Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion - Germany Versus Kiehl's Calendula Skin-Soothing & Stabilizing Emulsion
Updated on February 17, 2025
Overview
What they are
These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 9 ingredients in common
Cool Features
They both contain exfoliants and niacinamide
Suited For
They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing and dark spots
Free From
They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates
What's Inside
They both contain common allergens, fragrances and silicones
We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.
Ingredient Info
Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion 22 ingredients
Kiehl's Calendula Skin-Soothing & Stabilizing Emulsion 38 ingredients
About this product
About this product
At a glance
Click on any of the items below to learn more
Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion 22 ingredients
Kiehl's Calendula Skin-Soothing & Stabilizing Emulsion 38 ingredients
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Cyclohexasiloxane
Emollient
Propylene Glycol
Humectant
Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
AbsorbentPEG-100 Stearate
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Salicylic Acid
Masking
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCapryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingZinc PCA
Humectant
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
MaskingStearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Myristyl Alcohol
Emollient
Octadecenedioic Acid
Emulsifying
Citral
Perfuming
BHT
Antioxidant
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Niacinamide, Cyclohexasiloxane, Propylene Glycol, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Salicylic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Zinc PCA, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Stearyl Alcohol, Myristyl Alcohol, Octadecenedioic Acid, Citral, BHT
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate
Skin ConditioningDimethicone
Emollient
Niacinamide
Smoothing
Propanediol
SolventPropylene Glycol
Humectant
C14-22 Alcohols
Emulsion StabilisingPanthenol
Skin Conditioning
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin ConditioningPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningChlorphenesin
Antimicrobial
Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
Antioxidant
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingCitrus Limon Peel Oil
Masking
Limonene
Perfuming
Calendula Officinalis Flower
Skin ConditioningTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
Zinc PCA
Humectant
Maltodextrin
AbsorbentSodium Hydroxide
BufferingCalendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Masking
Geranium Maculatum Oil
Masking
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil
Masking
Citric Acid
Buffering
Citral
Perfuming
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Antimicrobial
Citronellol
Perfuming
Geraniol
Perfuming
Linalool
Perfuming
Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil
Masking
Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Propylene Glycol, C14-22 Alcohols, Panthenol, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Carbomer, Pyridoxine Hcl, Chlorphenesin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citrus Limon Peel Oil, Limonene, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Zinc PCA, Maltodextrin, Sodium Hydroxide, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Oil, Citric Acid, Citral, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Citronellol, Geraniol, Linalool, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Artemisia Absinthium Extract
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterNiacinamide has emerged as an all-star ingredient due to its many benefits.
It is known to treat acne by reducing inflammation. It also helps fade dark-spots and strengthen the skin by promoting the growth of the ceramide barrier.
Other benefits include smoothing wrinkles and minimizing redness.
The cherry on top? Niacinamide can also help build keratin, a protein that keeps skin firm.
When incorporating niacinamide into your routine, look out for concentration amounts. Typically, 5% niacinamide provides benefits such as fading dark spots. However, if you have sensitive skin, it is better to begin with a smaller concentration.
Niacinamide can be mixed with other ingredients to boost benefits. For instance, it has shown to be effective when used with copper, folic acid, and zinc to treat acne.
Learn more about NiacinamidePropylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.
Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.
This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.
Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.
Learn more about Propylene GlycolAcrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer is a synthetic polymer. It is used to thicken and improve the texture of products. Due to its properties, it can prevent water and oil ingredients from separating.
Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideCapryloyl Salicylic Acid comes from salicylic acid, the famous acne-fighting BHA.
It usually goes by a more common name of LHA, or lipohydroxy acid.
Like salicylic acid, this ingredient is a chemical exfoliant that can help break down the oil in your pores and reduce inflammation.
Though studies for LHA do show it to be less effective than salicylic acid. To be fair, salicylic acid is the reigning monarch of acne treatments.
However, a study from 2009 found LHA to be comparable to BPO, making it a good alternative for people with sensitive skin. Another study of 14 patients found a significant decrease in comedones after using LHA.
Another pro of LHA? It is less irritating than salicylic acid due to its large molecule size.
Large molecules cannot penetrate skin as well, so they are gentler on the skin. LHA is much less penetrative than salicylic acid.
An in-vitro study (not done on a living organism) found only 6% of LHA penetrated past the statum corneum compared to 58% of salicylic acid. An in-vivo (done on a living organism) analysis revealed ~17% of LHA was still present in the top layer of skin after 4 days, versus ~9% of salicylic acid.
Interestingly, a study from 2008 found LHA comparable to another famous acid, glycolic acid.
This study found about 10% of LHA is as effective as 20-50% of glycolic acid in treating hyperpigmentation and fine-lines.
Hydroxy acids have been found to stimulate skin protein, lipids, and thermal thickening. This may have anti-aging benefits.
Learn more about Capryloyl Salicylic AcidXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan GumZinc PCA (or "zinc salt") differs slightly from zinc itself. PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid. However, Zinc PCA comes from zinc.
It can help reduce redness, regulate sebum, and promote the general healing process of the skin.
Zinc PCA tends to be especially useful for those with oily, acne-prone skin. It's certainly an ingredient worth trying out!
Learn more about Zinc PCACitral is a fragrance and used to add a lemon-like scent to products. It is both naturally found in plants and created synthetically. In plants, it is commonly occurring in lemon myrtle, lemongrass, lemon tea-tree, lemon verbena, and other citruses.
The EU mandates Citral be listed separately as a fragrance. It is a known allergen and may cause contact dermatitis. Citral can also used as a masking ingredient.
The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.
The term 'citral' is a collective term for two geometric isomers: geranial/Citral A and neral/Citral B.
Learn more about CitralIngredient Ratings
Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these products.
When to use
Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion 22 ingredients
Kiehl's Calendula Skin-Soothing & Stabilizing Emulsion 38 ingredients
Reviews
Here's what our community thinks
Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion 22 ingredients
Kiehl's Calendula Skin-Soothing & Stabilizing Emulsion 38 ingredients
I’ve been searching for a moisturizer that suits my oily skin and this one is just that. It doesn’t feel greasy and has a slightly matte finish. However, I’ve found it to be not suitable for sensitive skin. My skin feels as though it’s burning, and I suspect this reaction is due to the combination of alcohol, silicones, and fragrance in the formula. I was initially excited to try this product Show more
