🇩🇪Germany

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 heritage skincare brands known for nurturing different complexions with specialized formulations. The American house relies on glycerin and squalane within its thoughtful moisturizers, serums, and toners to best suit combination skin and dark spots, whereas the British line incorporates niacinamide and glycerin into gentle cleansers, makeup removers, and toners to favor oily and acne-prone skin. While both leverage glycerin to enhance hydration and barrier function, Kiehl's addresses targeted concerns through ingredients like squalane, and Simple utilizes niacinamide to soothe and manage hyperpigmentation.

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

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Simple: which is better?

Simple is better for sensitive skin, while Kiehl's provides a more lightweight texture on the skin.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Simple?

Simple offers better results for acne-prone skin with a High Lovi fit, while Kiehl's provides an Average Lovi fit for that skin type. Simple also tends to be more affordable and is often noted for being gentle for sensitive skin, whereas Kiehl's is known for lightweight textures and a higher price point.

Kiehl's or Simple for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit on Lovi for dry skin. Kiehl's features a rich selection of specialized moisturizers and serums with key ingredients like glycerin and squalane, while Simple offers gentle, fragrance-free hydration.

Kiehl's or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Simple does better for cleansing and pore care among the products on this page. Lovi rates the routine fit for acne-prone skin as High for Simple and Average for Kiehl's.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Simple?

Simple offers more affordable value than Kiehl's, whereas Kiehl's is frequently noted by reviewers for its high price point.

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

Simple has more fragrance-free products on the page, as every Simple product lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas two Kiehl's products contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and corporate owners of Kiehl's and Simple compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Simple was founded in 1960 in the United Kingdom and has been owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

Which brand is better suited for acne-prone skin based on their routines?

Simple is better suited for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates Simple's routine as a High fit compared to Kiehl's Average fit for that skin type.

Kiehl's or Simple for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Kiehl's and Simple are a High fit on Lovi. Kiehl's offers targeted pore care with items like the Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, while Simple provides gentle, fragrance-free cleansing options like its Micellar Cleansing Water.

Kiehl's or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple tends to be better for sensitive or budget-conscious skin through affordable, fragrance-free, and non-drying hydration, while Kiehl's may fit users seeking lightweight textures and targeted anti-aging or blemish routines despite its higher price point. Reviewers often mention that Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration, though it frequently comes with a high price tag.

Kiehl's or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Simple achieve a High routine fit level for sensitive skin, while Simple is noted by reviewers as doing better for gentleness. Kiehl's features fragrance in two of the products on this page, whereas every product on this page by Simple lists no fragrance.

Kiehl's or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Simple fits acne-prone skin better, achieving a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average fit.

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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