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Kiehl's vs Good Molecules

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

Kiehl's and Good Molecules are American skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily nourishment and active care. Kiehl's is beloved for its moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products featuring glycerin and squalane, which suit dry skin and sensitive skin best, while the brand provides specialized items like the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner for acne-prone skin, the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash for dark spots, and the Ultra Facial Toner for mature skin to increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, counteract oxidative stress, and stimulate fibroblast migration. Conversely, Good Molecules is widely loved for its thoughtful range of serums, moisturizers, eye products, and exfoliants formulated with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to suit dry skin and acne-prone skin best through gentle formulations. For specific concerns, the latter brand offers standout options including the Overnight Exfoliating Treatment for acne-prone skin, the Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 for dark spots, and the Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel for mature skin, delivering proven benefits as glycerin improves skin hydration and restores barrier function, while hyaluronic acid lengthens the effect of wrinkle-reducing toxins.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Good Molecules is an American skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by Beautylish, Inc..

beautymatter.comgoodmolecules.compitchbook.compreqin.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Good Molecules products

People Say

Kiehl'sGood Molecules
  • Affordable and Great Value Price Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “best value for money — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “great value — Good Molecules Niacinamide 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”
    • “absorbs quickly... zero irritation or tacky feeling — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “skin appears smooth and supple — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “no skin purging — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “leaves my face feeling clean without the drying — Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks like brand new baby skin — Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment”
    • “Leaves skin "baby soft," "super smooth," "polished feel" — Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder”
    • “softened fine lines — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “scar on your chin doesn't look nearly as noticeable — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner”
  • High Price and Value Concerns Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “face broke out everywhere — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
    • “gave me little white bumps — Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum”
  • Packaging and Design Issues Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Metal tube cracks — Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel”

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for dry skin

Buy Good Molecules routine · A$253.72 · 93% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$685.63 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for oily skin

Buy Good Molecules routine · A$440.09 · 91% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$767.92 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for combination skin

Buy Good Molecules routine · A$383.57 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$693.88 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which is better?

Good Molecules is the better choice for shoppers seeking affordability and value, while Kiehl's is noted for providing lightweight textures and deep hydration.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Good Molecules?

Good Molecules offers more affordable pricing and better overall routine fit for most skin types on this page, while Kiehl's specializes in lightweight textures and deep hydration.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for dry skin?

Good Molecules offers a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is High. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration, which is a key ingredient featured across Good Molecules products.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which cleanser is better?

Good Molecules offers a hydrating facial cleansing gel that is well-liked for dry and sensitive skin, while Kiehl's features cleansers like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash that achieve superior fit levels for oily and oily acne-prone skin on the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Good Molecules?

Good Molecules is more affordable than Kiehl's, as reviewers frequently mention its products as having a high value price point while noting Kiehl's high price.

Which brand has better fragrance-free options compared to the other?

Good Molecules offers better fragrance-free options because every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas Kiehl's includes fragrance in some of its items.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Kiehl's and Good Molecules compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000. In contrast, Good Molecules was founded much later in 2019 in the United States and is owned by Beautylish, Inc.

Which brand performs better for skin barrier and texture improvement?

Good Molecules performs better for skin barrier and texture improvement. Reviewers note that the products on this page help improve skin barrier and texture.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for oily skin?

Good Molecules offers a Superior routine fit for oily skin, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is High. Good Molecules provides affordable and great value serums, while the products on this page for Kiehl's are noted for lightweight and non-greasy textures.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which moisturizer is better?

Good Molecules offers superior fit levels for dry skin moisturizers on this page, while Kiehl's provides deeply hydrating options known for a lightweight texture. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for sensitive skin?

Good Molecules offers a Superior routine fit for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's provides a High fit. Reviewers note that both brands are gentle and sensitive-skin friendly.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which sunscreen is better?

Good Molecules offers a superior fit for sensitive, dry, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin with its Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30, while Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum has a high fit for those skin types.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for acne-prone skin?

Good Molecules is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. The products on this page for Good Molecules focus on gentle, targeted treatments like niacinamide and exfoliating acids.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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