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Kiehl's vs NIVEA

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

Kiehl's and NIVEA are heritage skincare brands that offer thoughtfully formulated moisturizers, serums, toners, sunscreens, and more. The American brand incorporates nourishing glycerin and squalane to suit combination and mature skin, while the German brand uses glycerin to suit combination and sensitive skin best. Both houses feature standout solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, using ingredients that significantly increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, counteract oxidative stress, and stimulate fibroblast migration. While both share a devotion to reliable daily care, they differ in their origin, specific formulations, and targeted approaches to skin health.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Kiehl's vs NIVEA products

People Say

Kiehl'sNIVEA
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly 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”
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly 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”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Relaxing and Classic Scents Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells like holiday — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Smell brings me back to childhood — NIVEA Creme”
    • “smells really nice — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “calming lavender smell — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • Gentleness and Sensitivity Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “doesn't irritate sensitive eyes — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “doesn't dry out skin — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
  • Value for Money Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
  • High Price Point Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Greasiness and Heavy Residue Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “didn't absorb well — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”
    • “I noticed some acne breakouts on my chin after using this crème for a while. — NIVEA Soft”

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Kiehl's vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer high routine fit levels across most skin types on this page, but they differ in formulation and review feedback. Kiehl's features a high percentage of fragrance-free products on this page and is noted for lightweight texture and gentleness, whereas NIVEA provides versatile moisturizers and better value for money.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and NIVEA?

Kiehl's and NIVEA both offer high routine fit across most skin types, but Kiehl's features fragrance-free options for the vast majority of the products on this page while NIVEA includes fragrance in most of its formulas.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High Lovi routine fit for dry skin, though they differ in product formulations and ingredient diversity. Kiehl's features fragrance-free options across most of the products on this page and key ingredients like squalane and glycerin, whereas NIVEA relies primarily on glycerin with many scented items.

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer quality moisturizers, with Kiehl's providing lighter textures that reviewers find helpful for absorption, while NIVEA delivers versatile multi-use options that provide deep hydration. Lovi rates Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream as Average for dry skin, whereas NIVEA Creme is rated High for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or NIVEA?

NIVEA provides better value for money than Kiehl's, whereas Kiehl's is frequently noted by reviewers for its high price point.

Which brand has fewer products containing fragrance?

Kiehl's has fewer products containing fragrance, with only 2 out of 28 products on this page listing fragrance compared to 6 out of 9 products for NIVEA.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA provide a High routine fit for oily skin on the products on this page. Kiehl's features lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and specialized options like the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, while NIVEA offers blemish-clearing serums and sunscreens like the UV Deep Protect & Care Gel.

Kiehl's or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer sunscreens on the products on this page, but they cater to different needs with varying ingredients and formulations.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin, though Kiehl's performs better in gentleness and sensitivity. The products on this page from Kiehl's list no fragrance in 26 of 28 options, which helps minimize irritation.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

NIVEA is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average level. The products on this page for NIVEA include blemish-clearing serums that help manage breakouts.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA offer a High Lovi routine fit for mature skin, meaning shoppers looking to address signs of aging may find suitable options with either brand. Reviewers note that Kiehl's provides lightweight moisturizers and gentle serums, while NIVEA is recognized for versatile multi-use moisturizers and smoother skin texture serums.

Kiehl's or NIVEA for skin with dark spots?

Both Kiehl's and NIVEA are well-suited for skin with dark spots, with routine fits rated High for both brands on the products on this page. Kiehl's offers targeted options like Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution, while NIVEA features products such as LUMINOUS630 ANTI-DARK SPOT SERUM.

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

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