Kiehl's vs Aēsop
Kiehl's and Aēsop are distinguished skincare brands known for their thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, and cleansers. The American heritage brand incorporates nourishing glycerin and squalane to suit combination and mature skin best, while the botanical-driven counterpart caters ideally to balanced, combination, and sensitive skin through gentle compositions. Each label offers targeted solutions for concerns like acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, differing primarily in their specific blend of scientifically validated ingredients versus expertly formulated staples.
Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.
This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Aēsop products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Kiehl's vs Aēsop products
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Ultra Facial Cream
€20.95
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Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
€32.95
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Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution
€48.95
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Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque
€28.85
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Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum
€55.45
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Midnight Recovery Concentrate
€54.78
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Better Screen UV Serum
€41.06
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Super Multi-Corrective Cream
€53.30
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
- “woke up with baby-soft skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Savior of my winter-fueled dry skin. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
- “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
- “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
- “absorbs well into the skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedSometimes Noted
- “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
- “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “perfect for retinol newbies — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
- “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
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”
- “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
Scent and Fragrance Experience Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “smells divine — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Soft herbal scent that feels fresh and floral. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
- “calming lavender smell — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
Skin Rescue and Soothing Not notedOften Mentioned
- “saved my skin — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
- “Reduces inflammation overnight. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
- “my small blemishes noticeably diminished — Aēsop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum”
High Price and Poor Value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
- “overpriced for what it does — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
- “quantity is too small — Aēsop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment”
Sticky Finish and Pilling Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
- “rolled off my face — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
- “pills under my makeup — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
- “Thick, almost honey-like, and needs a moment to melt in. — Aēsop B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel”
Packaging and Design Flaws Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
- “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
- “The downside is the pump. — Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser”
Insufficient Moisture or Ineffectiveness Often MentionedNot noted
- “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
Questions and answers
Kiehl's or Aēsop: which is better?
Kiehl's does better than Aēsop for lightweight textures, gentle sensitive skin care, and skin barrier and texture improvement. Reviewers note that Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and gentle serums, though it faces complaints about a high price point and breakouts. Aēsop does better for scent and fragrance experience and skin rescue and soothing, providing luxurious and refreshing scents.
What is the difference between Kiehl's and Aēsop?
Kiehl's and Aēsop both provide deep hydration, but Kiehl's is better for lightweight textures and sensitive skin care while Aēsop excels in providing luxurious scents. Reviewers note that the products on this page for both brands come with a high price point.
Kiehl's or Aēsop: which cleanser is better?
Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Aēsop?
A comparison of the products on this page shows that both Kiehl's and Aēsop face complaints regarding a high price point.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Aēsop?
The provided page facts do not mention breakout rates for either Kiehl's or Aēsop, though reviewers note that Kiehl's products can sometimes cause breakouts and skin irritation.
Between Kiehl's and Aēsop, which brand offers products with no fragrance?
Both Kiehl's and Aēsop offer fragrance-free options among the products on this page, as every Aēsop product lists no fragrance and 26 of 28 Kiehl's products list no fragrance.
How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Kiehl's and Aēsop compare?
Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Aēsop was founded in 1987 and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2023.
Which products are listed under Aēsop on this comparison page?
The products on this page for Aēsop are Damascan Rose Facial Treatment, B Triple C Facial Balancing Gel, Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser, and Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Intense Serum.
Kiehl's or Aēsop: which moisturizer is better?
Kiehl's offers a much wider range of moisturizers with specialized fit levels for different skin types compared to Aēsop on this page. Kiehl's is known for lightweight, non-greasy formulas that help deliver deep hydration.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Topical menthol--a human model for cold pain by activation and sensitization of C nociceptors
Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Psychophysical study of the effects of topical application of menthol in healthy volunteers
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Effect of Camellia japonica oil on human type I procollagen production and skin barrier function
Calendula extract: effects on mechanical parameters of human skin
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin
Preparation and evaluation of anti-wrinkle cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil
In vitro and in vivo anti-allergic effects of Arctium lappa L
Design and in vivo evaluation of emulgel formulations including green tea extract and rose oil
The evaluation of aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion for photodamage
Skin barrier changes induced by aluminum oxide and sodium chloride microdermabrasion
Highly efficient and compatible shampoo for use after hair transplant
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
Clinical and histologic changes determine optimal treatment regimens for microdermabrasion
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Clinical Assessment of a Novel Jasmonate Cosmeceutical, LR2412-Cx, for the Treatment of Skin Aging
Evolution of lipid composition in skin treated with blackcurrant seed oil
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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