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Kiehl's vs SK-II

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

Kiehl's and SK-II are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to hydration and renewal. The American house relies on glycerin and squalane to nourish dry and sensitive skin with moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products, while the Japanese house anchors its moisturizers, serums, masks, and toners in pitera to nurture acne-prone and dry skin. Both provide targeted solutions for concerns like acne, dark spots, and mature skin through specific formulations. Ultimately, they differ through their foundational ingredients and regional heritage, balancing moisture barrier function with refined clarity.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

SK-II is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by The Procter & Gamble Company since 1991.

en.wikipedia.orgdiscoversk-ii.wixsite.comglossy.co

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

Popular Kiehl's vs SK-II products

People Say

Kiehl'sSK-II
  • 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”
    • “drinks right into the skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Deep 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”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “flooded my skin with moisture — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
  • Radiance and glow Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “gives a glass skin look — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “leaves me with a red carpet glow — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “noticeable skin brightening effect and glow — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Improves skin barrier and texture Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels soft as butter — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “pores became miraculously invisible — SK-II Facial Treatment Mask”
    • “Smoother skin — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Makeup compatibility and primer Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Removes leftover dirt — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “Dissolves waterproof mascara, melts stubborn makeup, removes sunscreen easily. — SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil”
  • Fades dark spots and brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looks brighter — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “My skin is glowing now. — SK-II Genoptics Ultraura Essence”
    • “Reduced sun spots — SK-II Genoptics Spot Essence”
    • “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 — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Slow or ineffective results Rarely 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 absolutely nothing — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Unpleasant scent or fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smells like dirty feet — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “caused tiny red bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Essence”
    • “Small bumps — SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion”
    • “did break out some while adjusting — SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for dry skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,400.12 · 90% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$685.63 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for oily skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,436.99 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$767.92 · 85% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs SK-II routines for combination skin

Buy SK-II routine · A$1,429.91 · 88% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · A$693.88 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or SK-II: which is better?

Both brands perform well, with SK-II achieving a superior routine fit for dry skin, acne-prone skin, and oily acne-prone skin compared to Kiehl's. Reviewers note that SK-II does better with radiance, glow, and fading dark spots, while Kiehl's offers more lightweight textures and deep hydration.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and SK-II?

Kiehl's offers a wide range of lightweight moisturizers and cleansers, whereas SK-II focuses on signature treatments built around Pitera. Lovi gives SK-II a superior routine fit for dry skin, acne-prone skin, and oily acne-prone skin.

Kiehl's or SK-II for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi finds that Kiehl's has a High routine fit while SK-II has a Superior routine fit. Kiehl's offers products like the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate with a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas SK-II relies on its Pitera-infused items like the Facial Treatment Essence which helps deliver deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or SK-II: which moisturizer is better?

When it comes to moisturizers, SK-II offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Kiehl's. SK-II products feature Pitera as a key ingredient, whereas the products on this page for Kiehl's rely on key ingredients such as glycerin, squalane, and shea butter.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or SK-II?

Reviewers note that both Kiehl's and SK-II involve a high price point, but the products on this page show that Kiehl's features a much wider range of options.

Between Kiehl's and SK-II, which brand performs better for dry sensitive skin?

For dry sensitive skin, both Kiehl's and SK-II achieve a High routine fit on the products on this page.

How do Kiehl's and SK-II compare regarding fragrance in their products?

Kiehl's has fragrance in a small number of the products on this page, whereas SK-II lists no fragrance in any of its products. Kiehl's fragrance-containing items include the Age Defender Moisturizer and Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men, while the rest of its line is fragrance-free.

Which brand has a wider variety of products listed on the page, Kiehl's or SK-II?

Kiehl's features a wider variety of products on this page compared to SK-II.

Kiehl's or SK-II for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and SK-II offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Kiehl's products provide lightweight textures, while SK-II delivers radiance and glow.

Kiehl's or SK-II for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, both Kiehl's and SK-II are good options, as Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as High for each brand. The products on this page for SK-II list no fragrance, while two Kiehl's products contain fragrance.

Kiehl's or SK-II for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates SK-II as Superior and Kiehl's as High. The products on this page for SK-II help improve skin barrier and texture, while Kiehl's offers lightweight textures and deep hydration.

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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