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Kiehl's vs Aēsop

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

Kiehl's and Aēsop are two beloved skincare brands that offer thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, and cleansers driven by nourishing glycerin, squalane, and botanical ingredients. Kiehl's is known for dependable formulations incorporating glycerin and squalane that suit mature skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas Aēsop relies on gentle, scientifically validated compositions that suit balanced, combination, and sensitive skin best. While both feature standout solutions for distinct concerns like acne and dark spots, they differ fundamentally in their heritage and targeted skin types.

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 Aēsop products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Aēsop products

People Say

Kiehl'sAēsop
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “perfect for retinol newbies — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin looked & felt smoother — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Scent and Fragrance Experience Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells divine — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Soft herbal scent that feels fresh and floral. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
    • “calming lavender smell — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Skin Rescue and Soothing Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “saved my skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
    • “Reduces inflammation overnight. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
    • “my small blemishes noticeably diminished — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
  • High Price and Poor Value 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”
    • “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
  • Sticky Finish and Pilling Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “rolled off my face — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “pills under my makeup — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
  • Packaging and Design Flaws Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
  • Insufficient Moisture or Ineffectiveness Often MentionedNot noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Aēsop: which is better?

Kiehl's does better than Aēsop for lightweight textures, sensitive skin care, and skin barrier improvement, while Aēsop excels in scent experience and skin rescue.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Aēsop?

Kiehl's offers a much larger selection of targeted products with high fit levels for mature skin, dark spots, and combination skin, whereas Aēsop provides a very limited range on this page. Reviewers note that Kiehl's excels in lightweight textures and barrier improvement, while Aēsop is praised for its luxurious and refreshing scents.

Kiehl's or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?

Kiehl's does better for cleansers on this page, offering superior fit levels for oily and acne-prone skin types with products like the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser. Aēsop features only one cleanser on this page, the Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser, which has lower average to low fit levels across similar skin types.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Aēsop?

Reviewers frequently mention high prices for both Kiehl's and Aësop, making it difficult to call one more affordable than the other from the page facts.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Aēsop?

Aēsop is unlikely to cause breakouts as frequently because the products on this page have fewer reported issues with congestion. Reviewers often mention that Kiehl's causes breakouts and skin irritation.

Between Kiehl's and Aēsop, which brand offers products with better fragrance options or more natural scent experiences?

Aēsop does better than Kiehl's for scent and fragrance experience. Every Aēsop product on this page lists no added fragrance in its ingredients, while reviewers note its luxurious and refreshing scents.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Kiehl's and Aēsop compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States, whereas Aēsop was established later in 1987. Both brands are currently owned by L'Oréal.

Which brand has more products that are rated as high fit for dry and dry sensitive skin?

Kiehl's features a significantly higher number of products on this page rated as a high fit for dry and dry sensitive skin compared to Aësop, offering options like the Midnight Recovery Concentrate and Ultra Facial Toner.

Kiehl's or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Kiehl's offers a much broader range with options like Ultra Facial Cream that achieve an Average fit for mature and dry skin, whereas Aēsop provides alternatives such as Damascan Rose Facial Treatment which has a High fit for dry and sensitive skin. Reviewers often mention that Kiehl's moisturizers are lightweight and non-greasy, while Aēsop's formulas are praised for being balancing and non-greasy.

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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