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Kiehl's vs Allies of Skin

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

Kiehl's and Allies of Skin are skincare brands celebrated for their nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and revitalizing eye products. The American brand relies on glycerin and squalane to suit mature skin and combination skin best, while the second brand utilizes potent ingredients like niacinamide to suit dry skin and mature skin best. Ultimately, they differ through their specific formulations and targeted properties, as the former focuses on moisture-retention and barrier-supporting benefits, and the latter offers rich hydration and targeted nourishment.

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 Allies of Skin products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Kiehl's vs Allies of Skin products

People Say

Kiehl'sAllies of Skin
  • Deep hydration and moisturization 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”
    • “nourished and hydrated — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “more like a spray serum — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
  • Lightweight texture and absorption Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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 easily into damp skin — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening 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”
    • “Woke up looking well-rested — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “Pores appear to be tighter — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Gentle and non-irritating formula Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Best retinol for sensitive skin — Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream”
    • “feels super soothing, doesn't trigger redness — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • Fades dark spots and brightens Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “scars visibly lightened after I started using this — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
    • “Gives me a nice youthful glow — Allies of Skin Peptides & Antioxidants Firming Daily Treatment”
    • “brightens the undereye — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • Visible plumping Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “more like a spray serum — Allies of Skin Molecular Saviour Probiotics Treatment Mist”
    • “Skin feels hydrated — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
    • “Skin looks noticeably more plump — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • High price point 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”
    • “Pricey — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Ineffective or slow results Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “still not impressed with the results — Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum”
  • 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”
    • “left my face bright red — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “Slightly irritating... when I first started — Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide & Ectoin Advanced Repair Serum”
  • Packaging and design issues Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Dropper doesn't reach bottom — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “pump head is fixed — Allies of Skin Peptides & Omegas Firming Eye Cream”

Kiehl's vs Allies of Skin routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Allies of Skin routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Allies of Skin routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Allies of Skin: which is better?

Allies of Skin is generally better for most skin types, as Lovi rates its routines as Superior across the board. The products on this page help improve skin barrier function and reduce pigmentation, though Niacinamide also may help even skin tone.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Allies of Skin?

Allies of Skin is a superior fit for most skin types, while Kiehl's products on this page often come at a lower price point and provide lightweight textures. Allies of Skin may help fade dark spots and brighten skin through active ingredients like niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Kiehl's or Allies of Skin for dry skin?

Allies of Skin is a better fit than Kiehl's for dry skin, offering a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High. The products on this page help deliver deep hydration and moisturization with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Allies of Skin: which moisturizer is better?

Allies of Skin is the better moisturizer option, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and effective moisturization.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Allies of Skin?

When it comes to affordability, Allies of Skin may be perceived as the higher-priced option, while Kiehl's also faces frequent reviewer mentions regarding its high price point.

Between Kiehl's and Allies of Skin, which brand is better for fading dark spots and brightening?

Allies of Skin does better for fading dark spots and brightening than Kiehl's. The products on this page for Allies of Skin achieve a Superior routine fit for skin with dark spots.

How do the fragrance profiles of Kiehl's and Allies of Skin products compare?

Every product on the Allies of Skin page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas 26 of 28 Kiehl's products on this page list no fragrance while two include it.

Which brand performs better for lightweight texture and absorption?

Kiehl's performs better for lightweight texture and absorption, offering mostly mentioned lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers among the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Allies of Skin for oily skin?

Allies of Skin is the better choice for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior compared to High for Kiehl's. The products on this page help provide effective daily care without feeling heavy.

Kiehl's or Allies of Skin for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and Allies of Skin are good options, as Lovi rates both brands as having a High routine fit for sensitive skin. The products on this page for both brands are formulated without fragrance in the vast majority or all of their items, which helps minimize skin irritation.

Kiehl's or Allies of Skin for acne-prone skin?

Allies of Skin is a superior fit for acne-prone skin, whereas Kiehl's is an average fit. Allies of Skin relies on niacinamide, which may help regulate oil and soothe blemishes.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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