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Kiehl's vs Good Molecules

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

Kiehl's and Good Molecules are American skincare brands offering distinct approaches to daily routines through targeted serums, nourishing moisturizers, and revitalizing eye products. The heritage label relies on glycerin and squalane to suit mature and combination skin, while the newer brand utilizes glycerin and hyaluronic acid to care best for dry and oily skin. Ultimately, the two differ in their founding eras and primary formulations, with the former emphasizing barrier support and the latter delivering balanced care.

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

loreal.comen.wikipedia.org

Good Molecules is an American skincare brand founded in 2019 and owned by Beautylish, Inc..

beautymatter.comgoodmolecules.compitchbook.compreqin.com

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

Popular Kiehl's vs Good Molecules products

People Say

Kiehl'sGood Molecules
  • Affordable and Great Value Price Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “best value for money — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “great value — Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum”
  • 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”
    • “absorbs quickly... zero irritation or tacky feeling — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
  • Deep Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “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”
    • “skin appears smooth and supple — Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “no skin purging — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “leaves my face feeling clean without the drying — Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks like brand new baby skin — Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment”
    • “Leaves skin "baby soft," "super smooth," "polished feel" — Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder”
    • “softened fine lines — Good Molecules Gentle Retinol Cream”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Fades Dark Spots and Brightens Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “scar on your chin doesn't look nearly as noticeable — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
    • “skin looks more radiant — Good Molecules Niacinamide Brightening Toner”
  • High Price and Value Concerns Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “face broke out everywhere — Good Molecules Discoloration Correcting Serum”
    • “gave me little white bumps — Good Molecules Niacinamide 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”
    • “Metal tube cracks — Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel”

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs Good Molecules routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which is better?

Good Molecules is the better choice for overall routine fit, as the products on this page achieve superior ratings across dry, oily, sensitive, acne-prone, mature, and other skin types. Reviewers also highlight Good Molecules for offering affordable, great value serums and better skin barrier and texture improvement. Meanwhile, Kiehl's is noted as more expensive, though it tends to offer a lighter and non-greasy texture.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and Good Molecules?

Good Molecules offers more affordable pricing and better overall routine fits across multiple skin types, whereas Kiehl's is known for its lightweight and non-greasy textures. Both brands feature gentle formulations, though Good Molecules has no fragrance listed across the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for dry skin?

Good Molecules offers a Superior routine fit for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's routine fit is High. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and hydration for dry skin types.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which cleanser is better?

Good Molecules offers a cleanser with a Superior fit for dry skin, while the products on this page for Kiehl's lean toward an Average fit for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or Good Molecules?

Good Molecules is more affordable than Kiehl's, as reviewers frequently mention its affordable and great value serums and moisturizers, whereas a high price point is a common concern for Kiehl's products on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Kiehl's or Good Molecules?

Good Molecules has more fragrance-free products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance, whereas 2 of the products on the Kiehl's page contain fragrance.

How do the founding years and parent companies of Kiehl's and Good Molecules compare?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000, while Good Molecules was founded in 2019 in the United States and is owned by Beautylish, Inc.

Which brand is better suited for mature skin routines, Kiehl's or Good Molecules?

Good Molecules offers a superior routine fit for mature skin compared to Kiehl's. Reviewers often mention Good Molecules for its affordable and hydrating moisturizers, while the products on this page help improve skin texture and fade dark spots.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for oily skin?

For oily skin, Good Molecules offers a Superior routine fit, whereas Kiehl's provides a High routine fit on the products on this page.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which moisturizer is better?

Good Molecules offers a superior routine fit for dry skin compared to Kiehl's, and every product on the Good Molecules page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for sensitive skin?

Both brands offer products that suit sensitive skin well, with Lovi fit levels generally reaching High for Kiehl's and Superior for Good Molecules.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules: which sunscreen is better?

Good Molecules offers better sunscreen options for the products on this page, as its Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 achieves a Superior fit level across dry skin, dry sensitive skin, sensitive skin, skin with dark spots, and mature skin. In contrast, Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum reaches a High fit level for those same skin types.

Kiehl's or Good Molecules for acne-prone skin?

Good Molecules offers a superior routine fit for acne-prone skin compared to Kiehl's, which has an average fit.

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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