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Kiehl's skincare

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

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Kiehl's is beloved for its moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more, which feature key ingredients like glycerin and squalane. Its products suit dry skin and sensitive skin best thanks to those nourishing formulations. For particular concerns, the brand offers standout products including the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner for acne-prone skin, the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash for skin with dark spots, and the Ultra Facial Toner for mature skin. Through these selections, its key ingredients work to significantly increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, counteract oxidative stress, and stimulate fibroblast migration.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006

This page covers some of the most popular Kiehl's products; for the whole Kiehl's range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.

Kiehl's moisturizers

Kiehl's serums and treatments

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 59.9k+ reviews

Reviewers most often praise Kiehl's for lightweight texture, deep hydration, and brightening complexion. The most common complaints are breakouts and heavy formulas.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Sinks in instantly — Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Gentle serums Mostly Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “perfect for retinol newbies — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “No irritation at all — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Deep hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin looked & felt smoother — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Brightening and fading dark spots Sometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “faded acne scars — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Makeup compatibility and primer benefits Sometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “sits great under foundation — Better Screen UV Serum”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “overpriced for what it does — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Causes breakouts and skin irritation Often Mentioned
    • “burned my face immediately — Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “caused cystic acne — Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Product not rich or effective enough Often Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Greasy or heavy residue Sometimes Noted
    • “oil slick in summer — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “didn't absorb well — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, and more

Other Kiehl's products

Questions and answers

Is Kiehl's good for oily skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for oily skin, as Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for oily skin. The Kiehl's products on this page help provide lightweight care and oil control.

Is Kiehl's worth it?

Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin, sensitive skin, and mature skin. The Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, though reviewers note that some items may cause breakouts and skin irritation, and prices are often high.

What are Kiehl's's best products?

Lovi rates Kiehl's best for dry skin, sensitive skin, and mature skin through its brand-focused routines, which consistently perform at a High fit level across these skin types. Reviewers mostly mention lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums as standout options.

Which Kiehl's moisturizer is best for dry skin?

Lovi rates Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate as Superior for dry skin, making it the best option among the Kiehl's moisturizers on this page. Other strong choices include Super Multi-Corrective Cream and Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream, which both receive a High fit level for dry skin.

Does Kiehl's cause breakouts?

Yes, Kiehl's may cause breakouts and skin irritation, as this is often mentioned by reviewers. Lovi rates the fit for acne-prone skin as High for the brand-focused routine.

Is Kiehl's fragrance-free?

Most of the Kiehl's products on this page are fragrance-free, as 26 of 28 options list no added fragrance. Only the Age Defender Moisturizer and the Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men include fragrance.

What are the key ingredients in Kiehl's products?

The key ingredients across the Kiehl's products on this page include glycerin, vitamin C, squalane, shea butter, and vitamin E. These components help support skin hydration and nourishment.

How do I build a Kiehl's skincare routine?

To build a morning Kiehl's routine for dry skin, apply Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, follow with Ultra Facial Toner, then Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate, and finish with SPF. For the evening, start with Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, cleanse with Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, apply Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum, and lock it in with Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Where can I buy Kiehl's, and how much does it cost?

Kiehl's products are available through Australian stores listed on this page, with prices ranging from A$62.15 to A$464.54 and most items falling between A$74.00 and A$174.32.

What are good alternatives to Kiehl's?

Good alternatives to Kiehl's include CeraVe, Cetaphil, Paula's Choice, Neutrogena, Dermalogica, and Good Molecules.

Kiehl's vs CeraVe: which is better?

Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, combination skin, and acne-prone skin, which matches the High fit levels earned by CeraVe routines across those same skin types. The Kiehl's products on this page are largely fragrance-free, featuring key ingredients like glycerin and squalane to help keep skin soft and smooth.

Who owns Kiehl's, and where is it from?

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Is Kiehl's cruelty-free?

PETA, Leaping Bunny, and Cruelty Free International, the registries Lovi checks, do not list Kiehl's as cruelty-free.

Is Kiehl's good for dry skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for dry skin, and Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin. Reviewers often mention that the brand provides deep hydration, and 26 of the 28 Kiehl's products on this page list no fragrance.

Which Kiehl's cleanser is best for oily skin?

The best cleanser for oily skin is the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, followed by the Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser and the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser.

Is Kiehl's good for sensitive skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for sensitive skin because Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for sensitive skin. The Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, with only two products listing fragrance.

Which Kiehl's sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?

Better Screen UV Serum is the best sunscreen on this page for sensitive skin, with Lovi rating it High. Reviewers frequently note that the Kiehl's products on this page help provide lightweight, non-greasy hydration.

Is Kiehl's good for acne-prone skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for acne-prone skin. The Kiehl's products on this page help provide gentle care, though reviewer feedback notes that some formulas may cause breakouts and skin irritation.

Is Kiehl's good for skin with dark spots?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for skin with dark spots, and Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for this concern. Reviewers sometimes note that the products help with brightening and fading dark spots.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Is Kiehl's good for mature skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for mature skin. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin, and the brand's products help smooth and renew the skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Research behind Kiehl's's key ingredients

Behind these ratings

Lovi rates every product from its 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

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