Kiehl's · Moisturizer
Kiehl's Since 1851 Ultra Facial Cream
Lower PFAS concern, typical facial cream with no known water-repellent coating or water-resistant treatments.
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream is a conventional moisturizer formulated with water, glycerin, and plant extracts. It contains no Teflon-family coating, nonstick coatings, or documented water-resistant finishes that would trigger PFAS use.
Shop Kiehl's on Amazon →Material
Water, glycerin, emollients, botanical extracts
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
cosmetics is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Ultra Facial Cream is primarily water, glycerin (a humectant), and mineral oil or plant-derived emollients, with botanical extracts including squalane and iris root. This composition is typical for non-prescription moisturizers and carries minimal chemical hazard risk because it avoids known problem additives like phthalates or formaldehyde releasers. Glycerin and mineral oil have extensive safety history in cosmetics with no cumulative toxicity concern at concentrations used in face creams. The botanical fraction is present in small amounts and unlikely to cause systemic exposure.
The brand's record and disclosure
Kiehl's (owned by L'Oreal) maintains ingredient transparency on product labels and does not publicly claim PFAS-free status, nor are they known to have disclosed PFAS testing results for this product. The brand is not flagged in major safety databases for cosmetic product recalls or ingredient controversies specific to Ultra Facial Cream. L'Oreal parent company has faced scrutiny over microplastic microbeads in some products, but this moisturizer is not a bead-containing formula and thus not affected.
How it compares in its category
Ultra Facial Cream sits in the mainstream moisturizer market alongside competitors like Cetaphil and CeraVe, which share similar water-and-humectant architecture. It is formulated without silicones (unlike many prestige creams), which reduces off-gassing concern but may affect texture preference. Kiehl's does not market this as 'clean,' 'natural,' or 'organic,' avoiding pressure to use unproven botanical alternatives that sometimes introduce higher heavy-metal contamination risk from plant material.
If you buy it
Store the jar in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to avoid degradation of plant extracts and preservative activity. Jar packaging does pose minor risk of bacterial contamination if fingers are inserted repeatedly; use a clean applicator or dispense onto a clean hand. The product has a typical shelf life of 2-3 years when unopened; discard if separation, odor change, or visible mold appears. No heat stability concerns; this moisturizer is not designed for applications involving high temperature or UV exposure beyond incidental facial sun exposure.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Ultra Facial Cream contains fragrance compounds (listed as 'fragrance' on label), which may trigger contact dermatitis or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. The specific fragrance components are not disclosed on the consumer label due to trade secret exemptions, making individual allergen avoidance difficult for highly reactive consumers.
Jar packaging and bacterial growth
The product is sold in a jar, which increases exposure to air and potential microbial contamination compared to pump or tube dispensing. Risk is mitigated if users employ clean application tools, but repeated finger insertion can introduce bacteria and compromise product integrity over time.
Botanical extract contaminants (heavy metals)
No recalls or testing data have been published documenting lead, cadmium, or arsenic in Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream. Botanical extracts can accumulate heavy metals from soil, but concentrations in finished cosmetics are generally low unless contamination occurs upstream in raw material sourcing, which is not reported for this brand.
Preservative safety (parabens or formaldehyde releasers)
Available ingredient lists for this product do not identify paraben or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives; Kiehl's typically uses phenoxyethanol or similar low-toxicity alternatives. No safety alerts have been issued for preservative content in this specific formulation.
Mineral oil purity and PAH contamination
Mineral oil in cosmetics is refined and typically free of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at hazardous levels if sourced from reputable suppliers; no specific testing data or contamination incidents are on record for Kiehl's products. Regulatory oversight in the EU and US limits impurity thresholds for cosmetic-grade mineral oil.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Moisturizer
Tatcha
Starter The Ritual Set Ultra Hydrating For Dry Skin
Water-based cosmetic creams and serums; glass/plastic packaging
Lower PFAS concern for a cosmetic moisturizer set, but Tatcha makes no public PFAS commitment.
⚠Risky category by default
Herbivore Botanicals
Orchid Facial Oil
plant oils, botanical extracts, glass bottle
Lower concern; facial oil with no known PFAS triggers, but brand offers no transparency.
⚠Risky category by default
Herbivore Botanicals
Herbivore Lapis Balancing Facial Oil
plant oils, mineral pigments, glass bottle
Lower concern for PFAS; facial oil in glass, typical formulation poses minimal risk.
⚠Risky category by default
More moisturizer grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.