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Kiehl's vs ISDIN

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

Kiehl's and ISDIN are well-regarded skincare brands offering nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and revitalizing eye products. The American brand is loved for formulations featuring glycerin and squalane that suit mature skin and combination skin best, while the Spanish brand is praised for balanced solutions featuring advanced sunscreens that suit dry skin and sensitive skin best. Both brands differ in their core ingredients and primary skin types, though each delivers reliable daily support for a healthy complexion.

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

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ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.

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

Popular Kiehl's vs ISDIN products

People Say

Kiehl'sISDIN
  • Lightweight and Non-Greasy Texture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Lightweight formula absorbs fast — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Skin Friendly Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Sensitive/reactive skin tolerates — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
    • “no excessive exfoliation — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “doesn't sting eyes — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Deep and Intense Hydration 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”
    • “Improved moisture and texture — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture”
  • Makeup Compatibility Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “acts like a primer — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My skin felt sooo hydrated and looks so plump and dewey. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “Great under makeup — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
    • “concealer glides on smoothly — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Improvement Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “skin looked & felt smoother — Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream”
    • “skin was much smoother — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
  • Brightening and Dark Spot Fading Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Acne marks are gone — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “Skin looks radiant — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “faded acne scars — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “My hyperpigmentation has lightened and skin looks more even, even shines more. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum”
  • High Price and Value Issues Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Very expensive product — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
    • “very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
    • “My only wish is that ISDIN would make this product in a bigger size bottle. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
  • Unpleasant Scent and Fragrance Issues Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “smells clinical — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “faint lab smell — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “smell is overpowering — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “smell is overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
  • Ineffective or Slow Results Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “don't see result — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”
    • “no noticeable changes yet — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum”
    • “Did absolutely nothing — Kiehl's Clearly Corrective™ Dark Spot Solution”
  • 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”
    • “this did make my eyes water water in the sun. — ISDIN Fusion Water”
    • “mild redness or irritation — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes”

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Kiehl's vs ISDIN routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which is better?

Both brands offer strong choices, but ISDIN holds a Superior Lovi fit level across every skin type compared to Kiehl's. ISDIN also stands out for its ultralight sunscreens and gentle formulas, while Kiehl's is frequently noted for deep hydration and brightening dark spots.

What is the difference between Kiehl's and ISDIN?

ISDIN offers superior overall routine fit across skin types and excels in lightweight sun protection, while Kiehl's stands out for deep hydration and dark spot brightening. Lovi rates ISDIN as Superior for dry, oily, combination, and sensitive skin types, compared to High for Kiehl's.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for dry skin?

Both brands offer strong options for dry skin, but Lovi rates ISDIN as Superior and Kiehl's as High for this skin type.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which moisturizer is better?

ISDIN offers superior routine fit for moisturizers like its Hyaluronic Concentrate, while Kiehl's provides options with deep hydration such as the Midnight Recovery Omega-Rich Cloud Cream. Reviewers often mention ISDIN for lightweight moisturizers, whereas Kiehl's is frequently noted for deep hydration.

Which is more affordable, Kiehl's or ISDIN?

Both brands are considered high-priced, as reviewers often mention high price points and value issues for the products on this page for both Kiehl's and ISDIN.

How do Kiehl's and ISDIN compare in terms of fragrance across their products?

Kiehl's has very little fragrance across the products on this page, as 26 out of 28 list no fragrance. In contrast, ISDIN products on this page more commonly include fragrance, with 5 out of 8 listing it.

Which brand is better for brightening and fading dark spots, Kiehl's or ISDIN?

Kiehl's does better for brightening and fading dark spots.

What are the founding years and parent companies of Kiehl's and ISDIN?

Kiehl's was founded in 1851 in the United States and has been owned by L'Oréal S.A. since 2000. ISDIN was founded in 1975 in Spain and is owned by Puig.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for oily skin?

For oily skin, Lovi finds that Kiehl's has a High routine fit while ISDIN offers a Superior routine fit.

Kiehl's or ISDIN: which sunscreen is better?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN offer options for sun protection, but ISDIN stands out with a Superior Lovi fit for mature, sensitive, and dry sensitive skin on products like Eryfotona Actinica. Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum provides a High fit for dark spots, combination, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for sensitive skin?

Both Kiehl's and ISDIN fit sensitive skin well, but ISDIN has a Superior routine fit compared to Kiehl's High level.

Kiehl's or ISDIN for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, ISDIN holds a Superior routine fit, while Kiehl's routine fit is Average.

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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