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Kiehl's vs Principia

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

Kiehl's and Principia are skincare brands that offer thoughtful moisturizers, serums, toners, eye products, and cleansers. The American brand, founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, incorporates nourishing glycerin and squalane to suit skin with dark spots and combination skin best, while the second brand relies on precise formulas to suit balanced to oily skin best. Standout items include the first brand's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner for acne-prone skin, its Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash for skin with dark spots, its Ultra Facial Toner for mature skin, and the second brand's Gel de Limpeza GL-01 for acne-prone skin. Both brands differ in their formulations, as the first utilizes glycerin to significantly increase hydration and restore epidermal barrier function alongside squalane to counteract oxidative stress and stimulate fibroblast migration, whereas the second helps maintain a healthy, balanced complexion.

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 Kiehl's and Principia products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Principia products

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Principia: which is better?

Kiehl's offers a much larger and more diverse selection of products on this page than Principia, with numerous options achieving high fit levels for mature skin, combination skin, and skin with dark spots. Reviewers often mention deep hydration and lightweight moisturizers, though some users note potential skin irritation and a high price point.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Principia?

Kiehl's offers a wide range of skincare products on this page fitting skin with dark spots, combination skin, and mature skin best, while Principia features only a single cleanser. Most Kiehl's products on this page contain no fragrance.

Kiehl's or Principia: which cleanser is better?

When comparing cleansers, Kiehl's offers a much broader selection on this page with high Lovi fit levels for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Principia lists only one cleanser with lower fit levels. Kiehl's cleansers feature key ingredients like glycerin and calendula extract, which helps soothe the skin.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Principia?

Reviewers frequently note a high price point for Kiehl's, while pricing details for Principia are not highlighted on this page. Additional details regarding direct cost comparisons between the two brands are unavailable.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Principia?

Principia lists only one product on this page, whereas reviewers of Kiehl's sometimes note that it causes breakouts and skin irritation. The products on this page for Kiehl's show various fit levels for acne-prone skin, ranging from Superior to Caution depending on the specific item.

When was Kiehl's founded compared to Principia?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851, whereas Principia was founded much later in 2020.

Which brand offers products with fragrance, Kiehl's or Principia?

Kiehl's offers products with fragrance, whereas every product from Principia lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Which company is owned by L'Oréal S.A.?

Kiehl's is owned by L'Oréal S.A.

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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