Kiehl's vs Eminence
Kiehl's and Eminence are respected skincare labels offering deeply nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and revitalizing eye products. The American brand utilizes glycerin and squalane to increase hydration, restore epidermal barrier function, counteract oxidative stress, and stimulate fibroblast migration, while the latter brand relies on the pure botanical potency of its formulas. Both options suit combination skin well, whereas Kiehl's additionally suits mature skin and the second brand favors dry and sensitive skin types. They differ primarily in their core formulations, with the former featuring scientifically backed ingredients and the latter focusing on botanical treatments for concerns like acne and dark spots.
Kiehl's is an American skincare brand founded in 1851 and owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000.
This page compares some of the most popular Kiehl's and Eminence products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Kiehl's vs Eminence products
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Ultra Facial Cream
€35.50
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Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
€27.60
- Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution
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Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque
€32.50
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Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum
€54.50
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Midnight Recovery Concentrate
€77.90
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Better Screen UV Serum
€19.90
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Super Multi-Corrective Cream
€97.70
People Say
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
- “Not too thick — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
- “hydrates without leaving me shiny — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
- “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
- “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
- “doesn't feel heavy — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
- “buttery and great — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
Skin Barrier and Tone Improvement Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
- “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
- “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
- “Skin feels soft — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
Gentle and Sensitive Skin Care Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
- “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “calms my irritation — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
Cleansing and Oil Control Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “cleared up my acne — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
- “cooling effect — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
- “sucked the gunk out of my pores — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
High Price Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
- “pricey but worth it — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
- “spent a lot of money — Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer”
Scent Dislikes and Chemical Smells Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
- “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
- “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
- “smells like hot dog water — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
- “fragrance is terrible — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
- “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
- “irritated my skin horribly — Eminence Calm Skin Chamomile Moisturizer”
- “Caused pimples — Eminence Arctic Berry Peptide Radiance Cream”
Greasy or Heavy Feel Often MentionedNot noted
- “skin felt tight after an hour — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
Kiehl's vs Eminence moisturizers
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Ultra Facial Cream
€35.50
-
Midnight Recovery Concentrate
€77.90
-
Super Multi-Corrective Cream
€97.70
-
Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream
€37.50
- Age Defender Moisturizer
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Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate
€76.90
- Facial Fuel Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men
- Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream
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Calendula Serum-Infused Water Cream
€55.90
Questions and answers
Kiehl's or Eminence: which is better?
Kiehl's does better for skin barrier and tone improvement among the products on this page, while Eminence performs better for hydration and moisture. Both brands share an equal standing for texture and absorption, gentle and sensitive skin care, breakouts and acne, and high price point.
What is the difference between Kiehl's and Eminence?
When comparing the products on this page, Eminence does better for hydration and moisture, while Kiehl's does better for skin barrier and tone improvement. Reviewers note that Eminence provides hydrating and soothing moisturizers with a high price point, whereas Kiehl's offers lightweight options but may cause breakouts and skin irritation.
Kiehl's or Eminence: which moisturizer is better?
When comparing moisturizers, Eminence performs better for hydration and moisture, while Kiehl's products on this page offer a High to Superior fit for specific needs like dry skin with the Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate. Reviewers note that Eminence provides hydrating and absorbent moisturizers, whereas Kiehl's is often praised for lightweight, non-greasy options.
Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Eminence?
When it comes to affordability, reviewers of the products on this page frequently mention a high price point for both Kiehl's and Eminence, making them equal in that regard.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Kiehl's or Eminence?
When it comes to breakouts, neither brand is highlighted as doing better on the products on this page, as both brands perform equally well in managing breakouts according to reviewer themes.
Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Eminence?
Kiehl's has more fragrance-free products on this page than Eminence, with 26 out of 28 products listing no fragrance.
How do the founding years and company ownership compare between Kiehl's and Eminence?
Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, whereas Eminence was founded in 1958 and is independently owned.
Which brand offers better results for cleansing and oil control according to review themes?
According to the review themes, Eminence does better for cleansing and oil control compared to Kiehl's.
Research behind their key ingredients
The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer
Topical menthol--a human model for cold pain by activation and sensitization of C nociceptors
Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence
The Effect of Aloe Vera Clinical Trials on Prevention and Healing of Skin Wound: A Systematic Review
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin
Psychophysical study of the effects of topical application of menthol in healthy volunteers
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Apigenin inhibits UVA-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and prevents signs of skin aging in vivo
Panax ginseng induces human Type I collagen synthesis through activation of Smad signaling
Vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate promotes epidermal thickening and collagen production in human skin
Calendula extract: effects on mechanical parameters of human skin
A comparative study of gluconolactone versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne
Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging skin
Preparation and evaluation of anti-wrinkle cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil
In vitro and in vivo anti-allergic effects of Arctium lappa L
The evaluation of aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion for photodamage
Skin barrier changes induced by aluminum oxide and sodium chloride microdermabrasion
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Histometric assessment of the age-related skin response to 2-hydroxy-5-octanoyl benzoic acid
Clinical and histologic changes determine optimal treatment regimens for microdermabrasion
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Clinical Assessment of a Novel Jasmonate Cosmeceutical, LR2412-Cx, for the Treatment of Skin Aging
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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