🇫🇷France

Kiehl's vs Medik8

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

Kiehl's and Medik8 are established skincare brands that offer serums, moisturizers, toners, eye products, and more. Kiehl's incorporates nourishing glycerin and squalane, suiting skin with dark spots and combination skin best, while Medik8 is built around hyaluronic acid and fits dry skin and sensitive skin best. Glycerin significantly increases hydration and restores epidermal barrier function, and squalane counteracts oxidative stress and stimulates fibroblast migration, whereas hyaluronic acid lengthens toxin wrinkle effect duration. The American brand features standout items such as the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash, whereas the British brand offers specialized options like the Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

loreal.commedik8.comtracxn.com

This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Medik8 products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Medik8 products

People Say

Kiehl'sMedik8
  • Gentle on Sensitive Skin Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Best retinol replacement — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep 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”
    • “savior for dry patches — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
  • Improves Skin Barrier and Texture Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “My skin was smoother, my skin texture felt more resurfaced. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “skin feels baby soft — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
  • 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”
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pigmentation lightened slightly — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • No White Cast and Glowing Finish Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “doubles as moisturizer — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “Leaves skin looking glass-like and radiant — Medik8 Press & Glow”
    • “brightens skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • High Price Point and Poor Value Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Takes months to see — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
  • Greasy or Oily Residue Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Oily texture unpleasant — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “too oily — Medik8 Super C Ferulic”
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Kiehl's vs Medik8 routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Medik8: which is better?

Medik8 is better for sensitive, dry sensitive, and acne-prone skin, while Kiehl's offers superior deep hydration and lightweight textures on this page. Reviewers note that Medik8 does better at fading dark spots and being gentle on sensitive skin, whereas Kiehl's is often mentioned for deep hydration and non-greasy moisturizers.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Medik8?

Kiehl's focuses best on skin with dark spots, combination skin, and mature skin, while Medik8 fits best for dry skin, sensitive skin, and dry sensitive skin. Reviewers note that Kiehl's offers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers and deep hydration, whereas Medik8 is considered gentler on sensitive skin and better at fading dark spots.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for dry skin?

Medik8 is Lovi Superior for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's is High. Both brands feature deep hydration, while Medik8 provides a Superior routine fit and Kiehl's is noted for deep hydration and moisture.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Kiehl's or Medik8: which cleanser is better?

Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse fits acne-prone skin, skin with dark spots, and oily acne-prone skin at a Superior level, whereas Kiehl's top cleansers reach a Superior level specifically for oily and oily acne-prone skin types.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Both brands are noted by reviewers for having a high price point, so neither stands out as more affordable based on the products on this page.

Which brand is better for fading dark spots, Kiehl's or Medik8?

Medik8 does better for fading dark spots and brightening on this page. Reviewers and page data highlight Medik8 for brightening and glow, while its products on this page often reach a High or Superior fit level for skin with dark spots.

Do Kiehl's or Medik8 products contain fragrance?

Both Kiehl's and Medik8 offer mostly fragrance-free products on this page, with only a few items containing fragrance. Kiehl's lists fragrance in 2 of 28 products, while Medik8 includes it in 1 of 12 products.

How do the founding years and corporate ownership of Kiehl's and Medik8 compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe as of 2025.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for oily skin?

For oily skin, Kiehl's is a strong choice with a High routine fit level, while Medik8 also matches that High level. Kiehl's features specialized oily skin options like the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream, which helps control shine as a lightweight moisturizer.

Kiehl's or Medik8: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 is generally better for moisture as its routine fit for dry skin is Superior, whereas Kiehl's is High. Medik8 focuses on deep hydration and plumping with key ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Kiehl's reviewers often note deep hydration alongside lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Drug Delivery, 2017

Kiehl's or Medik8 for sensitive skin?

Medik8 is the better fit for sensitive skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Kiehl's High. Reviewers also note Medik8 as doing better at being gentle on sensitive skin.

Kiehl's or Medik8 for acne-prone skin?

Medik8 is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as Superior compared to Kiehl's Average. Medik8 features products like Surface Radiance Cleanse which is rated as Superior for acne-prone skin, while review themes note that Medik8 is particularly gentle on sensitive skin.

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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