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Kiehl's vs FRE

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

Kiehl's and FRE are skincare lines that offer nourishing formulas and targeted product types. The American brand, founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, features key ingredients like glycerin and squalane in its moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more to significantly increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, counteract oxidative stress, and stimulate fibroblast migration, suiting dry skin and sensitive skin best with standout options like 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. Meanwhile, the other brand is widely loved for its gentle and effective compositions that suit acne-prone skin best with standout products including the Argan Oil for acne-prone skin, which work to gently balance and support the complexion. Ultimately, they differ through their distinct formulations and the specific skin types they serve best.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Kiehl's vs FRE products

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or FRE: which is better?

Kiehl's offers a much larger and more varied range of products on this page than FRE, which only lists a single item. Lovi rates Kiehl's as having high fit levels for dry, sensitive, and mature skin types.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and FRE?

Kiehl's offers a wide range of skincare products that fit dry, sensitive, and mature skin best, while FRE features a single product on this page called Argan Oil. Most products on the Kiehl's page list no fragrance, and every product on the FRE page lists no fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or FRE?

The products on this page for Kiehl's often receive reviews noting a high price point, while pricing for FRE is not detailed on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or FRE?

FRE features only a single product on this page, whereas Kiehl's offers a wide range of products with varying breakout likelihoods, including options like Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream that have high fit levels for acne-prone skin alongside others that may cause breakouts.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Kiehl's and FRE compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas FRE was founded much later in 2016 and remains independently owned.

Which products from Kiehl's receive a Superior Lovi fit level for oily skin?

Kiehl's features several products that achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for oily skin, including the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner, Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser, and Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser.

What are the main pros and cons reported by reviewers regarding Kiehl's products?

Reviewers frequently highlight Kiehl's products for offering lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, gentle serums, and deep hydration. On the downside, reviewers often mention a high price point, products causing breakouts and skin irritation, and formulas not being rich or effective enough.

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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