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Kiehl's vs FRE

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

Kiehl's and FRE are two skincare brands known for nourishing formulas and targeted products. The historic American brand relies on dependable ingredients like glycerin and squalane to suit mature skin and sensitive skin best, while the other offers gentle and effective compositions that suit acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, both brands differ because Kiehl's uses barrier-supporting properties for mature and sensitive complexions, whereas FRE works to gently balance and support acne-prone skin.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Kiehl's vs FRE products

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or FRE: which is better?

Kiehl's offers a much wider selection of products across multiple skincare categories on this page than FRE, which features only a single argan oil product. The products on this page by Kiehl's fit mature skin and sensitive skin best, while providing a variety of lightweight moisturizers and gentle serums.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and FRE?

Kiehl's offers a wide variety of skincare lines that generally fit mature skin, sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots, whereas FRE features just a single argan oil product on this page. Kiehl's uses fragrance in only two of its products, while FRE includes no fragrance across its offerings.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or FRE?

Reviewers frequently note that Kiehl's products have a high price point, while information for FRE on this page does not mention affordability.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or FRE?

FRE features only a single argan oil product on this page, whereas Kiehl's offers a wide range where products like the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream achieve a high fit level for oily acne-prone skin while others may cause breakouts.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Kiehl's and FRE compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas FRE was founded much later in 2016 and remains independently owned.

Which products from Kiehl's and FRE contain fragrance, and which are fragrance-free?

For Kiehl's, 26 out of 28 products on this page list no fragrance, while only the Age Defender Moisturizer and the Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men contain fragrance. For FRE, every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

What key ingredients are found across Kiehl's products?

Glycerin, Vitamin C, Squalane, Shea butter, and Vitamin E are the key ingredients found across Kiehl's products on this page.

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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