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Kiehl's vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

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

Kiehl's and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two distinct skincare lines known for distinct botanical and scientific approaches. The American brand, founded in 1851, offers thoughtful moisturizers, serums, toners, and eye products utilizing nourishing glycerin and squalane, while the German brand, founded in 2014, is beloved for gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas. Kiehl's suits skin with dark spots and combination skin best with targeted formulations, whereas the newer label suits sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best through a focus on deep hydration and barrier support. Both collections offer standout items for acne-prone, dark spot-prone, and mature skin, yet they differ fundamentally in their ingredient philosophies and regional heritage.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

Kiehl'sDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep and Intense Hydration Often 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”
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy 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 immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Visible Plumping and Fine Lines Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Skin looks noticeably more plump — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • High Price and Cost 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”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “results were subtle — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Insufficient Hydration or Richness Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for sensitive skin and fading dark spots, whereas Kiehl's is better for a lightweight, non-greasy texture.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Kiehl's offers a larger range of products on this page and tends to have a more lightweight, non-greasy texture, while Dr. Barbara Sturm is noted as doing better at being gentle on sensitive skin, providing visible plumping, and fading dark spots. Both brands are equal when it comes to deep hydration and skin barrier and texture improvement.

Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

When comparing moisturizers, Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves better results for visible plumping and fine lines, while Kiehl's offers a more lightweight and non-greasy texture with products on this page. Lovi rates the Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate as Superior for dry skin, whereas the Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum is rated High for oily skin and Average for dry skin.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Kiehl's is frequently noted by reviewers for a high price point, while Dr. Barbara Sturm is not mentioned for affordability issues on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is gentler on sensitive skin than Kiehl's, and the products on this page help provide good results. Kiehl's often causes breakouts and skin irritation according to reviewers.

Between Kiehl's and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which brand is gentler on sensitive skin according to reviewer themes?

According to reviewer themes, Dr. Barbara Sturm does better at being gentle on sensitive skin compared to Kiehl's. Reviewers often mention that Kiehl's can cause breakouts and skin irritation.

Which brand offers a cleanser rated as superior for oily and oily acne-prone skin?

Kiehl's offers cleansers rated as superior for oily and oily acne-prone skin, specifically the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and the Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser.

How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Kiehl's and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in 2014 in Germany. Kiehl's has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, and Dr. Barbara Sturm is owned by Puig as of 2024.

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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