🇫🇷France

Kiehl's vs ISDIN

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

Kiehl's and ISDIN are established skincare houses that offer thoughtful moisturizers, serums, toners, sunscreens, and eye products crafted with formulas that deliver reliable results. The American brand incorporates nourishing glycerin and squalane to suit skin with dark spots and combination skin best, while the Spanish counterpart features gentle yet effective creations that suit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. Both houses differ through their targeted formulations and unique ingredients, with the former addressing specific needs like mature skin and the latter helping maintain a healthy, balanced, and protected complexion.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.

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

Popular Kiehl's vs ISDIN products

People Say

Kiehl'sISDIN
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Lightweight formula absorbs fast — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sensitive/reactive skin tolerates — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
    • “no excessive exfoliation — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “doesn't sting eyes — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep and Intense Hydration Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Improved moisture and texture — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
  • Makeup Compatibility Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “acts like a primer — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My skin felt sooo hydrated and looks so plump and dewey. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Great under makeup — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedRarely 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”
    • “skin was much smoother — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
  • Brightening and Dark Spot Fading Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “faded acne scars — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “My hyperpigmentation has lightened and skin looks more even, even shines more. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My only wish is that ISDIN would make this product in a bigger size bottle. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
  • Unpleasant Scent and Fragrance Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smell is overpowering — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “smell is overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “don't see result — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
    • “no noticeable changes yet — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Burning, Stinging, and Irritation Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “burned my face immediately — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “stings my face and feels like burning — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “this did make my eyes water water in the sun. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “mild redness or irritation — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which is better?

ISDIN is the better fit overall because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior across all skin types, compared to Kiehl's which ranges from Average to High. ISDIN also outperforms Kiehl's on lightweight textures, sunscreens, and sensitive skin friendliness.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and ISDIN?

ISDIN offers superior overall routine fit for every skin type and scores better for ultralight sunscreens and gentle, sensitive skin friendly products, while Kiehl's leads in deep hydration and dark spot fading.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for dry skin?

Both brands offer solid options for dry skin, though Lovi rates ISDIN as Superior and Kiehl's as High for this skin type. ISDIN leans toward ultralight sunscreens and lightweight moisturizers, while Kiehl's focuses on deep hydration and improving skin texture.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which moisturizer is better?

ISDIN offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Kiehl's. ISDIN's moisturizers provide lightweight hydration, while Kiehl's focus on deep and intense hydration and key ingredients like glycerin and squalane helps maintain moisture.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or ISDIN?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN feature products at a high price point. Reviewers note high prices as a drawback for both brands equally.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or ISDIN?

Kiehl's has more fragrance-free products than ISDIN, as 26 of its 28 products on this page list no fragrance compared to only 3 of the 8 products for ISDIN.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for oily skin?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN are options for oily skin, with Lovi rating Kiehl's routine fit as High and ISDIN routine fit as Superior. Reviewers mention that the products on this page for both brands offer lightweight textures, though ISDIN generally stands out more for being ultralight and makeup-friendly.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which sunscreen is better?

ISDIN sunscreens achieve a Superior fit for several skin types on this page, whereas Kiehl's sunscreens reach High or Average fits. ISDIN sunscreens are mostly noted by reviewers for being ultralight and makeup-friendly.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN are great for sensitive skin, with Lovi rating Kiehl's routine fit as High and ISDIN as Superior. Reviewers note that ISDIN does better on gentle and sensitive skin friendly products, while Kiehl's offers mostly fragrance-free formulas.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for acne-prone skin?

ISDIN is a superior fit for acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's is an average fit for this skin type.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for skin with dark spots?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN are options for skin with dark spots, but ISDIN has a superior routine fit. Kiehl's offers targeted products like its Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution, while ISDIN provides high-rated sunscreens such as Eryfotona Actinica that may help protect against further pigmentation.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for mature skin?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN fit mature skin well, with Lovi giving ISDIN a Superior routine fit and Kiehl's a High routine fit. ISDIN stands out for its ultralight sunscreens, while Kiehl's provides stronger results for deep hydration and brightening dark spots.

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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