🇺🇸United States

Kiehl's vs Simple

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

Kiehl's and Simple are established skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily care, with the American label known for dependable moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products featuring glycerin and squalane, while the British counterpart is chosen for gentle moisturizers, makeup removers, cleansers, and toners enriched with niacinamide and glycerin. The former suits mature skin and skin with dark spots best, whereas both suit acne-prone skin, and the collections differ primarily in their targeted formulations and key botanical or active infusions.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Simple products

People Say

Kiehl'sSimple
  • Gentle for sensitive skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight 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”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
  • Non-drying and hydrating formulas Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft, not tight. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Makeup compatibility Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “makeup lays well — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “works well under foundation — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
  • Affordable value Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
  • Cleansing and pore care Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels soft not dry — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • High price Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “not moisturizing enough — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for dry skin

Buy Simple routine · $128.28 · 83% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $382.00 · 82% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for oily skin

Buy Simple routine · $280.29 · 88% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $343.42 · 80% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for combination skin

Buy Simple routine · $259.77 · 87% fitBuy Kiehl's routine · $339.90 · 83% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Simple: which is better?

Simple tends to be better for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's is known for lightweight texture. Both brands perform equally well on this page for dry, oily, combination, mature, and dark-spot-prone skin types.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Simple?

Simple offers better gentleness for sensitive skin and more affordable value, whereas Kiehl's provides a lighter texture across the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Simple for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for dry skin. Reviewers note that Simple offers non-drying and hydrating formulas while Kiehl's provides lightweight textures.

Kiehl's or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Simple does better for cleansing and pore care, and the products on this page are rated High for sensitive skin. Lovi finds Kiehl's fit level for acne-prone skin is Average while Simple is High.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple is more affordable than Kiehl's. Reviewers on this page frequently note a high price point for Kiehl's, while Simple is known for its affordable value.

Kiehl's or Simple: which brand has a better routine fit for acne-prone skin?

Simple has a better routine fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates Simple as High and Kiehl's as Average.

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

Kiehl's has more products containing fragrance, with two products on the page listing fragrance, whereas Simple has no products on this page listing fragrance.

Kiehl's or Simple: which brand is better for mature skin?

For mature skin, Lovi rates both Kiehl's and Simple as a High routine fit. Kiehl's features a US heritage with L'Oréal ownership since 2000 and focuses on mature skin, skin with dark spots, and combination skin, while Simple is a UK brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever since 2011 with a focus on acne-prone, oily, and oily acne-prone skin.

Kiehl's or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds that both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit level. Reviewers indicate that Kiehl's offers better lightweight textures, while Simple provides better non-drying hydration and cleansing care.

Kiehl's or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple offers lightweight, value-friendly moisturizers with key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, while Kiehl's features options like the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate with a Lovi fit level of Superior for dry skin. Reviewers often mention Simple for gentle hydration, whereas Kiehl's is known for lightweight, non-greasy formulas.

Kiehl's or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit for sensitive skin on this page, but Simple does better for being gentle for sensitive skin.

Kiehl's or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Simple fits acne-prone skin better than Kiehl's, as Lovi rates Simple's routine as High and Kiehl's routine as Average for this skin type.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play