🇺🇸United States

Kiehl's vs Dermalogica

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

Kiehl's and Dermalogica are American skincare brands known for their reliable moisturizers, serums, toners, and cleansers. The former incorporates glycerin and squalane to suit mature skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas the latter utilizes hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and salicylic acid to suit oily skin and combination skin best. While both offer targeted solutions for specific needs, they differ through their foundational ingredients and the distinct skin types they primarily benefit.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Dermalogica is an American skincare brand founded in 1986 and owned by Unilever since 2015.

en.wikipedia.orgcosmeticsbusiness.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Dermalogica products

People Say

Kiehl'sDermalogica
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Often 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”
    • “Saved my dry skin — Dermalogica Super Rich Repair”
    • “super hydrating — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “blends seamlessly — Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50”
  • Improves skin barrier and texture 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 feels smooth as silk — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “Leaves a glistening glow — Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream”
  • Gentle formula for sensitive skin Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “doesn't strip skin — Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel”
    • “helps calm and nourish my skin — Dermalogica Stabilizing Repair Cream”
  • Brightens skin and fades dark spots Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “immediately brighter looking — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “skin looks amazing — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
  • Oil control and pore reduction Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “keeps my oils at bay — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “keeps my T-zone matte — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Brings out all the gunk — Dermalogica Blackhead Clearing Fizz Mask”
    • “doesn't clog pores — Dermalogica Active Moist”
  • High price point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “hefty price tag — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”
    • “Expensive for cleanser — Dermalogica Precleanse”
  • Burning, stinging, and irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “Stings eyes — Dermalogica Precleanse”
    • “burns immediately — Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque”
  • Unpleasant or strong scent Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “smells like puke — Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant”

Kiehl's vs Dermalogica routines for dry skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · $424.99 · 87% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $382.00 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Dermalogica routines for oily skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · $501.02 · 92% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $343.42 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Dermalogica routines for combination skin

Buy Dermalogica routine · $560.50 · 91% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $339.90 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Dermalogica: which is better?

Dermalogica offers a Superior routine fit for oily skin, combination skin, and oily acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's routine fit for those skin types is High. Both brands achieve High routine fits for dry skin, sensitive skin, mature skin, skin with dark spots, and dry sensitive skin.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Dermalogica?

Dermalogica is generally better suited for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's is particularly known for lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and a diverse selection of fragrance-free products. Both brands offer high-performing routines for dry, sensitive, mature skin and dark spots, though Kiehl's features a stronger scent profile in a few formulas.

Kiehl's or Dermalogica for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Dermalogica offer a High routine fit for dry skin. Lovi rates Kiehl's routine fit as High and Dermalogica's routine fit as High.

Kiehl's or Dermalogica: which cleanser is better?

Both brands offer top-tier cleansers, but Dermalogica achieves a Superior Lovi fit for oily and oily acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's also reaches Superior for those types with specific washes like its Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash. Both lines feature gentle, non-stripping options that help clean without heavy residue.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Dermalogica?

Both Kiehl's and Dermalogica are seen as having a high price point, so neither brand is more affordable. Reviewers often mention high prices for the products on this page for both companies.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Kiehl's and Dermalogica compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Dermalogica was founded in 1986 in the United States and is owned by Unilever since 2015.

Which brand performs better for oily acne-prone skin, Kiehl's or Dermalogica?

Dermalogica performs better for oily acne-prone skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High level. The products on this page help provide effective care for these skin concerns.

How does the fragrance content differ between Kiehl's and Dermalogica products?

Kiehl's features fragrance in two products on this page, while Dermalogica lists no fragrance in any of its products. This means Kiehl's is more likely to carry a scent, whereas Dermalogica is entirely fragrance-free.

Kiehl's or Dermalogica for oily skin?

Dermalogica is the better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High level. Lovi shows Dermalogica's routine fit for oily skin is Superior, while Kiehl's is High.

Kiehl's or Dermalogica: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and Dermalogica offer effective moisturizers, with Kiehl's providing lighter, non-greasy formulas and Dermalogica focusing on intense hydration and soothing care. Lovi rates both brands as High for dry skin, while Dermalogica achieves a Superior fit for combination skin and oily skin.

Kiehl's or Dermalogica for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Dermalogica are a High fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's features lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums, while Dermalogica offers soothing moisturizers and gentle, non-stripping cleansers.

Kiehl's or Dermalogica: which sunscreen is better?

Both Kiehl's and Dermalogica offer sunscreens with High fit levels for many skin types, though Dermalogica's Invisible Physical Defense SPF30 and Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 provide robust broad-spectrum protection across a slightly wider range of skin concerns.

Kiehl's or Dermalogica for acne-prone skin?

Dermalogica provides a better routine fit than Kiehl's for acne-prone skin, achieving a High fit compared to Kiehl's Average fit level. Reviewers of the products on this page often mention that Kiehl's can cause breakouts and skin irritation, whereas Dermalogica features specialized cleansers and exfoliants like Daily Microfoliant that help control oily and acne-prone skin.

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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