Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion
The Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion is a treatment. Our analysis of its 22 ingredients (17 low-risk) rates it Excellent (91/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
The Kiehl's Breakout Control Blemish Treatment Facial Lotion is a treatment. Our analysis of its 22 ingredients (17 low-risk) rates it Excellent (91/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and dry skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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DI-C12-13 Alkyl Malate
(Skin Conditioning, Emollient) |
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Cyclohexasiloxane
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Solvent) |
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Propylene Glycol
(Fragrance, Humectant, Skin Conditioningagent Miscellaneous, Solvent, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Skin Conditioning, Viscosity Controlling) |
Good for Dry Skin
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Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Salicylic Acid
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Corn/Callus/Wart Remover, Denaturant, Exfoliant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Keratolytic, Masking, Preservative) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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Cetyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Opacifying, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Masking, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
(Emulsion Stabilising, Film Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
(Skin Conditioning) |
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Xanthan Gum
(Binding Agent, Emulsion Stabilising, Skin Conditioning, Surfactant Emulsifying Agent, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Binding, Gel Forming, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Zinc PCA
(Skin Conditioning, Humectant) |
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Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
(Fragrance, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Tonic) |
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Stearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Foambooster, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Foam Boosting, Masking, Opacifying, Refatting, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Myristyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Fragrance, Skin Conditioning, Emollient, Surfactant Foam Booster, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Octadecenedioic Acid
(Emulsifying) |
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Citral
(Flavoring Agent, Fragrance, Masking) |
Allergens
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BHT
(Antioxidant, Fragrance, Masking) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
EWG flags hazard, not real-world risk — ratings don't account for how much of an ingredient a product contains. Treat these as things to research, not verdicts. How we score →
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
Contains ingredients some choose to avoid or double-check while pregnant or nursing.
Low-strength topical salicylic acid (BHA) is generally considered fine. Caution is usually reserved for high-strength leave-on products and salicylic peels.
This is general information, not medical advice. Pregnancy guidance varies and depends on concentration and your individual situation — always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. How we flag this.
The concentrations these actives are typically effective at in research — not a measurement of this product.
Most research uses 2–5%; some formulas go to 10%. Very high levels can cause flushing in sensitive skin.
Niacinamide
Salicylic acid is OTC-capped at 2%; 0.5–2% is the usual leave-on range. Much below that it acts more as a soothing agent than an exfoliant.
Salicylic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
INCI lists don't disclose amounts, and we don't claim to know this product's levels — these are the ranges these ingredients are usually effective at, so you can tell a real formula from "fairy-dusting" a marketed active. How we estimate this.
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