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Kiehl's vs Avène

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

Kiehl's and Avène are two renowned skincare brands that offer nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and soothing products formulated with reliable ingredients like glycerin and squalane. The American brand suits mature skin and sensitive skin best through its gentle formulations, while the French brand suits oily acne-prone skin and combination skin best. Ultimately, both differ primarily in their exact product lines and targeted skin types, though each relies heavily on glycerin to significantly increase hydration and restore epidermal barrier function.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Avène products

People Say

Kiehl'sAvène
  • Skin Barrier and Tone Improvement Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “Saves my skin in winter — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Hydration and Moisture 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”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Gentleness and Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “no irritation at all — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Pores and Oil Control Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “keeps my oils at bay — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “keeps skin matte — Avène Cleanance”
  • Soothing Irritation and Redness Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Calms angry, red skin — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
  • Price and Value Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “a bit pricey — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Tiny tube for the money — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Application and Texture Difficulties Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Tube squirted water everywhere — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “too thick — Avène Hydrance+”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Caused small bumps/texture — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
  • Scents and Fragrance Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smell is overpowering — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”

Kiehl's vs Avène routines for dry skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · CA$413.99 · 80% fitBuy Avène routine · CA$265.85 · 76% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Avène routines for oily skin

Buy Avène routine · CA$307.37 · 86% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · CA$370.40 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Avène routines for combination skin

Buy Avène routine · CA$393.55 · 88% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · CA$373.49 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Avène: which is better?

Both brands perform well across most skin types, but Avène does better with sensitive skin and soothing irritation, while Kiehl's is better for fragrance-free options as most of the products on this page list no fragrance.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Avène?

Kiehl's has fewer fragrances across the products on this page, whereas Avène is better for soothing irritation and redness.

Kiehl's or Avène for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Avène offer products on this page that are a High fit for dry skin. Kiehl's features lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration, while Avène helps soothe irritation.

Kiehl's or Avène: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and Avène offer cleansers that fit oily skin and oily acne-prone skin at a Superior level. Kiehl's features a higher percentage of fragrance-free products on this page, while Avène is frequently noted for soothing irritation and gentleness.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Avène?

Avène tends to be more affordable than Kiehl's, as high price points are often mentioned for Kiehl's and Avène is noted as better for price and value.

Which brand performs better for soothing irritation and redness, Kiehl's or Avène?

Avène performs better for soothing irritation and redness, as it stands out for its gentleness on sensitive skin. Lovi rates Avène's routine fit for sensitive skin as High, and the products on this page help calm irritation.

How do the fragrance options differ between Kiehl's and Avène products?

Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free with only two items containing fragrance, whereas over half of Avène's products on this page contain fragrance. Reviewers note that Kiehl's is better for scents and fragrance.

Kiehl's or Avène for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Avène work well for oily skin, as the products on this page show high routine fit levels for both brands. Reviewers note that Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, while Avène provides effective oil control and gentle deep-cleaning cleansers.

Kiehl's or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

Kiehl's and Avène both offer moisturizers with a high fit for dry skin, though Avène tends to do better for soothing irritation. Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, whereas Avène includes fragrance in several of its moisturizers.

Kiehl's or Avène for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Avène are well suited for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates sensitive skin fit as High for both brands on this page. Reviewers note that Avène does better with gentleness and sensitive skin, while Kiehl's products on this page list no fragrance in 26 out of 28 items.

Kiehl's or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

Both Kiehl's and Avène offer sunscreens on this page that suit a range of skin types, with Avène performing better for gentleness and sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Avène sunscreens help provide a gentle and non-stripping feel.

Kiehl's or Avène for acne-prone skin?

Avène is better for acne-prone skin, providing a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average fit on this page.

Kiehl's or Avène for dry sensitive skin?

Kiehl's is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Avène's Average fit level.

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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