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The Debrief magazine logo with January 2026 date

The best Kiehl's routine for every skin type

Pioneers of science-backed skincare since 1851, Kiehl’s know a thing or two about formulas tailored to your skin type. If you’re not sure which will work best for your personal concerns, we’ve got you covered. From dry skin to oily skin, sensitive skin to mature skin, we’ve mapped out a full Kiehl’s routine that’s just your type.

Best for Dry Skin

If your skin falls on the drier side, it’s important to factor hydrating, barrier-building products into your routine. Ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides & squalane can help to nourish the look and feel of dry, flaky skin while topping up moisture levels, leaving complexions smooth and moisturised.

We recommend beginning with a hydrating cleanser, and incorporating a quenching treatment mask into your routine a few times a week. We love Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask for its high squalane content and glacial glycoprotein, working overnight to support flake-free, healthy-looking skin.

Dry Skin Routine

Best for Oily Skin

If oily skin is your key concern, we’re here to help. Oiliness can appear on the skin when skin produces excess sebum, casting a visible sheen on its surface that can cause breakouts, clog pores and effect makeup longevity.

Try switching out your cleansers and moisturisers for oil-free formats and swapping out rich creams for gel-like textures – like Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser or Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream. You can also incorporate a deep cleansing treatment or face wash to help draw out impurities and minimise the appearance of oil on the skin. We love Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser and Rare Earth Mask for decongesting complexions. If you need a targeted blemish treatment, apply Acne Treat Cleansing Paste topically as and when you need.

Just note, sometimes skin overproduces sebum oil because it’s dehydrated. When skin lacks water, it increases oil production to help compensate – so make sure you rule this out before committing to a full skincare routine for oily skin.

Oily Skin Routine

Best for Combination Skin

Most complexions tend to be a mix of dry and oily. Oily T-zones and drier cheeks are most common, although it is entirely possible to experience the opposite. Hydration is always key, so start with a nourishing cleanser, then opt for a water-cream moisturiser to strike the perfect balance for oily or dry areas. The Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream is a great choice, delivering a soothing burst of hydration while helping to minimise uneven texture, dullness and dry fine lines.

Combination Skin Routine

Best for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive complexions deserve a little more TLC. Often presenting as red, irritated, itchy or textured skin, sensitivity can be caused by a myriad of factors (e.g. environmental changes, lifestyle triggers, pre-existing skin conditions, or a damaged barrier).

Ingredients like aloe, ceramides, and colloidal oatmeal can deliver a soothing effect to the skin, helping to minimise the effects of reactive skin for a calmer complexion. Look to non-stripping alcohol-free formulas and barrier-building products – the Ultra Facial Barrier-Hydrating Cleanser is a great place to start, while the Ultra Facial Advanced Repair Barrier Cream can soothe and lock in moisture for a stronger, more comfortable surface.

Sensitive Skin Routine

Best for Mature Skin

Although not technically a skin type, mature skin does require a few different steps to help maintain that youthful, bouncy glow. Retinol should be your new BFF – if it’s your first time using, start at 1-2 times a week, then gradually increase to every other night. It’s important to ONLY use it in the evenings and always follow with an SPF the following morning (as retinol will exacerbate your skin’s reactivity to sunlight).

Ingredients like vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and chaga mushroom are popular for mature skin types, famed for antioxidant benefits and anti-ageing properties.

Note: Switch out the toner to a more hydrating formula if you’re using retinol. Too many actives can irritate the skin and damage its natural lipid barrier.

Mature Skin Routine