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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 loved for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, gentle eye products, and more, which rely on dependable ingredients like glycerin and squalane. Its products suit mature skin and sensitive skin best because of their gentle formulations and barrier-supporting properties. The standout products for particular concerns include 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. Ultimately, glycerin significantly increases hydration and restores epidermal barrier function, while squalane counteracts oxidative stress and stimulates 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. Reviewers mostly mention lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers among the Kiehl's products on this page.

Is Kiehl's worth it?

Yes, Kiehl's is worth it for shoppers seeking effective formulas, as Lovi rates the brand-focused routines High for dry, oily, sensitive, and combination skin types. Reviewers often note that the products provide deep hydration and leave skin soft and smooth, though some mention a high price point. Additionally, the Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free.

What are Kiehl's's best products?

Lovi rates Kiehl's best for mature skin, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots. Reviewers often mention lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums among the favorites.

Which Kiehl's moisturizer is best for dry skin?

The best moisturizer for dry skin is Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate, which Lovi rates Superior for dry skin. Super Multi-Corrective Cream and Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream both follow with a High fit level.

Does Kiehl's cause breakouts?

Yes, Kiehl's may cause breakouts because reviewers often mention that some products lead to breakouts and skin irritation. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine Average for acne-prone skin.

Is Kiehl's fragrance-free?

Most of the Kiehl's products on this page are fragrance-free, as 26 out of 28 items list no 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.

How do I build a Kiehl's skincare routine?

To build a Kiehl's skincare routine for dry skin in the morning, apply Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, follow with Ultra Facial Toner, apply Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate, and finish with Ultra Facial Cream. In the evening, use Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil as a pre-cleanser, then cleanse with Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, apply Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, and moisturize with Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate. Once a week, add a nourishing mask into this evening routine.

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

Kiehl's products on this page are available in Canada, with prices ranging from CA$33.00 to CA$175.00, and most items costing between CA$40.00 and CA$89.00.

What are good alternatives to Kiehl's?

CeraVe is a good alternative to Kiehl's, as Lovi rates the CeraVe-focused routine Superior for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin. The Kiehl's products on this page generally have a High fit for these skin types, but reviewers often mention a high price point and breakouts.

Kiehl's vs CeraVe: which is better?

Lovi rates CeraVe as Superior and Kiehl's as High across dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin types, making CeraVe the better-rated brand on these pages.

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. The Kiehl's products on this page help provide deep hydration, with 26 of 28 products listing 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, as Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for sensitive skin. Reviewers often mention that the brand provides gentle serums and lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, and 26 of the 28 Kiehl's products on this page list no fragrance.

Which Kiehl's sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?

Lovi rates Better Screen UV Serum High for sensitive skin.

Is Kiehl's good for acne-prone skin?

Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine Average for acne-prone skin. While certain individual items like the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution and Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream achieve a High fit, reviewers often note that some products may cause breakouts and skin irritation.

Is Kiehl's good for skin with dark spots?

Yes, Kiehl's is well-suited for skin with dark spots, as the brand features several targeted treatments that Lovi rates High for this concern, including Better Screen UV Serum and Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution. Reviewers frequently note brightening effects, and ingredients like Vitamin C help fade pigment over time.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Is Kiehl's good for mature skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for mature skin, as Lovi rates mature skin High for several of its products and brand-focused routines. Key ingredients like retinol help stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human 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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