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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. Skincare enthusiasts love CeraVe for dependable moisturizers, gentle cleansers, targeted serums, protective sunscreens, and other daily formulas enriched with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, while Kiehl's is known for nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and revitalizing eye products formulated with nourishing glycerin and squalane. Both suit mature skin best, though the former suits dry skin while the latter suits combination skin. They differ primarily in their active ingredients, as the former relies on hyaluronic acid to lengthen wrinkle reduction duration and glycerin to improve hydration and restore barrier function, whereas the latter employs glycerin to increase hydration and restore epidermal barrier function alongside squalane to counteract oxidative stress and stimulate fibroblast migration.

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 · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which is better?

CeraVe and Kiehl's are both great choices, with CeraVe offering a better fit for mature skin and fragrance-free formulas. CeraVe achieves a Superior fit for mature skin compared to Kiehl's High level, and every product on the CeraVe page is formulated without fragrance.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Kiehl's?

CeraVe and Kiehl's both offer solid hydration, but CeraVe stands out for its fragrance-free formulas and superior fit for mature skin, while Kiehl's is frequently noted for its higher price point and brightening capabilities. Both brands feature gentle, non-greasy moisturizers that suit multiple skin types effectively.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are great options for dry skin, offering an equal High routine fit on the products on this page. CeraVe helps maintain skin hydration with ceramide-dominant barrier repair lipids, while Kiehl's provides deep moisturization using key ingredients like glycerin and squalane.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe offers products on this page that are fragrance-free and feature gentle, non-stripping formulas, whereas Kiehl's cleansers often come with a higher price point. Both brands feature effective cleansers for acne and oil, with CeraVe achieving a Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin on cleansers like the Blemish Control Cleanser.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Kiehl's?

CeraVe is generally more affordable than Kiehl's, as Kiehl's is often noted for a high price point. CeraVe offers better value and helps shoppers avoid the steep costs associated with Kiehl's products.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for dark spots?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's are a High fit for skin with dark spots. CeraVe features products like Resurfacing Retinol Serum, while Kiehl's includes the Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for fragrance-free products?

CeraVe is better for fragrance-free products because every product on the CeraVe page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Kiehl's has two products that contain fragrance. Review themes also note that CeraVe does better for fragrance-free and gentle formulas.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for oily skin, with CeraVe featuring fragrance-free formulas across the products on this page. CeraVe helps control oil and clear acne, while Kiehl's provides options like the Ultra Facial Oil-Free Cleanser which is rated Superior for oily acne-prone skin.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Both brands offer moisturizers that help deliver deep hydration, but CeraVe products on this page are rated as having a superior fit for mature skin. Reviewers often mention that CeraVe provides fragrance-free and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's is frequently noted for a high price point.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin on the products on this page. CeraVe formulas list no fragrance, whereas Kiehl's includes fragrance in a few items.

CeraVe or Kiehl's: which sunscreen is better?

Both CeraVe and Kiehl's offer sunscreens on this page that achieve a High fit level for most skin types. CeraVe sunscreens uniquely provide Superior fits for mature skin, dry skin, and dry sensitive skin.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

CeraVe fits acne-prone skin better, achieving a High routine fit compared to Kiehl's Average level. Every product on the CeraVe page is formulated without fragrance, and reviewers frequently note that the brand helps clear oil and acne effectively.

CeraVe or Kiehl's for mature skin?

CeraVe has a Superior fit for mature skin, whereas Kiehl's has a High fit for it. CeraVe formulas feature key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that help support the skin barrier, while every product on its page lists no fragrance.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

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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