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Kiehl's vs Simple

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

Kiehl's and Simple are heritage skincare brands that respectively offer targeted, science-backed formulas and gentle daily essentials. The American brand is beloved for its moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products featuring glycerin and squalane, which suit dry and sensitive skin best. Conversely, the British brand is lovingly known for its gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners with niacinamide and glycerin, which suit acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best. While both increase hydration and support barrier function, Kiehl's addresses complex concerns through specialized botanical extracts, whereas Simple focuses on straightforward, delicate care.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Simple products

People Say

Kiehl'sSimple
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight 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 instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Non-drying and hydrating formulas Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Makeup compatibility Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Affordable value Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Cleansing and pore care Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels soft not dry — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • High price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · A$685.63 · 86% fitBuy Simple routine · A$208.81 · 84% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · A$388.80 · 86% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$767.92 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · A$322.10 · 84% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$693.88 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Simple: which is better?

Simple tends to be better for sensitive skin, affordability, and hydration, whereas Kiehl's offers a lighter texture. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels across all skin types.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Simple?

Simple offers better value, gentler options for sensitive skin, and more hydrating formulas, whereas Kiehl's provides a lighter texture and a wider range of targeted serums and treatments. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels across all major skin types on this page.

Kiehl's or Simple for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit for dry skin on this page, offering targeted routines for hydration. Kiehl's features key ingredients like glycerin and squalane, while Simple utilizes niacinamide and glycerin to help support moisture levels.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Kiehl's or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Simple offers the better cleanser overall because Simple does better in cleansing and pore care, and the products on this page are fragrance-free. Kiehl's also features cleansers on the page with superior fit levels for oily and acne-prone skin, but some reviewers note that Kiehl's products can cause breakouts and skin irritation.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple is more affordable than Kiehl's, as Simple is noted by reviewers for its affordable value while Kiehl's has a high price point.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple offers more fragrance-free products on this page, as every single one of its products lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Kiehl's includes fragrance in two of its products.

What are the main key ingredients found across Kiehl's products compared to Simple?

The products on this page show that Kiehl's features key ingredients like glycerin, vitamin C, squalane, shea butter, and vitamin E, whereas Simple relies mainly on niacinamide and glycerin.

Which brand performs better for gentle sensitive skin care according to review themes?

Simple performs better for gentle sensitive skin care according to review themes.

Kiehl's or Simple for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit for oily skin. Kiehl's offers specific products like the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream that have a High Lovi fit level for oily skin, while Simple provides value-friendly makeup removers and cleansers.

Kiehl's or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers better value-friendly moisturizers with gentle, non-drying formulas, while Kiehl's provides lightweight options that fit dry and mature skin well. Both brands feature products that help deliver hydration, though individual results may vary.

Kiehl's or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit for sensitive skin on this page, and reviewers find Simple gentler for sensitive skin while Kiehl's offers lightweight textures.

Kiehl's or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's offers targeted options like Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, while Simple provides gentle choices such as Micellar Cleansing Water.

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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