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Kiehl's vs Bioderma

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

Kiehl's and Bioderma are heritage skincare brands that offer thoughtful moisturizers, serums, toners, cleansers, and makeup removers anchored by nourishing glycerin and squalane. The American brand suits skin with dark spots and combination skin best, while the French brand suits sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best through high-tolerance formulations. Both deliver key ingredients that improve hydration and restore barrier function, yet they differ in their specific targeted solutions for various skin needs.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Bioderma is a French skincare brand founded in 1977 and owned by Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation since 2018.

bioderma.usnaos.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Bioderma products

People Say

Kiehl'sBioderma
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't sting my eyes — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “doesn't cause any irritation — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
    • “mildest face wash I've tried — Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “healed my dry skin — Bioderma Sébium Hydra”
    • “skin feels plump — Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “absorbs instantly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
  • Excellent makeup base Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “no pilling — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Foundation didn't settle into pores — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
    • “foundation sits perfectly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
  • Deep cleansing and pore care Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Probably the first cleanser that actually took all of my makeup off my face!!! — Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant”
    • “melts makeup away — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “Noticeable difference in size of pores — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
    • “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • Improves skin barrier and texture Often MentionedRarely 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 looked & felt smoother — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “healed my skin barrier in two weeks — Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume”
  • High price point and poor value Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “pricier than other brands — Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant”
    • “finished too quickly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
    • “pricey for water — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Greasy residue and shine Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “requires a thorough follow-up — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
    • “leaves a shine — Bioderma Sébium Hydra”
    • “leaves an oily film — Bioderma Sensibio AR”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Dryness and lack of moisture Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “Skin looks like sandpaper — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “broke me out — Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume”
    • “clogged my pores — Bioderma Sensibio AR”
    • “clogged my pores — Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”

Kiehl's vs Bioderma routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Bioderma routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Bioderma routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which is better?

Bioderma does better for sensitive skin and deep cleansing, while Kiehl's stands out for lighter textures and barrier improvement.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Bioderma?

Bioderma stands out for being gentle on sensitive skin and offering deep pore care, while Kiehl's is known for a lightweight, non-greasy texture and improving skin barrier and texture. Reviewers note that Bioderma can sometimes cause breakouts, whereas Kiehl's is occasionally noted for dryness and a lack of moisture.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Bioderma are a High fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's is often noted for lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration, while Bioderma is known for soothing and barrier-repairing moisturizers.

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which cleanser is better?

Both Kiehl's and Bioderma offer strong cleanser options, with Bioderma standing out for deep cleansing and pore care. For the products on this page, Bioderma is noted for its gentle and effective cleansers, while Kiehl's features a high-performing cleanser line including the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Bioderma?

Reviewers note a high price point for both brands on the products on this page. High price point and value concerns are sometimes noted for Bioderma, while a high price point is often mentioned for Kiehl's.

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which brand has more fragrance-free products?

Kiehl's has more fragrance-free products on this page, with 26 out of 28 options listing no fragrance, compared to Bioderma where only 9 of 20 products are fragrance-free.

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which is better for improving the skin barrier and texture?

Kiehl's is better for improving skin texture and the skin barrier, as reviews note it improves skin barrier and texture better than Bioderma.

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which brand is older and where was it founded?

Kiehl's is older, having been founded in 1851 in the United States, whereas Bioderma was founded in 1977 in France.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and Bioderma are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides lightweight and non-greasy textures, while Bioderma offers deep cleansing and pore care.

Kiehl's or Bioderma: which moisturizer is better?

Bioderma does better for soothing and barrier-repairing moisturizers among the products on this page, while Kiehl's is noted for lightweight and non-greasy textures. Both brands offer high routine fit levels for dry skin.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for sensitive skin?

Bioderma is a better choice for sensitive skin because the products on this page do better with soothing and barrier repair. Lovi rates the sensitive skin routine as High for both brands.

Kiehl's or Bioderma for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, Bioderma is a better fit with a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average level.

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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