There is something to be said for knowing your own skin well enough to recognise when a product, however good, simply isn’t meant for you. When the Kiehls Ultra Pure High-Potency 5% Niacinamide Serum arrived, I knew immediately that I was not its person. I don’t have oily skin, and niacinamide, while a genuinely excellent ingredient, does its most impressive work on those who do. So I handed it straight to a friend who has spent years complaining about shine, enlarged pores and the particular frustration of skin that seems to produce excess oil regardless of what she throws at it. She is, it turns out, exactly who Kiehl’s had in mind.
What is it?
A serum designed to reduce oil and minimise the look of imperfections.
What Do I Think?
The formula is a study in restraint with just ten ingredients in total, built around a five percent concentration of niacinamide. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that has earned its considerable reputation by regulating sebum production, visibly reducing redness, and brightening skin tone. Five percent is also, for anyone coming to niacinamide for the first time, a sensible and well-tolerated place to begin.
There is no fragrance, no colourants, nothing extraneous. The minimalism isn’t an aesthetic choice since fewer ingredients means less interference and a higher chance that the niacinamide can simply get on with its job.
It absorbs quickly and without any fuss, which matters in a serum that is designed to sit comfortably within an existing morning and evening routine rather than disrupt it.
Would I recommend?
My friend’s verdict, delivered with the conviction of someone who has tried a great many things and been disappointed by most of them, is that this one works. Her skin is less shiny, her pores look noticeably smaller, and she has the slightly smug air of someone who has finally found what they were looking for. I’ll take that as a recommendation.
Brands Product Description
Our shine-reducing Niacinamide facial serum is formulated with only ten ingredients and helps to reduce the appearance of imperfections and excess oil. With 5% Niacinamide, our potent formula helps to visibly minimize shine and soothe skin.
Key Ingredients
- Niacinamide – help visibly brighten skin, regulate sebum (oil) production and evens skin tone.
How I Use It
You apply it after cleansing and before moisturiser.
Would I Repurchase/Buy?
I wouldn’t because it’s not designed for my skin type, but my friend who tested it for me has repurchased it.
How Much?
£30.00 for 30ml
