🇩🇪Germany

Kiehl's skincare

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

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Kiehl's is beloved for thoughtful moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and more that incorporate nourishing glycerin and squalane. Its products suit skin with dark spots and combination skin best, owing to targeted formulations that address these specific needs. For acne-prone skin, the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner is a standout, while the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash addresses skin with dark spots, and the Ultra Facial Toner supports mature skin. Together, glycerin significantly increases hydration and restores epidermal barrier function, and squalane counteracts oxidative stress and stimulates fibroblast migration.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006

This page covers some of the most popular Kiehl's products; for the whole Kiehl's range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.

Kiehl's moisturizers

Kiehl's serums and treatments

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 59.9k+ reviews

Reviewers most often praise Kiehl's for lightweight texture, deep hydration, and brightening complexion. The most common complaints are breakouts and heavy formulas.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Absorbs quickly — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Sinks in instantly — Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Gentle serums Mostly Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “perfect for retinol newbies — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “No irritation at all — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Deep hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin looked & felt smoother — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Brightening and fading dark spots Sometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “faded acne scars — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Makeup compatibility and primer benefits Sometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “sits great under foundation — Better Screen UV Serum”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “overpriced for what it does — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Causes breakouts and skin irritation Often Mentioned
    • “burned my face immediately — Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “caused cystic acne — Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
  • Product not rich or effective enough Often Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Greasy or heavy residue Sometimes Noted
    • “oil slick in summer — Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “didn't absorb well — Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, kiehls.com, reddit.com, and more

Other Kiehl's products

Questions and answers

Is Kiehl's good for oily skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for oily skin, as Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for oily skin. Reviewers often mention lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, and 26 of the 28 products on this page list no fragrance.

Is Kiehl's worth it?

Deciding if Kiehl's is worth it depends on personal skincare goals, as Lovi rates the brand-focused routines High for dry, oily, sensitive, and combination skin, but only Average for acne-prone skin. Reviewers often mention that the products offer deep hydration and lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, though some note a high price point and potential skin irritation. Additionally, 26 of the 28 Kiehl's products on this page are fragrance-free.

What are Kiehl's's best products?

Kiehl's best products vary by skin type, with skin with dark spots, combination skin, and mature skin showing the highest overall fit for the brand-focused routines. For instance, Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner and Ultra Facial Toner are top picks for dry skin, while Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution and Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque work best for oily skin. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for dry skin, oily skin, sensitive skin, and combination skin, and Average for acne-prone skin.

Which Kiehl's moisturizer is best for dry skin?

For dry skin, Lovi rates Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate as Superior, followed by Super Multi-Corrective Cream and Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream as High. These moisturizers help deliver deep hydration to dry areas.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Does Kiehl's cause breakouts?

Yes, Kiehl's may cause breakouts, as reviewers often mention that some products can trigger skin irritation and pimples. Lovi rates the brand-focused routine for acne-prone skin as Average.

Is Kiehl's fragrance-free?

No, the Kiehl's products on this page are not all fragrance-free, as the Age Defender Moisturizer and the Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men contain fragrance.

What are the key ingredients in Kiehl's products?

The key ingredients in the Kiehl's products on this page include glycerin, vitamin C, squalane, shea butter, and vitamin E.

How do I build a Kiehl's skincare routine?

To build a morning routine for dry skin using Kiehl's, start with Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, follow with Ultra Facial Toner, apply Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate, and finish with Better Screen UV Serum. Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine for dry skin as High.

Where can I buy Kiehl's, and how much does it cost?

Kiehl's products can be bought in Germany on this page, with prices ranging from €16.94 to €62.95 and most falling between €24.75 and €52.80.

What are good alternatives to Kiehl's?

Good alternatives to Kiehl's include CeraVe, Cetaphil, Paula's Choice, Neutrogena, Dermalogica, and Good Molecules.

Kiehl's vs CeraVe: which is better?

Lovi rates CeraVe as Superior across oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's routines rate High for those skin types. For dry skin, both brands rate High. The Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, with only two fragranced exceptions.

Who owns Kiehl's, and where is it from?

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Is Kiehl's cruelty-free?

PETA, Leaping Bunny, and Cruelty Free International, the registries Lovi checks, do not list Kiehl's as cruelty-free.

Is Kiehl's good for dry skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for dry skin because Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for dry skin. Among the Kiehl's products on this page, Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate achieves a Superior fit for dry skin, while 26 of 28 products list no fragrance.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which Kiehl's cleanser is best for oily skin?

The Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash is the best cleanser for oily skin, followed by the Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser and the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser. Lovi rates the first two as Superior and the third as High for oily skin.

Is Kiehl's good for sensitive skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is generally good for sensitive skin, and Lovi rates the Kiehl's-focused routine High for sensitive skin. The Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, with 26 of 28 listing no fragrance.

Which Kiehl's sunscreen is best for sensitive skin?

Lovi rates Better Screen UV Serum High for sensitive skin.

Is Kiehl's good for acne-prone skin?

Lovi rates Kiehl's-focused routine Average for acne-prone skin. Reviewers often mention that some products may cause breakouts and skin irritation.

Is Kiehl's good for skin with dark spots?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for skin with dark spots, as the brand-focused routines fit this concern well. Lovi rates Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution High for skin with dark spots. Additionally, the Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, with 26 of 28 products listing no fragrance.

Is Kiehl's good for mature skin?

Yes, Kiehl's is good for mature skin, as Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for this skin type. Reviewers frequently note that the products help improve skin texture and provide deep hydration. Additionally, retinol, which is found in the range, helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged human skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

Research behind Kiehl's's key ingredients

Behind these ratings

Lovi rates every product from its 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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