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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. The former is widely loved for moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while the latter is beloved for moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products that incorporate glycerin and squalane. CeraVe suits acne-prone skin and combination skin best, whereas the second brand suits skin with dark spots and combination skin best. They differ primarily in their active ingredients and targeted formulations, as both utilize nourishing glycerin to improve hydration and restore barrier function.

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 · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% 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 is better for fragrance-free formulas and acne-prone skin on the products on this page, while Kiehl's is better for brightening and fading dark spots. Both brands are equal for lightweight texture, deep hydration, and skin texture improvement.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Kiehl's?

CeraVe stands out for offering entirely fragrance-free products and superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's is known for its brightening benefits and higher price point. Both brands provide equally effective deep hydration and lightweight textures across the products on this page.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are a High fit for dry skin. CeraVe offers fragrance-free formulas with ceramides and hyaluronic acid that help maintain moisture, while Kiehl's provides deep hydration through key ingredients like glycerin and squalane.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe is better for gentle, fragrance-free cleansing and oil control, while Kiehl's offers effective brightening cleansers. Both brands provide deep hydration and gentle formulas in the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Kiehl's?

CeraVe is more affordable, whereas Kiehl's faces frequent review notes regarding its high price point. Shoppers often mention price and value concerns for CeraVe, while Kiehl's carries a high price point.

Between CeraVe and Kiehl's, which brand is better suited for managing skin with dark spots?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's offer a High Lovi fit for managing skin with dark spots. Reviewers note that Kiehl's is particularly helpful for brightening and fading dark spots, whereas CeraVe provides completely fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

How do CeraVe and Kiehl's compare when it comes to fragrance-free and gentle formulas?

CeraVe does better than Kiehl's for fragrance-free and gentle formulas. Every product on the CeraVe page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas two Kiehl's products contain fragrance.

Which brand performs better for combination skin according to the routine fit levels?

CeraVe has a Superior routine fit for combination skin, whereas Kiehl's has a High fit. Reviewers note that CeraVe helps provide fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's offer a High routine fit for oily skin. Reviewers often mention that the products on this page for both brands provide lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe is better for moisturizers because the products on this page are fragrance-free and offer superior healing, texture, and deep hydration at a lower price point. Kiehl's moisturizers often come at a higher price point and may cause breakouts or skin irritation.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are good options for sensitive skin, as Lovi gives both brands a High fit level for this skin type. CeraVe formulas list no fragrance across the products on this page, while Kiehl's includes fragrance in a small number of items.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's offer sunscreens on this page with a High fit for dry, sensitive, and oily skin, but CeraVe has a Superior fit for mature skin while Kiehl's has a High fit.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe fits acne-prone skin better, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average. The products on this page help provide oil control 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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