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Kiehl's vs Olay

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

Kiehl's and Olay are revered skincare lines that offer dependable moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more. Kiehl's incorporates nourishing glycerin and squalane to suit mature skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas the brand is warmly loved for thoughtfully formulated cleansers and other essentials enriched with niacinamide and glycerin that suit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. Ultimately, the two differ primarily in their precise formulations, targeted ingredient combinations, and overall suitability for distinct dermal needs.

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Olay products

People Say

Kiehl'sOlay
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “sinks in quickly — Olay Super Serum”
    • “absorbs quickly — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
  • 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”
    • “Instantly smoother, softer, and more hydrated — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “light and smooth — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Skin Smoothing and Barrier Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels baby soft — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Skin feels like silk — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
    • “Makeup goes on so smooth — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Brightening and Radiance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “iridescent glow — Olay Super Serum”
    • “hides dark shadows — Olay Ultimate Eye Cream”
  • Gentle on Skin Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “fragrance-free — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “No irritation at all — Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Moisturizer”
  • Makeup Compatibility Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “absorbs instantly — Olay Eye Lifting Serum”
    • “acts as primer — Olay Super Serum”
  • High Price Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “expensive for drugstore — Olay Super Serum”
    • “expensive — Olay Super Serum Night Repair”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Breakouts and Irritation Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “caused cystic acne — Olay Retinol24”
    • “Caused breakouts — Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream”
  • Product Ineffectiveness Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “no difference — Olay Vitamin C Serum”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Olay Super Serum”
    • “didn't see a difference — Olay Retinol24”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for dry skin

Buy Olay routine · $154.40 · 83% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $382.00 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for oily skin

Buy Olay routine · $296.19 · 84% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $343.42 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Olay routines for combination skin

Buy Kiehl's routine · $339.90 · 83% fitBuy Olay routine · $286.61 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Olay: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer effective products, with Olay doing better for skin smoothing and barrier. For acne-prone skin, Olay has a High routine fit while Kiehl's has an Average fit.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Olay?

Kiehl's and Olay both offer high routine fit across most skin types, though Olay is rated better for acne-prone skin. Reviewers note that Olay does better for skin smoothing and barrier support, while Kiehl's features a high percentage of fragrance-free products on this page.

Kiehl's or Olay for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a High routine fit for dry skin on this page, providing intense hydration and moisture. Kiehl's features a lightweight moisturizing approach with squalane and glycerin, while Olay relies on niacinamide and peptides for skin smoothing and barrier support.

Kiehl's or Olay: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer cleansers that fit oily and acne-prone skin well, such as Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser and Olay's Regenerating Cream Cleanser. Reviewers mention that Olay generally offers better value and prices compared to Kiehl's high price point.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Olay?

Olay is more affordable, as reviewers often note a high price point for Kiehl's while listing high price as a disadvantage for Olay.

Between Kiehl's and Olay, which brand is better suited for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a High routine fit for mature skin. Reviewers for both brands note improvements in texture and intense hydration, while Kiehl's also features targeted serums containing retinol that helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

How do Kiehl's and Olay compare regarding fragrance in their products?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer mostly fragrance-free product ranges on this page. Specifically, 26 of 28 Kiehl's products and 26 of 27 Olay products list no fragrance.

Which brand performs better for brightening and radiance?

Kiehl's and Olay perform equally well for brightening and radiance according to the review themes on this page.

Kiehl's or Olay for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers for both brands note benefits like lightweight feel and intense hydration.

Kiehl's or Olay: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer moisturizers that provide deep hydration and smooth skin texture, but Olay stands out for better pricing and specialized options like peptides and niacinamide. Reviewers often mention that Kiehl's products are lightweight and non-greasy, whereas Olay is noted for intense hydration and improved smoothness.

Kiehl's or Olay for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Olay offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands provide gentle options, and their routines are equally well-suited for this skin type.

Kiehl's or Olay: which sunscreen is better?

When it comes to sunscreens on this page, both Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum and Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25 achieve a High fit for sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, mature skin, and skin with dark spots. Reviewers mention that Kiehl's offers a lightweight feel while Olay provides intense hydration, so the better choice depends on whether you prefer a serum texture or a whip moisturizer.

Kiehl's or Olay for acne-prone skin?

Olay is a better fit than Kiehl's for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates Olay's routine as High and Kiehl's as Average. Both brands offer products with ingredients like niacinamide that help control skin conditions, but Olay has an edge in overall routine suitability for this skin type.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

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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