This Kiehl's Barrier Cream Has Literal Healing Powers — A Top Dermatologist Agrees

Skin care is a personal experience. An absolute skin savior for one person might have a meh or even negative impact for someone else. It's the reason you should always patch-test a product before coating it all over (especially if you have sensitive skin). That said, some tried-and-true ingredients are pretty much A+ across the board—namely, rich hydrators with a sole purpose of cushioning your complexion and bolstering the skin barrier. Think of these like a warm, snuggly blanket for skin cells. 

Take a glance at this ingredient list, and you'll quickly see what makes this barrier cream such a complexion-soothing hero. First up, colloidal oatmeal. This workhorse ingredient has an exceptionally high lipid content and antioxidants that can help protect the skin barrier1. It also contains avenanthramide, an anti-inflammatory active in oats that's effective in reducing itch and irritation2. In fact, the ingredient is so soothing that clinical trials have shown a 1% colloidal oatmeal cream alone was enough to calm symptoms of atopic dermatitis3. 

And because it features a balm-to-cream texture, it's suitable for all-day wear; many other occlusive balms are better to layer on overnight, as they have a jelly consistency that glazes the skin like a layer of mucus (that's why it's called slugging). Reviewers specifically praise this accommodating texture: "When I first opened this cream, I thought it would be super greasy and sit on my face forever. I was completely wrong!" one user writes. "It soaks into my skin fast without any greasy or oily residue. My skin feels soft and happy with the hydration, and it lasts [until] the next day!" 

According to board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, M.D. (who is also the brand's consulting dermatologist), you could totally use this cream as a daily salve or "rescue treatment" whenever you're feeling especially dry. "The cream can relieve dryness up to 10 layers deep into the skin by using its proprietary multi-lamellar technology to mimic the skin's natural lipid structure, thus preventing damage from external factors," she tells mbg. (That multi-lamellar technology is also what gives the balm its gloriously spreadable texture.)

While it's specifically designed for dry and sensitive skin types, she notes that really anyone can benefit from this blanket-like formula. You see, proper hydration is critical for securing smooth, supple skin for the long haul; so even if you don't have "dry" skin on paper, you might be dealing with fine lines, crepey skin, inflammatory acne, or even excess oiliness due to dehydration. You can address all of those concerns by amping up your skin's moisture levels and strengthening your skin barrier.