizer ingredients for menopausal dryness.
• Squalane and plant oils: soften the surface and slow water loss. Kiehl’s says the squalane comes from olives and sugar cane. The 4.5% figure is the brand’s.
• Dimethicone: a silicone that gives a smooth, non-greasy feel and sits on the surface.
• Salicylic acid: listed, in an amount the brand does not publish. It is less common in a moisturizer for dry skin. If you have reacted to exfoliating acids, keep it in mind and patch test.
• No fragrance entry, no alcohol denat, no parabens: Kiehl’s also says it is mineral-oil-free and non-comedogenic.
• One ceramide: the brand highlights “pro-ceramides,” and the NEA list shows hydroxypalmitoyl sphinganine labeled as a ceramide. The brand does not publish amounts, so do not assume a high ceramide content.

Brand claims, and how far they go

Kiehl’s says the cream gives 72-hour hydration, hydrates “15 layers deep,” and shows barrier repair in one hour. It says each claim rests on instrumental studies, and it does not publish the study details, so these are brand claims, not independent evidence. It also says 85 percent of 21 participants showed improved visible redness after 24 hours. That is a small image-analysis study of 21 people, run by the brand, so treat it as a hint, not proof that it calms reactive skin.

Kiehl’s says the cream carries the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance, and the NEA product directory lists it. The NEA says the seal means a brand applied and passed a review, including a fragrance-free formula and safety testing documented by the brand. The NEA also says eczema is different for everyone and that healthcare questions should go to a physician.

Is it a good moisturizer for menopausal skin?

It may suit you if:

• your face feels dry or tight and you want a fragrance-free daily cream that is not heavy;
• you like a smooth, quick-absorbing texture under makeup, which Kiehl’s says it is suited to;
• you already have a cleanser and a daily SPF and want one more reliable layer in between.

Choose something else, or ask a clinician first, if:

• your skin is itchy, burning or newly reactive: start with menopausal skin suddenly sensitive and why menopause makes skin itch;
• you react to plant oils, including sweet almond and apricot kernel oil, or to exfoliating acids;
• you want a thick, occlusive cream for very dry or flaking skin: see moisturizers for menopausal dry skin;
• you want one product for face and body: see body lotions for menopause.

The NHS lists dry and itchy skin among possible menopause symptoms. The AAD suggests a mild cleanser instead of soap, moisturizing after bathing and through the day when skin feels dry, and seeing a dermatologist if your skin still feels dry. A cream, even a good one, is not treatment for a rash or persistent itch.

Comparison: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream or CeraVe Moisturizing Cream?

Quick comparison: prestige face cream or drugstore face and body cream

Kiehl's facts were checked October 21, 2026. CeraVe facts come from our reviewed fragrance-free moisturizer guide, checked October 8, 2026.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream with Squalane

Sold in several sizes; confirm the size you order.

Key ingredients

Glycerin, dimethicone, squalane, plant oils, fatty alcohols; salicylic acid listed.

Best for

A fragrance-free daily face cream with a smooth, non-greasy feel.

Watch out for

Premium cost; several plant oils and a listed acid; claims rest on unpublished brand studies.

CeraVe Moisturizing Cream

Face and body cream; see our fragrance-free moisturizer guide.

Key ingredients

Glycerin, three ceramides, petrolatum, dimethicone, sodium hyaluronate.

Best for

Dry face and body when a lotion is not enough; a simpler starting point.

Watch out for

No niacinamide.

Both are fragrance-free, glycerin-based creams. Kiehl's lists squalane and plant oils; CeraVe lists ceramides and petrolatum. If your current cream already keeps your face comfortable, you do not need to switch.

Kiehl’s sells several Ultra Facial products under similar names, so confirm the product is Ultra Facial Cream with 4.5% squalane, not the SPF 30 or Moisturizer versions, and confirm the size before ordering.

How to use it more safely

Patch test on the inner arm for a few days. Kiehl’s directs you to apply a dime-sized amount after cleansing and toning, twice a day, morning and night. Wear broad-spectrum SPF on top in the morning, as the AAD advises in its sunscreen guidance. Introduce one new product at a time, and stop if you notice stinging, redness or itch that does not settle.

Questions before buying

Is Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream fragrance-free?

Kiehl’s says so and the ingredient list has no fragrance entry. Plant oils can still have a natural scent, and fragrance-free is not the same as allergen-free.

Is Ultra Facial Cream good for sensitive skin?

Kiehl’s says it was tested on sensitive skin in an instrumental study and that the cream is non-comedogenic. That is the brand’s testing. If your skin has become suddenly reactive, patch test and consider a shorter ingredient list.

Can I use it at night?

Yes. Kiehl’s directs it for morning and night.

Does it replace sunscreen?

No. It has no sunscreen. Use a separate sunscreen for dry skin.

The researched verdict

A pleasant, fragrance-free face cream with glycerin and squalane that suits dry to normal skin that wants comfort without heaviness. Buy it if you like the texture and the brand, not because it is formulated for menopause. A simpler cream such as CeraVe covers the same need for many people, and it does not replace a daily SPF or medical advice for itch or rash.

Brand product page and ingredient list checked October 21, 2026. Read the ingredient list on your package.

• Best fragrance-free moisturizers for menopausal dry skin
• Best moisturizers for menopausal dry skin
• Dry skin in menopause: first steps
• Official Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream page