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CeraVe vs Kiehl's

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

CeraVe and Kiehl's are American skincare brands owned by L'Oréal that offer expertly formulated moisturizers, serums, and more, which harness nourishing glycerin. While the first brand is universally loved for its cleansers and sunscreens featuring hyaluronic acid to suit mature skin and oily acne-prone skin best, the second is beloved for its toners and eye products incorporating squalane to suit combination skin and mature skin best. Both brands differ in their specific standout solutions and precise active benefits, as the former relies on hyaluronic acid for wrinkle reduction and the latter utilizes squalane to counteract oxidative stress and stimulate fibroblast migration.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.com

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

Popular CeraVe vs Kiehl's products

People Say

CeraVeKiehl's
  • Fragrance-free and gentle formulas Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave face tight — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Improving skin texture and acne marks Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “lightened dark spots — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Oil control and acne clearing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Never breaks me out — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “helped to stop my breakout in its tracks — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “keeps my oils at bay — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
  • 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 is literally glowing — CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum”
  • Price point and value concerns Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “expensive Vaseline — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Texture and consistency issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “face feels stripped — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “developed tiny white bumps — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better?

CeraVe works better for acne-prone skin on the products on this page, while both brands fit most other skin types equally well. Every product on this page by CeraVe lists no fragrance, whereas two Kiehl's items do.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Kiehl's?

CeraVe stands out for offering entirely fragrance-free products on this page and better results for acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's is noted for its brightening benefits. Both brands offer equally good routines for most skin types, including dry, oily, and sensitive skin.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are great options for dry skin, offering an equal routine fit. Every product on the CeraVe page lists no fragrance, while Kiehl's is known for deep hydration.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe cleanser products on this page help better with oil control and acne clearing than Kiehl's. Reviewers note that CeraVe offers gentle, non-stripping cleansers that are fragrance-free.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Kiehl's?

CeraVe is generally more affordable than Kiehl's, as Kiehl's frequently receives reviewer feedback regarding its high price point. The products on this page for CeraVe offer budget-friendly options compared to the higher cost of Kiehl's.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better for brightening and fading dark spots?

Kiehl's is better for brightening and complexion enhancement, while both brands are equal for improving skin texture and acne marks.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which brand is completely fragrance-free across all its products?

CeraVe is completely fragrance-free, as every product on its page lists no fragrance in its ingredients. In comparison, Kiehl's includes fragrance in two of the products on its page.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better for mature skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are a High fit for mature skin. Every product on the CeraVe page lists no fragrance, while two Kiehl's products contain it.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for oily skin, but CeraVe does better for oil control and acne clearing on the products on this page. CeraVe features fragrance-free and gentle formulas across its entire lineup.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers superior healing and texture in its moisturizers with fragrance-free and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's provides lightweight and non-greasy textures. Both brands deliver deep hydration and moisturization with an equal routine fit for dry and mature skin.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are a High fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. CeraVe has every product on this page listing no fragrance, whereas Kiehl's has two fragranced options.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Both brands offer solid sunscreen options, but CeraVe products on this page list no fragrance and feature key barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe fits acne-prone skin better than Kiehl's, with a High routine fit compared to an Average fit for Kiehl's. The products on this page help control oil and clear acne effectively without fragrance.

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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