Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer Versus Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer versus Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream .

Last updated on July 14, 2023. Published on May 20, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 6 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, fragrances, oils, parabens or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

General Moisturizer American Brand United States

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

Shop

Buy Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer

Starts at $32.00

Shop

Buy Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream

Starts at $38.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer 34 ingredients

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 22 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer 34 ingredients

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 22 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Niacinamide

Ceramides (3)

Hyaluronic Acid

Peptides

Benefits

Hydrating (5)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing (5)

Reduces Irritation (4)

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging (4)

Dark Spots (2)

Scar Healing

Acne Fighting

Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin

Acne Trigger

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Irritating

Rosacea

Eczema

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer 34 ingredients

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 22 ingredients

Water • Ethyl Macadamiate • Glycerin • Cetearyl Alcohol • Propanediol • Triethylhexanoin • Sodium Acrylates Copolymer • Glyceryl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract • Hydrolyzed Pumpkin Seedcake • Vaccinium Angustifolium Fruit Extract • Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract • Prunus Serotina Fruit Extract • Niacinamide • Tripeptide-29 • Ceramide NP • Ceramide AP • Ceramide EOP • Sodium Hyaluronate • Phytosphingosine • Cholesterol • Panthenol • Sodium PCA • Adenosine • Lecithin • Arginine • Sodium Gluconate • Citric Acid • Isohexadecane • Xanthan Gum • Carbomer • Phenoxyethanol • Ethylhexylglycerin

Water • Glycerin • Propanediol • Dimethicone • Isononyl Isononanoate • Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid • Phenoxyethanol • Carbomer • Butylene Glycol • Chlorphenesin • Caprylyl Glycol • Dimethiconol • Sodium Hydroxide • Xanthan Gum • Pentylene Glycol • Tetrasodium EDTA • Tocopheryl Acetate • Menthoxypropanediol • Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract • Biosaccharide Gum-1 • Sarcosine • Salicylic Acid

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

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. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 1.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream contains this as ingredient number 1.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 3.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.

Propanediol

What it does: Solvent

Community Rating: Liked

Propanediol helps absorb ingredients into your skin, boosting their benefits. It can act as an emollient, making your skin softer. Propanediol can help products last longer by boosting the properties of preservatives within the formulation.

Propanediol is not likely to cause sensitivity and considered safe to use.

It is derived from corn or petroleum with a clear color and no scent.

Learn more about Propanediol

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 5.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream contains this as ingredient number 3.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan 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 Gum

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 31.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream contains this as ingredient number 14.

Carbomer

What it does: Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming

Community Rating: Disliked

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

Carbomer is commonly found in many types of cosmetics products. It is found to be safe in concentrations up to 15%. However, a high amount of carbomer can cause pilling or balling up of products. Most products contain 1% of less of carbomer.

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 32.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream contains this as ingredient number 8.

Phenoxyethanol

What it does: Preservative

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent germ and microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer contains this as ingredient number 33.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream contains this as ingredient number 7.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer 34 ingredients

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 22 ingredients

50% are loved or liked

12% have mixed ratings

26% are disliked or very disliked

12% have no rating yet

45% are loved or liked

14% have mixed ratings

36% are disliked or very disliked

5% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer 34 ingredients

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 22 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Paula's Choice Clear Oil-Free Moisturizer 34 ingredients

2.5 /5

from 2 reviews

Review by chlolands

Feb 19, 2024

Sticky :(

Sticky

Oily

Doesn't Work

Like review

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream 22 ingredients

4.3 /5

from 3 reviews

Review by MeaganClare

Apr 26, 2023

Great moisturizer for summer
This cream is great for oily skin. I discontinued using this as I needed a more powerful moisturizer to repair my skin's moisture barrier, but I think it will be great in the summer and for those without the...

Like review