Breakout Control Targeted Acne Spot Treatment
The Kiehl's Breakout Control Targeted Acne Spot Treatment is a treatment. Our analysis of its 26 ingredients (20 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and sensitive skin.
The Kiehl's Breakout Control Targeted Acne Spot Treatment is a treatment. Our analysis of its 26 ingredients (20 low-risk) rates it Excellent (95/100). Based on its ingredients, it looks well-suited to oily / acne-prone and sensitive skin.
Summarised from our ingredient analysis — not brand marketing copy.
The evidence
| EWG | CIR | Ingredient Name & Cosmetic Functions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Sulfur
(Antiacne Agent, Antidandruff Agent, Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Agent Miscellaneous, Antiseborrhoeic, Antistatic Agent, Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Oily Skin
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Water
(Solvent) |
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Niacinamide
(Hair Conditioning, Skin Conditioning, Smoothing) |
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Zea Mays Starch
(Abrasive, Absorbent, Anticaking, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glycolic Acid
(Exfoliant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
Good for Oily Skin
Bad for Sensitive Skin
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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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Glycerin
(Denaturant, Fragrance, Hair Conditioning, Humectant, Oral Care Agent, Oral Health Care Drug, Skin Protecting, Viscosity Decreasing Agent, Perfuming, Solvent) |
Good for Dry Skin
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Octyldodecyl Myristate
(Skin Conditioning Agent Occlusive, Emollient) |
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Cetearyl Alcohol
(Emulsion Stabilising, Opacifying, Foam Boosting, Viscosity Increasingagent Aqueous, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Emollient, Emulsifying, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Glyceryl Stearate
(Emollient, Emulsifying) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Magnesium Aluminum Silicate
(Absorbent, Anticaking Agent, Opacifying, Slip Modifier, Viscosity Increasing Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Phenoxyethanol
(Fragrance, Preservative) |
Paraben
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Polyacrylamide
(Binding Agent, Film Forming, Hair Fixing, Antistatic Agent, Binding) |
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Ceteareth-20
(Cleansing, Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Sodium Hydroxide
(Denaturant, Ph Adjuster, Buffering Agent) |
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PEG-100 Stearate
(Surfactant) |
Fungal Acne Trigger
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Phenylethyl Resorcinol
(Antioxidant) |
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Tocopheryl Acetate
(Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning) |
Bad for Oily Skin
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C13-14 Isoparaffin
(Emollient, Solvent) |
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Disodium EDTA
(Chelating Agent, Viscosity Controlling) |
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Laureth-7
(Emulsifying, Surfactant) |
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Allantoin
(Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing) |
Good for Oily Skin
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
(Skin Conditioning) |
Good for Sensitive Skin
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Hydrogenated Lecithin
(Skin Conditioning, Emulsifying, Surfactant, Suspending Agent Nonsurfactant) |
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Ethylhexylglycerin
(Deodorant, Skin Conditioning) |
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glycyrrhiza glabra root extract
(Bleaching, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning, Skin Conditioning Emollient, Smoothing, Soothing) |
No personal ingredient notes yet. Save ingredients to your profile to get good/bad alerts here.
How to use
General guidance from this product's category and active ingredients — always follow the directions on the package.
Trust & honesty
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
OTC leave-on AHAs are usually 5–10%. The effect also depends on pH and free-acid value, not the percentage alone.
Glycolic 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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