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Kiehl's vs NIVEA

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

Kiehl's and NIVEA are distinguished skincare brands that offer nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and soothing solutions for various needs. The American heritage label relies on glycerin and squalane to support mature and sensitive skin, whereas the German house centers on glycerin to comfort dry and sensitive skin. While both incorporate dependable ingredients to enhance hydration and barrier function, they diverge in their foundational heritage, specific formulations, and target audiences.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Kiehl's vs NIVEA products

People Say

Kiehl'sNIVEA
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly 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”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Relaxing and Classic Scents Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
    • “smells really nice — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “calming lavender smell — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Gentleness and Sensitivity Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “doesn't irritate sensitive eyes — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Value for Money Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Greasiness and Heavy Residue Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “didn't absorb well — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
    • “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while. — NIVEA Soft”

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

Buy NIVEA routine · CA$163.12 · 89% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · CA$413.99 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · CA$298.37 · 88% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · CA$370.40 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy NIVEA routine · CA$265.46 · 88% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · CA$373.49 · 79% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer high routine fit levels across almost all skin types, making neither strictly better than the other. Kiehl's may be preferred for gentleness and absorption, whereas NIVEA often provides better value for money and skin barrier improvement.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and NIVEA?

Kiehl's and NIVEA both offer high routine fit across most skin types, but Kiehl's generally features fragrance-free options and is praised for gentleness, whereas NIVEA offers better value for money and targeted blemish-clearing serums.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for dry skin among the products on this page. Kiehl's is frequently noted for lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers and intense deep hydration.

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer moisturizers with a High routine fit for dry skin, though they differ in texture and formulation. Kiehl's is often noted for lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and a higher percentage of fragrance-free products on this page, while NIVEA is frequently praised for versatile, multi-use moisturizers that provide intense deep hydration.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or NIVEA?

NIVEA is more affordable because value for money is noted as an advantage for the brand, whereas high price points are frequently reported for Kiehl's on this page.

Which brand has more products containing fragrance, Kiehl's or NIVEA?

NIVEA has more products containing fragrance on this page, with 6 out of 9 products listing fragrance, whereas only 2 of the 28 products from Kiehl's list fragrance.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides better texture and absorption, while NIVEA offers better value for money.

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer sunscreens on the products on this page with High fit levels for multiple skin types, such as sunscreens for sensitive skin and combination skin. Review themes indicate that Kiehl's provides better texture and absorption, while NIVEA offers better value for money.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Kiehl's does better for gentleness and sensitivity.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Lovi rates NIVEA as having a High routine fit while Kiehl's is Average. The products on this page for NIVEA include blemish-clearing serums.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for mature skin. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides lighter textures and better absorption, while NIVEA offers better value for money and classic scents.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for skin with dark spots?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for skin with dark spots. Reviewers mention that Kiehl's provides brightening and fading dark spots, while NIVEA features blemish-clearing serums.

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

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