Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner Review

Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner
5.0
/ 10
Moisturizing
10.0 Humectancy icon Humectancy
0.0 Occlusivity icon Occlusivity
Review

Does Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner Work?

 
According to CreamScan AI's analysis of the ingredient list, here’s what Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner has to offer:
 
  • Strong humectant moisturizing. This lightweight, humectant-rich product, ideal for oily skin, has a moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10.

Key Benefits of Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner

 
These are the key benefits you can expect from using Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner:
 

Lightweight Purely Humectant Moisturizing, Ideal for Oily Skin

According to CreamScan analysis, Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner is quite moisturizing, with a moisturizing rating of 5.0 out of 10.

Is it more humectant or occlusive? It is purely humectant. It has zero occlusivity (we didn't find any occlusive ingredients on the ingredient list) and a maximum humectancy of 10 out of 10, primarily due to the high content of Propylene Glycol (est. ≈6.0%) and Pentylene Glycol (est. ≈4.0%).

This humectant-rich product, when used alone as a moisturizer, is ideal for oily skin, providing significant hydration in a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula without any occlusive ingredients.

Tip: Certain studies suggest that humectants alone may not effectively moisturize the skin. If you use this product as your only moisturizer, we recommend following it with one that contains at least some occlusive ingredients.

A Humectant Boost for Any Skincare Routine

But it’s not limited to oily skin - such a humectant boost will also positively contribute to the moisturizing efficacy of any skincare routine when used as a step before applying the main moisturizer. This type of formulation is typically used in serums, where a light, fast-absorbing texture is key.

Please refer to the Ratings section below for details of the moisturizing rating calculation.

Please note that this is not a complete list of benefits. We are in the process of enhancing our AI model to incorporate anti-pigmentation, exfoliation and anti-acne ratings.

Things to Be Aware Of: Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner

 
CreamScan AI identified a few things to consider before adding Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner to your skincare routine:
 

If It’s Your Only Moisturizer, It Needs to Be Paired with Some Occlusives

While humectants are highly effective at attracting water to the skin, studies (J. N. Kraft, C. W. Lynde) suggest they may not be efficient when used alone.

One major drawback of purely humectant moisturization is that the water attracted by humectants to the upper layers of the skin can evaporate completely into the environment through transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Adding occlusive ingredients helps seal this moisture into the skin and prevent further water loss.

If you’re using Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner as your only moisturizer, consider pairing it with one that contains at least some occlusive ingredients, such as oils, butters, or silicones. These work alongside humectants to create a protective barrier, locking in hydration and ensuring longer-lasting moisturization. The amount of occlusive needed depends on your skin type - the drier the skin, the more occlusives it requires.

If this product is used not as a standalone moisturizer but as part of your skincare routine, such as a toner or serum, it should be applied before your main moisturizer (unless it's a sunscreen), which will provide the necessary occlusivity on top of it.

Pros & Cons of Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner

 
Here’s an overview of the pros and cons of Kiehl's Calendula Herbal Extract Alcohol Free Toner to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your skincare routine:
 

Pros:

  • Humectant-rich moisturizing ideal for oily skin
  • Lightweight texture
  • A humectant moisturizing boost for any skincare routine

Cons: 

  • Needs occlusives to seal in humectants if used as a standalone moisturizer

Ingredients

Est. % Ingredient Origin Functions
85
6
4
1
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Est. %
Water
Function:
Origin:
Propylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Pentylene Glycol
Function:
Origin:
Methylparaben
Function:
Origin:
Disodium EDTA
Function:
Origin:
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Function:
Origin:
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Function:
Origin:
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Function:
Origin:
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Function:
Origin:
Allantoin
Function:
Origin:
Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf Extract
Function:
Origin:
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Function:
Origin:

Ratings

All humectants
10.6
6
4
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Raiting
Humectancy All humectants 10.6 10
10.0
6
4
0.3
0.3
Occlusivity All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
None
Moisturizing rating
5.0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Humectancy
6
4
0.3
0.3
All humectants 10.6 10
10
All humectants
10.6
6
4
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
10
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark Occlusivity
None
All occlusives 0.0 20
0.0
All occlusives
0.0
None
Benchmark
20
Ingredient
Ingredient anti-wrinkle power
when present at, %
in this formula est. %
Rating
None
Total
0
None
Anti-wrinkle rating
0
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Antioxidants
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
All antioxidants 1.2 3 No
All antioxidants
1.2
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
0.3
Calendula Officinalis Extract
0.3
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
0.3
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
0.3
Benchmark
3
Ingredient Est. % Benchmark
Rich in Soothing
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
All soothing 1.5 5 No
All soothing
1.5
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Benchmark
5

Ingredients explained

Water
Est. %85
Function
Origin
WaterThe most used ingredient in skincare. Its concentration defines the product texture: rich creams may have about 50% of water while a light jelly about 90%. Water doesn’t moisturize the skin by itself and is used in skincare as a solvent for other ingredients.
Propylene Glycol
Est. %6
Function
Origin
Propylene GlycolA clear, thick, odorless liquid of synthetic origin. Its main function is to stabilize cosmetic products exposed to varying temperatures. It is also a moderately strong humectant with similar properties to glycerin.
Pentylene Glycol
Est. %4
Function
Origin
Pentylene Glycol

A naturally or synthetically derived preservative that exhibits effective antifungal and antibacterial traits. It also acts as a booster for more traditional preservatives. Pentylene glycol can also serve as a moisturizing humectant and solvent.

Methylparaben
Est. %1
Function
Origin
MethylparabenA preservative that keeps a product unspoiled. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding parabens, although the concentrations found in cosmetic formulations are generally considered to be safe.
Disodium EDTA
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Disodium EDTAA synthetic chelator that helps to maintain the look and smell of a product by 'locking up' troublesome metal ions.
Arctium Lappa Root Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Arctium Lappa Root ExtractA soothing and antiseborrheic extract derived from the roots of the greater burdock.
Calendula Officinalis Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Calendula Officinalis ExtractA soothing extract derived from the marigold plant. It is rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant carotenoids, flavonoids, and triterpenes.
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Calendula Officinalis Flower ExtractAn extract derived from the flowers of the pot marigold. Its yellow to bright orange flowers contain carotenoids, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. They all have fantastic anti-inflammatory activity and can help to soothe inflamed skin.
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Hydrolyzed Corn Starch
Allantoin
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
AllantoinA fluffy, white powder that acts as a humectant due to its water-loving chemistry and as an exfoliant that helps to remove dead skin cells. It has also been shown to be very soothing to irritated and inflamed skin.
Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Hedera Helix (Ivy) Leaf Extract
Althaea Officinalis Root Extract
Est. %0.3
Function
Origin
Althaea Officinalis Root ExtractA soothing extract obtained from the marsh-mallow plant. It contains anti-inflammatory polyphenols and antioxidant polysaccharides.