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Medicube vs Kiehl's

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

Medicube and Kiehl's are two esteemed skincare labels originating from South Korea and the United States, respectively. The Korean brand is celebrated for its moisturizers, serums, toners, and masks featuring niacinamide, collagen, and hyaluronic acid, whereas the American house is known for its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, soothing toners, and revitalizing eye products utilizing glycerin and squalane. The former suits dry skin and oily acne-prone skin best, while the latter caters most effectively to mature skin and combination skin. They differ fundamentally in their ingredient philosophies and regional heritages, offering distinct pathways to balanced hydration and clarity.

Medicube is a Korean skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by APR Corp..

medicubereviews.co.ukglossy.co

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 Medicube and Kiehl's products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medicube vs Kiehl's products

People Say

MedicubeKiehl's
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels bouncier and hydrated — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “glass skin — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “Keeps skin moisturized for 24+ hours — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “Feels like a drink of water — Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Serum Concentrate”
  • Miscellaneous Positive Attributes Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “dries super fast — Medicube Zero Pore Blackhead Mud Mask”
    • “active breakouts look less inflamed — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
    • “skin feels incredibly soft afterwards — Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque”
    • “perfect for retinol newbies — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Smooth Skin Texture Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “gives my skin a smooth, glass-like finish — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
    • “skin feels smoother — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “leaves skin feeling silky — Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate”
    • “skin feels smoother — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
  • Gentle and Sensitive Formula Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “experienced zero irritation — Kiehl's Retinol Skin-Renewing Daily Micro-Dose Serum”
    • “fragrance-free — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “doesn't irritate sensitive eyes — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
    • “Did not cause any irritation — Medicube Red Foam Cleanser”
  • Lightweight Texture Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “works on dark skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “absorbs instantly without residue — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
  • Glow and Radiance Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “gave me instant glass skin — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
    • “woke up with glowing skin — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
    • “healthy, dewy glow — Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum”
    • “woke up glowing — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
  • High Price and Value Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “tube is tiny for the price — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
    • “price is steep — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “price is a bit steep — Medicube Red Succinic Acid Peeling Pad”
    • “pricy daily staple — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
  • Sticky or Greasy Residue Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “oil slick in summer — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “too radiant for oily skin — Kiehl's Better Screen UV Serum”
    • “leaves a tacky film — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream”
    • “hair sticks to my face — Medicube Collagen Jelly Cream”
  • Packaging and Application Issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “messy — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “lifted around the nose/eyes — Medicube PDRN Pink Collagen Gel Mask”
    • “dipping fingers is unsanitary — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”
    • “hard to spread — Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado”
  • Breakouts and Acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused redness and sensitivity — Medicube Zero Pore Pad”
    • “woke up with whiteheads — Medicube Collagen Night Wrapping Mask”
    • “caused cystic acne — Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate”
    • “cystic acne for some — Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream”

Medicube vs Kiehl's routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Medicube vs Kiehl's routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Medicube vs Kiehl's routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Medicube or Kiehl's: which is better?

Medicube is a better fit for dry skin and acne-prone skin on this page, while Kiehl's is noted as gentler and more lightweight. Both brands feature strong options for hydration, smooth texture, and addressing dark spots.

What is the difference between Medicube and Kiehl's?

Medicube fits dry skin better than Kiehl's with a Superior routine rating compared to a High rating, and Medicube does better for glow and radiance while Kiehl's is better for sensitive and gentle formulas. Niacinamide helps reduce cutaneous pigmentation and suppresses melanosome transfer.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Medicube or Kiehl's for dry skin?

Medicube offers a superior fit for dry skin, whereas Kiehl's provides a high fit. Both brands feature deep hydration moisturizers, and Medicube helps support the skin barrier with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medicube or Kiehl's: which cleanser is better?

Medicube offers superior cleansing options for dry skin with the Zero Foam Cleanser, whereas Kiehl's achieves a superior fit for oily and oily acne-prone skin using the Calendula Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash and Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser. Both brands provide high overall fit levels for cleansers across most skin types on these pages.

Which is more affordable, Medicube or Kiehl's?

Medicube is more affordable, as high price is a noted issue for Kiehl's while Medicube scores better for price and value.

Medicube or Kiehl's: which brand is better for skin with dark spots?

Both Medicube and Kiehl's are a High fit for skin with dark spots. Kiehl's is noted by reviewers for brightening and fading dark spots, while Medicube offers products like the Zero Pore One Day Serum that are a High fit for this concern.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Medicube or Kiehl's: which has better fragrance options?

Medicube offers better fragrance options on this page, as fewer of its products contain added fragrance than Kiehl's.

Medicube or Kiehl's for oily skin?

Both Medicube and Kiehl's are a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page help provide deep hydration and balance for oily complexions.

Medicube or Kiehl's: which moisturizer is better?

Medicube offers superior moisturizers for dry skin based on the products on this page, while Kiehl's provides a high fit for dry skin. Both brands feature moisturizers that help deliver deep hydration.

Medicube or Kiehl's for sensitive skin?

Medicube and Kiehl's are both a High fit for sensitive skin on Lovi. Kiehl's does better for gentle and sensitive formulas according to reviewer themes.

Medicube or Kiehl's for acne-prone skin?

Medicube is a better fit for acne-prone skin, as Lovi rates its routine as High while Kiehl's is Average.

Medicube or Kiehl's for mature skin?

Medicube and Kiehl's are both a High fit for mature skin. Reviewers note that Medicube tends to bring more glow and radiance, while Kiehl's offers a lighter texture.

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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