🇺🇸United States

Kiehl's vs Bioderma

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

Kiehl's and Bioderma are heritage skincare brands that offer dependable moisturizers, targeted serums, and gentle cleansers. Kiehl's is known for formulations featuring nourishing glycerin and squalane that suit mature skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas Bioderma is celebrated for soothing makeup removers and cleansers relying on glycerin that are ideal for acne-prone skin and combination skin. While both brands harness glycerin to increase hydration and restore epidermal barrier function, the American brand additionally utilizes squalane to counteract oxidative stress, distinguishing its approach from the French brand's focus on calming purity.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Bioderma is a French skincare brand founded in 1977 and owned by Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation since 2018.

bioderma.usnaos.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Bioderma products

People Say

Kiehl'sBioderma
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't sting my eyes — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “doesn't cause any irritation — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
    • “mildest face wash I've tried — Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization 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”
    • “healed my dry skin — Bioderma Sébium Hydra”
    • “skin feels plump — Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often 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”
    • “absorbs instantly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
  • Excellent makeup base Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Foundation didn't settle into pores — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
    • “foundation sits perfectly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
  • Deep cleansing and pore care Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Probably the first cleanser that actually took all of my makeup off my face!!! — Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant”
    • “melts makeup away — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “Noticeable difference in size of pores — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • Improves skin barrier and texture Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “healed my skin barrier in two weeks — Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume”
  • High price point and poor value Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “pricier than other brands — Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant”
    • “finished too quickly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
    • “pricey for water — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Greasy residue and shine Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “requires a thorough follow-up — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
    • “leaves a shine — Bioderma Sébium Hydra”
    • “leaves an oily film — Bioderma Sensibio AR”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Dryness and lack of moisture Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “some extremely dry skin types need a thicker balm or oil on top — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Skin looks like sandpaper — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “broke me out — Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume”
    • “clogged my pores — Bioderma Sensibio AR”
    • “clogged my pores — Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”

Kiehl's vs Bioderma routines for dry skin

Buy Bioderma routine · $163.42 · 83% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $382.00 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Bioderma routines for oily skin

Buy Bioderma routine · $308.43 · 86% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $343.42 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Bioderma routines for combination skin

Buy Bioderma routine · $287.91 · 87% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $339.90 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which is better?

Both brands are good choices, as Kiehl's fits best for mature skin and dark spots while Bioderma is superior for acne-prone skin. Lovi rates both brands as having a High routine fit for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Bioderma?

Bioderma is better for acne-prone skin, while both brands offer equal routine fit for dry, oily, combination, sensitive, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin. Reviewers note that Bioderma does better on deep cleansing and pore care, whereas Kiehl's is better at improving the skin barrier and texture.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Bioderma are a great match for dry skin, as Lovi rates their routines as High for this skin type. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers, while Bioderma offers soothing and barrier-repairing options.

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which cleanser is better?

For deep cleansing and pore care, Bioderma does better than Kiehl's according to reviewer themes on this page. Reviewers note that Bioderma offers gentle and effective cleansers.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Bioderma?

Both brands are noted by reviewers for having a high price point, so neither stands out as clearly more affordable on the products on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Bioderma?

Kiehl's has more fragrance-free products on this page than Bioderma, with 26 out of 28 products listing no fragrance compared to Bioderma's 9 out of 20.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for oily skin?

Both brands offer an equal fit level for oily skin, with Lovi rating their routines as High. Kiehl's features products like Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, while Bioderma offers options such as Sébium Gel moussant and Sébium Mat Control.

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which moisturizer is better?

Bioderma tends to be better for soothing sensitive or acne-prone skin with barrier-repairing moisture, while Kiehl's is often preferred for lightweight, non-greasy hydration.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Bioderma have a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers say that Kiehl's is good for lightweight moisturizers, while Bioderma is known for soothing, barrier-repairing moisturizers.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for acne-prone skin?

Bioderma is the better choice for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Kiehl's Average fit level.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and Bioderma are a High fit for mature skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's features a retinol serum that may help stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Kiehl's or Bioderma for combination skin?

Both Kiehl's and Bioderma fit combination skin well, with Lovi routines rating them as High. Kiehl's is often noted for lighter, non-greasy textures, while Bioderma offers a wide range of oil-balancing and soothing products.

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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