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Kiehl's vs MAC

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

Kiehl's and MAC are distinct beauty brands that offer thoughtful daily formulations for different complexions. Kiehl's is known for its moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products containing glycerin and squalane, which suit combination skin and dark spots best. Meanwhile, the brand is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from balanced formulas that suit balanced skin best. While both provide targeted solutions such as dedicated cleansers and lotions for various concerns, they differ in their foundational ingredients and primary skin type compatibilities.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Kiehl's vs MAC products

People Say

Kiehl'sMAC
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Makeup Base and Primer Compatibility Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Brightening and Radiance Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Does not cause breakouts — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedSometimes 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”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Deep and Intense Hydration Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “A bit expensive — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Don't expect miracles — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Unpleasant Scent and Fragrance Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smells like hot dog water — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or MAC: which is better?

Kiehl's is better for targeted skincare needs and offers superior or high Lovi fit levels for skin types like oily, sensitive, and dry skin across a large product range. MAC provides a smaller selection of products on this page and is primarily noted for makeup bases and primers.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and MAC?

Kiehl's offers a much larger variety of skincare products on this page and tends to do better for deep hydration, brightening, and skin barrier improvement, while MAC focuses on a smaller range with strong makeup base benefits. Reviewers note that MAC products on this page all contain fragrance, whereas the vast majority of Kiehl's products on this page list no fragrance.

Kiehl's or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Kiehl's offers a much broader selection with higher fit levels for specific skin types, such as the High fit of the Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream for dry skin and dry sensitive skin, whereas MAC features fewer options like the Mineralize Timecheck Lotion which has a High fit for dry and sensitive skin. Reviewers often mention that the products on this page for both brands provide lightweight moisturizers.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or MAC?

Both Kiehl's and MAC have a high price point according to reviewers on the products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or MAC?

Lovi finds that breakouts and acne are a tie between Kiehl's and MAC on the products on this page.

How do the fragrance inclusions compare between Kiehl's and MAC products on this page?

Kiehl's products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, with only 2 out of 28 listing fragrance. In contrast, all 3 MAC products on this page include fragrance.

Which brand performs better for brightening and radiance according to the review themes?

Kiehl's performs better for brightening and radiance. Lovi rates the products on this page as having High to Superior fit for skin with dark spots across many of its items.

What are the founding years and parent companies of Kiehl's and MAC?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000. MAC was founded in 1984 in Canada and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

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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