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Kiehl's vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Kiehl's and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two esteemed skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily beauty rituals. Kiehl's is widely loved for its thoughtful array of moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more, all anchored by nourishing ingredients like glycerin and squalane, while the German brand is deeply loved for its gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums, all built on scientifically advanced formulas. The American line suits skin with dark spots and dry skin best, whereas the latter suits sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best because they focus on deep hydration and barrier support. Ultimately, they differ through their foundational philosophies, with the 1851-established label utilizing time-tested hydrating compounds and the 2014-established brand relying on scientifically advanced formulas to keep the complexion calm, smooth, and radiant.

Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

Kiehl'sDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep and Intense Hydration Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Visible Plumping and Fine Lines Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Skin looks noticeably more plump — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • High Price and Cost Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “overpriced for what it does — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “results were subtle — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Insufficient Hydration or Richness Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for sensitive skin and visible plumping, whereas Kiehl's is better for lightweight textures and a wider variety of specialized routines. Lovi rates Dr. Barbara Sturm's Enzyme Cleanser as Superior for skin with dark spots, and Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner as Superior for sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for sensitive skin and fading dark spots, whereas Kiehl's is better for a lightweight, non-greasy texture among the products on this page. Lovi rates Dr. Barbara Sturm's Enzyme Cleanser as having a Superior fit for skin with dark spots.

Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Kiehl's offers a wide variety with lightweight textures and targeted options for specific skin needs, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm features concentrated hydration like the Hyaluronic Serum. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides deep hydration but can sometimes feel greasy or cause breakouts, while Dr. Barbara Sturm generally delivers gentle care and visible plumping for mature skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

When it comes to affordability, reviewers often note a high price point for Kiehl's products on this page, but Dr. Barbara Sturm is generally positioned at an even higher luxury price tier.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Dr. Barbara Sturm does better than Kiehl's for being gentle on sensitive skin, while Kiehl's reviewers often mention that it causes breakouts and skin irritation.

Which brand has been around longer, Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Kiehl's has been around much longer, having been founded in the United States in 1851, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in Germany in 2014.

Do Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm products contain fragrance?

Kiehl's includes fragrance in only two of the products on this page, while Dr. Barbara Sturm includes no fragrance in every product on this page. Reviewers report that Lovi rates the vast majority of Kiehl's items without added scent.

Which brand offers more products listed on the comparison page?

Kiehl's offers more products on this page, with twenty-eight items compared to Dr. Barbara Sturm's three. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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