🇩🇪Germany

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's

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

Cetaphil and Kiehl's are two American skincare brands offering thoughtful selections of cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and more, formulated with nourishing ingredients like glycerin. The former is known for niacinamide and panthenol, suiting combination and acne-prone skin best, while the latter incorporates squalane and suits skin with dark spots and combination skin. They differ in their core philosophies, as the first brand focuses on balanced, barrier-restoring compositions, whereas the second brand provides targeted formulations that counteract oxidative stress.

Cetaphil is an American skincare brand founded in 1947 and owned by Galderma Group AG.

en.wikipedia.orgcetaphil.co.uk

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 Cetaphil and Kiehl's products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Cetaphil vs Kiehl's products

People Say

CetaphilKiehl's
  • Hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “cleared up flaky skin — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “healed my dry patches — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “The only thing my reactive skin tolerates. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “No breakouts since switching to this. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “cleans without stripping — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy feel Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Absorbs quickly into skin without residue — Cetaphil Daily Hydrating Lotion”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Skin smoothing and texture improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “Skin felt softer after one use — Cetaphil Gentle Exfoliating SA Cleanser”
  • Versatile and effective daily use Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “great for face and body — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “recommended by my derm — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “removes excess oil — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Brightening and complexion enhancement Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Cetaphil Vitamin C Serum”
  • Sensory and finish complaints Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Overpowering masking fragrance — Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar”
    • “smells like masking fragrance — Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser”
    • “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • High price point Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive for drugstore — Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Lather, texture, and packaging issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “hate dipping fingers in — Cetaphil Moisturising Cream”
    • “Miss the bubbles, feels like washing with lotion. — Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser”
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Cetaphil vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which is better?

Both brands are great choices depending on your specific skin needs, as Cetaphil excels with sensitive and acne-prone skin while Kiehl's is better for improving skin texture and brightening the complexion. Reviewers note that Cetaphil offers more budget-friendly options, whereas Kiehl's tends to have a higher price point.

What is the difference between Cetaphil and Kiehl's?

Cetaphil is better for sensitive skin and acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's is better for improving skin texture and brightening the complexion. The products on this page help reduce cutaneous pigmentation with niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both brands are a great match for dry skin, as the products on this page for both Cetaphil and Kiehl's reach a High routine fit for this skin type. Reviewers note that both lines offer good hydration and lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers, though Cetaphil tends to be more gentle on sensitive skin and has a lower price point.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Cetaphil is better for gentle, non-stripping cleansing, making it well-suited for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Reviewers note that Cetaphil cleansers are mostly gentle and non-stripping, whereas Kiehl's cleansers feature specialized options like the Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner and Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash.

Which is more affordable, Cetaphil or Kiehl's?

Cetaphil is more affordable, as Kiehl's is noted by reviewers for its high price point.

Between Cetaphil and Kiehl's, which brand is better for sensitive skin?

Both brands are a good choice for sensitive skin, offering an equal high routine fit. However, Cetaphil does better when it comes to being gentle on sensitive skin.

Which brand performs better for combination skin according to routine fit?

Cetaphil performs better for combination skin, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High fit.

What are the main fragrance differences between Cetaphil and Kiehl's product lines?

Cetaphil features 26 out of 27 products on this page listing no fragrance, with fragrance only in the Oily Skin Cleanser. Similarly, Kiehl's has 26 of 28 products with no fragrance, and includes fragrance in the Age Defender Moisturizer and the Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for oily skin, but Cetaphil is particularly noted for being gentler on sensitive skin while Kiehl's is often praised for skin smoothing and texture improvement. Cetaphil also tends to have a lower price point compared to Kiehl's.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Both Cetaphil and Kiehl's offer effective moisturizers on this page, but Cetaphil is generally better for sensitive or acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's focuses more on advanced anti-aging and brightening formulas. Cetaphil moisturizers help deliver gentle hydration with key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, whereas Kiehl's products frequently utilize squalane and vitamin C to target texture and dark spots.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Cetaphil is the better choice for sensitive skin because it is rated High overall and beats Kiehl's on gentleness. The products on this page help maintain comfort without causing irritation.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Cetaphil is a better fit for sensitive skin regarding sun protection, as the products on this page achieve a Superior Lovi fit level for sensitive skin compared to Kiehl's High level. Both brands provide good options for sun protection, with Cetaphil emphasizing gentle formulations like Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50.

Cetaphil or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Cetaphil is better for acne-prone skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average fit on this page.

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